Practicing interconnectedness as spirituality has led Bernal on some pretty unforgettable adventures. Bernal migrated to the US from Guatemala in 1990 seeking asylum and now works with these populations including unaccompanied children-- it's a full circle of sorts in a field that can deplete the most seasoned workers. Finding hope and inspiration in unexpected places has become more common than not, and among those experiences, this one may take the cake.

URBAN TELLERS April 6, 2018

STANDING IN MY POWER

Bernal Cruz live at The Old Church Concert Hall in Portland, OR

Portland Story Theater, hosted by Lawrence Howard and Lynne Duddy

pdxstorytheater.org

MAY THE NARRATIVE BE WITH YOU®

Nyimoch has chosen to abandon the hostile culture that she grew up with. It is a culture where women have no rights to choose who they marry. It’s all about the dowry. Women are seen as a piece of property to be owned by men. Nyimoch wants the freedom to chose who she decides to love and marry. She believes that women should have this freedom.

URBAN TELLERS April 6, 2018

STANDING IN MY POWER

Nyimoch Chuol Wel live at The Old Church Concert Hall in Portland, OR

Portland Story Theater, hosted by Lawrence Howard and Lynne Duddy

pdxstorytheater.org

MAY THE NARRATIVE BE WITH YOU®

Qin is a student who is learning how to teach. She is always on the journey of learning how to get in touch

with herself and find out who she is or who she wants

to be. The journey is always under the two quite

different cultures—the eastern culture which raised her

up, and the western culture she is going through. And

the story she is going to tell tonight is exactly about the two cultures’ broken and rebuilt.

URBAN TELLERS April 6, 2018

STANDING IN MY POWER

Qin Xia live at The Old Church Concert Hall in Portland, OR

Portland Story Theater, hosted by Lawrence Howard and Lynne Duddy

pdxstorytheater.org

MAY THE NARRATIVE BE WITH YOU®

Preethi moved from India to United States of America three years ago to purse her masters in Electrical Engineering. Never did she think that she would find the idea of beauty preserved so differently in different parts of the world. Preethi’s story is about what it was like to grow up as a dark skinned girl in a fair skinned obsessed country .

URBAN TELLERS April 6, 2018

STANDING IN MY POWER

Preethi Srinivas live at The Old Church Concert Hall in Portland, OR

Portland Story Theater, hosted by Lawrence Howard and Lynne Duddy

pdxstorytheater.org

MAY THE NARRATIVE BE WITH YOU®

Jiao came to America for her Masters of Education and has been a teacher in Portland. Her story touches on some of those things in life that we think we hate but that turn out to be something truly wonderful - such a surprise! And like so many things in life, is tied to her complex relationship with her mother.

URBAN TELLERS April 6, 2018

STANDING IN MY POWER

Jiao Liu live at The Old Church Concert Hall in Portland, OR

Portland Story Theater, hosted by Lawrence Howard and Lynne Duddy

pdxstorytheater.org

MAY THE NARRATIVE BE WITH YOU®

In one’s darkest hour, in the midst of an existential crisis, sometimes the answer is provided by an old friend. “Who we are in the present includes who we were in the past.” - Mr Rogers

Sticking with that Tom Petty song, Lynn thinks of herself often, as a rebel without a clue. Now in the midst of that last Rite of Passage, she is boldly embracing her wise and adventurous crone time.

URBAN TELLERS March 2, 2018

A FLASH OF INSIGHT

Lynn Fitch live at The Old Church Concert Hall in Portland, OR

Portland Story Theater, hosted by Lawrence Howard and Lynne Duddy

pdxstorytheater.org

MAY THE NARRATIVE BE WITH YOU®

An endless adventurer via volunteerism, bicycling, photography, hiking and backpacking, Jim looks through the lens of a mid-western suburban childhood at his response to death.

www.facebook.com/IJAdventures

URBAN TELLERS March 2, 2018

A FLASH OF INSIGHT

Jim Waigand live at The Old Church Concert Hall in Portland, OR

Portland Story Theater, hosted by Lawrence Howard and Lynne Duddy

pdxstorytheater.org

MAY THE NARRATIVE BE WITH YOU®

This story is set in Frank’s head—and in his mother’s assisted living apartment, September, 2017. Frank spent two years as a pea-shooter target while playing sousaphone in his high school marching band. He never aspired to big brass after that experience.

URBAN TELLERS March 2, 2018

A FLASH OF INSIGHT

Frank Engel live at The Old Church Concert Hall in Portland, OR

Portland Story Theater, hosted by Lawrence Howard and Lynne Duddy

pdxstorytheater.org

MAY THE NARRATIVE BE WITH YOU®

Steve shares a story about how love can show up at the worst time in your life. Steve moved to Portland from Southern California in 1986, but don’t hold that against him.

URBAN TELLERS March 2, 2018

A FLASH OF INSIGHT

Steve Eggerts live at The Old Church Concert Hall in Portland, OR

Portland Story Theater, hosted by Lawrence Howard and Lynne Duddy

pdxstorytheater.org

MAY THE NARRATIVE BE WITH YOU®

When the anticipated peace of retirement is invaded by a neighbor’s sound system, all bets are off as to who will prevail. Mary is retired, living in Aloha with her husband, her dog, and her cat. Her love of art has recently found expression through watercolor. In addition to painting, reading, walking her dog, and avoiding political discourse, Mary feels called to the invention of ever-more creative practical jokes to keep her husband alert and sharp.

URBAN TELLERS March 2, 2018

A FLASH OF INSIGHT

Mary Welch live at The Old Church Concert Hall in Portland, OR

Portland Story Theater, hosted by Lawrence Howard and Lynne Duddy

pdxstorytheater.org

MAY THE NARRATIVE BE WITH YOU®