CITY of BEAVERTON NEWS RELEASE Media Relations 503-526-3737 [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 17, 2019

15TH ANNUAL STORYTELLING FESTIVAL: EVENTS AT AND OTHER COUNTY LIBRARIES

BEAVERTON, Ore. – Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS) hosts the 15th Annual Storytelling Festival – Art of the Story – Saturday, April 27 through Saturday, May 4. The festival showcases 14 free, public events throughout the county.

Featured are four professional storytellers: Rev. Robert B. Jones, Sr., (Detroit, Michigan), Jasmin Cardenas (Chicago, Illinois), Lawrence Howard (Portland, OR), and Kelly Hoffman (Portland, OR), and adult story slam contestants from the Portland metro area: Janet Liu, Patrick Gannon, Sankar Raman, Norina Beck and Mike Devenney.

The festival kicks off on Saturday, April 27 from 7 to 9 p.m. with the 5th annual Adult Story Slam Contest hosted by Beaverton City Library (12375 SW 5th St). Audience members will be invited to cast their vote to determine which adult slam contestant will be invited back to share the stage at the May 4 Festival Finale showcase of storytellers.

On Tuesday, April 30 from 4:30 to 6 p.m., Beaverton City Library is partnering with Washington County Disability, Aging & Veterans Services and the Elsie Stuhr Senior Center to feature five local tellers: Cynthia Butts, John Wylder, Janis Collins, Chuck McConnell and Frances Hunter at the Elsie Stuhr Center (5550 SW Hall Blvd).

The Festival is supported in part by grants from WCCLS, the Regional Arts and Culture Council, Friends Groups of WCCLS member libraries, Recology, and Portland Storytellers’ Guild. Generous in-kind services are provided by Pamplin Media Group, Courtyard by Marriott, Glenn & Viola Walters Cultural Arts Center, Sherwood Center for the Arts, Reedville Catering, Washington County Disability, Aging & Veteran Services, Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District, and the Arts and Communication Magnet Academy.

Directions to the performance venues and additional festival details are available at www.wccls.org/festival. Festival newsletters are available at WCCLS member libraries.

2019 Storytelling Festival Events

Saturday, April 27 Beaverton City Library, 7-9 p.m. (Doors Open at 6:30 p.m.) Adult Story Slam Contest (Adult program) Janet Liu, Patrick Gannon, Sankar Raman, Norina Beck and Mike Devenney

12725 SW Millikan Way, Beaverton, OR 97005 | 503-526-2222 www.BeavertonOregon.gov | @CityofBeaverton

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Sunday, April 28 , 2-3 p.m. Kelly Hoffman Matinee l Amazon Barbie Ships Out! (Adult program)

Tuesday, April 30 Elsie Stuhr Center – Beaverton, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Older & Wiser Story Showcase (Adult program) Janis Collins, John Wylder, Chuck McConnell, Frances Hunter, and Cynthia Butts

Tuesday, April 30 Forest Grove City Library, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Kelly Hoffman l Turning Points (Adult program)

Tuesday, April 30 Walter’s Cultural Art Center – Hillsboro, 7-8 p.m. Lawrence Howard l The Adventures of Huckleberry Howard (Adult program)

Wednesday, May 1 , 6:30-7:30 p.m. Kelly Hoffman l Parenting isn't permanent (Adult program)

Wednesday, May 1 Sherwood Center for the Arts, 7-8 p.m. Jasmin Cardenas l Growing Up Between Worlds & Grappling with Justice (Bilingual English/Spanish Adult program)

Thursday, May 2 Banks Public Library, 7-8 p.m. Jasmin Cardenas l Niña Buena? Good Girl? (Adult program)

Thursday, May 2 , 7-8 p.m. Rev. Jones, Sr. l I Come From Detroit (Adult & Ages 6+ program)

Friday, May 3 United Methodist Church, Cedar Mill (12755 NW Dogwood St. Portland 97229 / Hosted by Cedar Mill Library), 6:30-7:30 p.m. Rev. Jones, Sr. l Alabama Stories, Tales from the Motherland (Adult program)

Friday, May 3 Garden Home Library ANNEX (7306 SW Oleson Road, Portland 97223 / Co-hosted by West Slope Library), 6:30-7:30 p.m. Kelly Hoffman l The Comeback Kid! (Adult program)

Friday, May 3 Cornelius Library, 7-8 p.m. Jasmin Cardenas l Cuentos from the Americas (Bilingual English/Spanish Adult & Ages 6+ program)

12725 SW Millikan Way, Beaverton, OR 97005 | 503-526-2222 www.BeavertonOregon.gov | @CityofBeaverton

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Saturday, May 4 Jessie Mays Community Center, North Plains (Hosted by North Plains Library), 1-2 p.m. Rev. Jones, Sr. l The History of Our Music (Adult & Ages 6+ program)

Saturday, May 4 Arts & Communication Magnet Academy Auditorium (11375 SW Center Street, Beaverton, Oregon 97005 / Hosted by WCCLS), 6:15-9 p.m. Festival Finale Showcase Concert (Adult program & ages 12+) Reception: 6:15-6:45 p.m. with complimentary beverages and desserts in partnership with Reedville Catering Showcase Concert: 7-9:30 p.m.

 Student slam winner – to be announced  Adult slam winner – to be announced  Kelly Marie Hoffman (Portland) - Bring me to my knees raise me up, give me hope!  Lawrence Howard (Portland) - Night On The Island  Jasmin Cardenas (Chicago, IL) – Teenagers making an impact in a world full of injustice.  Rev. Robert B. Jones, Sr. (Detroit, MI) – I Can't Play Like BB King

These programs are free and open to the public; no registration is required. For more information, visit www.BeavertonLibrary.org or call 503-644-2197. Call 503-846-3222 no less than three business days prior to a festival event to schedule assistive listening devices or sign language interpreters.

Beaverton City Library is one of fifteen member libraries in Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS), which works to provide responsive and efficient library service countywide through centralized catalog, courier and other services.

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12725 SW Millikan Way, Beaverton, OR 97005 | 503-526-2222 www.BeavertonOregon.gov | @CityofBeaverton