Des Moines Storytellers Project

How Des Moines Register reporter Phillip Sitter found himself in Ukraine in the midst of Russia's war to celebrate a friend's birthday. This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Travel" on June 18, 2024, at Hoyt Sherman Place. The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it. Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled w...

The doctor told Diane Kolmer she needed to take a break from her job to relearn to eat and live. A trip to Paris helped change her perspective. This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Travel" on June 18, 2024, at Hoyt Sherman Place. The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it. Des Moines Storytellers Project events are...

Kory May found racial profiling didn't stop at the Canadian border. This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Travel" on June 18, 2024, at Hoyt Sherman Place. The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it. Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neighbors and notables who have a true, first-person story they’...

John Sorrell landed in Turkey quite literally in the middle of a coup. How he leaned on curiosity to make it home safely. This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Travel" on June 18, 2024, at Hoyt Sherman Place. The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it. Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neighbors...

Nicole Schrader overcame vacation paralysis to find something meaningful. Now she embraces that fear to live a full life. This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Travel" on June 18, 2024, at Hoyt Sherman Place. The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it. Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neighbors...

Deborah Svec-Carstens found herself by being vulnerable with a tight-knit community in a foreign country after an assault. This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Community" on Feb. 27, 2024 at Hoyt Sherman Place.  The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.  Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neigh...

Kenny Gaskin spent his childhood looking up to his teachers. Now he's a teacher with DMPS inspiring students and building a classroom community. This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Community" on Feb. 27, 2024 at Hoyt Sherman Place.  The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.  Des Moines Storytellers Project events...

Jordan Brooks felt like he didn't belong — until he discovered art. Now he uses it to help others build their communities. This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Community" on Feb. 27, 2024 at Hoyt Sherman Place.  The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.  Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neigh...

Erlin Kakkanad wasn't embracing her true self when her son asked an innocent question: "Mama, why am I brown?" It led to a long journey of discovery. This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Community" on Feb. 27, 2024 at Hoyt Sherman Place.  The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.  Des Moines Storytellers Project e...

Jim Sayers entered an Iowa prison thinking every inmate was the same. He left with a close-knit community. This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Community" on Feb. 27, 2024 at Hoyt Sherman Place.  The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.  Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neighbors and notable...

From homemade school clothes to weekly chore lists, Louise O'Donnell's parents showed their 13 children what it was like to put family first. This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Family" on Oct. 24, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.  The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.  Des Moines Storytellers Project events are f...

Ehsan Shaban found family in Iowa when he fled the war in Afghanistan. They were refugees themselves. This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Family" on Oct. 24, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.  The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.  Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neighbors and notables who ha...

Luisita McBurney found herself alone after arriving in the U.S. So she created the Filipino American Society so other immigrants wouldn't feel stuck This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Family" on Oct. 24, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.  The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.  Des Moines Storytellers Project event...

Sonya Jackson's great aunt Lulu was the first Black woman in Iowa to earn a Ph. D. What lessons she and her grandmother taught her growing up. This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Family" on Oct. 24, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.  The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.  Des Moines Storytellers Project events are...

Sam Blum always felt like an outcast, until he found others like him at metal shows across Iowa and the world. This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Family" on Oct. 24, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.  The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.  Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neighbors and notabl...

Monica Leo was part of the only Western puppeteer troupe to be invited to East Berlin in the '80s, where she learned maybe we're more alike than we are different. This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Travel" on June 20, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.  The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.  Des Moines Storytellers...

It wasn't clear that Keith Knapp would make it out of Argentina before the country closed its borders at midnight. He had just minutes to spare. This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Travel" on June 20, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.  The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.  Des Moines Storytellers Project events ar...

Olesya Holker started traveling as a child with her mother, a Russian actress. Her most notable trip started in Las Vegas and eventually led to Iowa. This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Travel" on June 20, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.  The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.  Des Moines Storytellers Project even...

Shir Agha Safi grew up around war and later fought in the Afghan National Army. Now he's fighting to help other refugees in Iowa live good lives. This story was first told during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Travel" on June 20, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.  The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.  Des Moines Storytellers Project events a...

Susan Sims wanted to see the real China after studying in Taiwan in 1986, though she didn't have much but the clothes on her back. A hilarious adventure ensued. Susan told this story during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's "Travel" on June 20, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.  The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.  Des Moines Storytellers Proje...

Sarah Trone Garriott realized her first impressions of a couple she helped marry while an intern Lutheran minister were wrong. How scripture helped her realize that. Sarah told this story during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's “Love” on Feb. 14, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.  The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.  Des Moines Storytellers Pr...

Years of therapy and self love led to a new life for Sam Freese after their husband, who had increasingly become withdrawn, was criminally charged. Sam told this story during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's “Love” on Feb. 14, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.  The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.  Des Moines Storytellers Project events are fil...

As a wife of a man 20 years older, Anissa Deay is moving from partner to caretaker and learning about the complications that come with it. Anissa told this story during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's “Love” on Feb. 14, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.  The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.  Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled wi...

From his mother walking up a flight of steps to see him in a play, to his father getting her out of bed each day: How love defined a relationship with illness. Patrick told this story during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's “Love” on Feb. 14, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.  The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.  Des Moines Storytellers Projec...

Dan Douglas first met his wife 52 years ago when he served in Botswana for the Peace Corps. Dan told this story during the Des Moines Storytellers Project's “Love” on Feb. 14, 2023 at Hoyt Sherman Place.  The Des Moines Storytellers Project believes everyone has a story and everyone can tell it.  Des Moines Storytellers Project events are filled with neighbors and notables who have a true, first-p...