Thank you.

Gratitude. Thanks. My cup overflows.

In January of this year, after an Information Technology contract ended, I was faced with a decision: LORE or Tech? This fledgling storytelling business, exciting and scary, calling me into itself, away from the many years of experience that filled my resume.

It was time and although I was fearful, I was also excited. LORE became my full-time gig, my income, my passion, my life, in January of this year, making 2019 a year of truth. Will I make it? In March, I acquired a storefront and began to host events in downtown Dayton.

Today, I feel as if I never work and I am always working, the lines between who I am and what I do blurred into a constant state of being and doing, sharing stories, hearing stories: weeping and laughing. I feel truly blessed.

My little business has been the catalyst for the sharing of stories on stage and on video, in classrooms and business meeting rooms, in Dayton and beyond. I have helped to craft tragic stories: a gunshot wound, fleeing a revolution, loosing a love one, surviving a heart attack, the aftermath of suicide, and the impact of murder. I have also facilitated triumphant and funny stories about travel, babies being born, businesses getting started, how he met the love of his life, how she found meaning in her work, and how a mountaintop meeting can change your world view.

I have been touched, moved, inspired and changed. I have witnessed greatness as each storyteller overcomes fear to take two steps up onto the stage and share out loud with the world what they know to be true.

Which brings me to you - all of you who have supported this journey with me - whether as a volunteer or a sponsor or a storyteller or a story lover, each one of you who has shown up - I am grateful for you. Without listeners and storytellers, without truth and tears, without laughter and bravery, this storytelling thing just doesn’t work.

So, this year, Thanksgiving season 2019, I am thankful for all of you who keep showing up. To those of you who bravely shared your story, thank you for your voice. To those of you who believe that being a witness to the stories matters, those of you who showed up to support the storytellers on stage, thank you for your ears and tears and hearts and laughter. To those of you who volunteered at a LORE event, thank you for your time.

I am blessed to have been touched by you. I am better for your voice, your ears, your tears, your laughter and your time.

Thank you.

Thank you for all you do.

I met Sarah Hackenbracht in the upstairs room of the Gem City Catfe on 5th Street. The sun was shining in the windows and I sat soaking up the rays waiting for her arrival. She walked in with confidence and a smile. She was dressed for success, her laptop bag in one hand, her coffee in the other.

Sarah had attending a LORE Workshop Graduation and wanted to explore possibilities for the Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association (GDAHA), the organization for which she is now the President and CEO. According to the website, GDAHA is “a member service organization for more than 29 hospitals and healthcare organizations in the greater Dayton region. Our members are committed to delivering the highest quality of healthcare through collaboration with one another and our community partners.” Sarah was, at the time, the interim CEO, learning the ropes of organization, the new role and the community that she supports.

Our conversation flowed easily and we found ourselves planning not only synergies for our organizations but possibilities for the city and young women and the world. You see, Sarah is passionate about her work and her impact. She is driven and caring. And she gets stuff done. And together, we were in that place of passionate dreaming where anything is possible. I left with a feeling of camaraderie and possibility.

When I reached out to Sarah to sponsor the LORE Mainstage: I Survived event, it made sense. Almost all of the stories talk about how their survival was only made possible by medical professionals. We, as a community, survive because the members of GDAHA provide the care that we need to survive and thrive.

What neither Sarah nor I could have imagined was how timely this event would be. Quick and competent care is absolutely crucial in a crisis as our community has witnessed in the past couple of weeks.

We, at LORE, are incredibly grateful for the sponsorship of the LORE Mainstage event, but even more so, we are grateful for the care that the members of GDAHA provide. Where would we be without them?

So, thank you, GDAHA, thank you Sarah. Thank you for all that you do.

He demands attention.

The first time that I saw Fred Cox on stage was at a benefit after the tornadoes hosted by Metaphorically Speaking. They put on a high energy event. The music was upbeat, and the poets engaging. They brought people from the crowd onto stage and they had us up and out of our seats laughing and singing and dancing. But when Fred took the stage, his presence filled the room with sober reflection. We were there to raise money for tornadoes and Fred reminded us all how to support one another, how to support our community and who we, as Daytonians, were. He was captivating and engaging with his words and his presence. He demanded attention.

I had heard of Fred Cox was before I saw him on stage that night. I had heard about what he was up to with the Dayton Young Black Professionals and his passion for making a difference in his community. So when I realized who the man on stage was and what he stood for, I knew that I wanted to meet him.

Fred is serious and passionate. He is compassionate and driven. Fred also has a smile that will melt your heart.

When Fred agreed to host the LORE Mainstage: I Survived event I was thrilled and honored. I can’t wait.

Join me. Witness Fred and 6 Daytonian storytellers on stage on Thursday, August 15th at 7PM at 40 N Main Street in Downtown Dayton.