Doug Bland is pastor of the Community Christian Church of Tempe (CCC) and he has a passion for storytelling. Some of you may have been lucky to see him perform in Tucson at Odyssey Storytelling last year at the Humor for the Holidays show.

In addition to his church duties, he spends his time as adjunct faculty at the Storytelling Institute at South Mountain Community College and produces quarterly storytelling events at the CCC. He writes:

More and more, being known as “the storytelling church” is an identity that we are embracing with enthusiasm.  After all, storytelling is the primary way that Jesus taught, built community and transformed lives.

Winter’s Light is the theme of the upcoming show on Sunday, December 18 at 7 p.m. with an impressive line up of diverse storytellers:

Rabbi Dean Shapiro of Temple Emanuel of Tempe; Rana Singh Sodhi, (see his story about the aftermath of 9/11 at Arizona Storytellers); Karina Bland, Arizona Republic reporter;  Liz Warren, faculty member and cofounder of the Storytelling Institute,; Desert Marigold Waldorf Choir; and Sandi Howlet (see her story about skinny dipping at Arizona Storytellers).

The Community Christian Church is at 1701 S. College Avenue, Tempe, AZ. You can contact them at 480-967-5266 or office@tempeccc.com for more information.

Did you know that we have a premier storytelling school right here in Arizona? The SMCC Storytelling Institute resides at South Mountain Community College, 7050 S. 24th Street in Phoenix, just north of Baseline Road. It is not too far a hop for us Tucsonans since it’s on the south side of South Mountain and you don’t have to drive through all that awful Phoenix traffic.

They have a colorful website where you can find information about their mission, history and their Certificate Program:

The South Mountain Community College Storytelling Institute is at the center of a community of storytellers who gather to tell and hear stories of all kinds. The Institute offers foundational and advanced classes in storytelling as part of a program that leads to an Academic Certificate in Storytelling. These classes are open to anyone interested in storytelling and most have no prerequisites. Members of the storytelling faculty, storytelling students, and community storytellers also offer storytelling events throughout the year.

For more information contact Liz Warren, 602-243-8026 or at liz.warren@smcmail.maricopa.edu.

If you want to get in some travel and learn storytelling skills you could wander over to the UK to the International School of Storytelling on the Emerson College Campus in East Sussex. The ISS website says that it is

the longest running centre of its kind where the craft of the storyteller is practiced and honoured. Here stories come alive and serve performers, healers, teachers, the business world, the environment and the wider community.

Closer to home, occasionally I offer a storytelling class at Pima College or for other organizations. Send me an email if you want to organize one for your group at penelope@odysseystorytelling.com.

Most of the storytellers you saw on the  storytelling stage at the Festival of Books were members of the storytelling network, Tellers of Tales (TOT).  Their website explains, “Branches of TOT are located in Tucson and Phoenix.  Storytelling is alive and well in Sierra Vista and Flagstaff although there are no TOT branches.”

The Tucson group usually meets on the first Saturday of every month at the Himmel Library, 240 South Treat, at 9:15 for some socializing and 9:30 for the program.  April is an exception because they’ll be telling stories at the Mini Time Machine – Tucson Museum of Miniatures for their program.  You do not have to be a member to attend their meetings.

Tellers of Tales members regularly tell stories at libraries, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, churches  and other places where storytelling is welcomed. Members also organize and participate in many local and community events.

Their website is a resource for other Arizona and national storytelling events and activities including the South Mountain Community College Storytelling Institute in Phoenix.