Description

Join us for our monthly general membership meeting on Tuesday, February 22nd from 6-7:30 pm to learn more about what's happening at RIBBA and about relevant opportunities for you and your business to take advantage of.

With February being Black History Month, we are excited to present: Valerie Tutson, Executive Director of Rhode Island Black Storytellers for a special presentation on 'Black Storytelling: Why it Matters'.

About the presenter:

Valerie Tutson: Executive Director of Rhode Island Black Story Tellers

Valerie Tutson was graduated  from Brown University with a self-designed major, Storytelling As a Communication’s Art, and a Masters in Theatre. Valerie travels the country and world teaching storytelling and gathering and sharing stories and songs. She has  been  a  featured performer on national and international stages since 1991. In addition to telling stories  herself, Valerie is committed to providing opportunities for others tell  their  stories. For  12  years  she  hosted Cultural Tapestry, an award-winning show for COX Television, celebrating the diverse cultures of Rhode Island. She was also on  the staff of the International Theatre Festival of Tolerance for 12  years, working. Valerie is a  founding member and Executive Director of the Rhode Island  Black Storytellers, and director of FUNDA FEST: An Annual Celebration of Black Storytelling. Valerie has  received numerous  awards and recognitions for her  work. In 2013 she received the Legacy Award from Big Brothers and Sisters of the Ocean State, in 2014 she received a community service award from Oasis International, and an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Rhode Island College, where she was also the Commencement  Speaker. In  2017 Valerie  received  the  Public Humanities Scholar Award  from the Rhode  Island  Council  for  the Humanities for her work to  promote storytelling. Valerie was a 2018/19 Intercultural   Leadership Institute Fellow, and recipient of  the 2019 Pell Award for Excellence in the Arts from Trinity Repertory Company. One of her passions is the intersection of art and health, and she serves on the RI Art and Health commission.