Chris Aluka Berry - Chris Aluka Berry (b. 1977) has been a documentary photographer in the American South for more than 20 years. He is currently based in Marshal, North Carolina. His long-form essays challenge cultural norms and racial stereotypes by exploring race, class, and faith within underrepresented communities. Being raised in the American South by a white mother and black father has greatly influenced the type of voice that he has developed and the communities that he documents. His intimate approach to visual storytelling brings him up close and personal with his subjects. Preferring to build relationships as he documents, Berry “takes up residence” in the places where the people are---immersing himself in their daily lives.

Carolina Quiroga - Carolina is a Colombian Bilingual Storyteller Performer She has two MAs in Storytelling (2013) and Cultural Management (2012), and two BAs in Communications and Journalism (2008), and Industrial Engineering (2004). Carolina is a dynamic bilingual storyteller who captivates audiences with enchanting tales from the vibrant landscapes of Latin America, stretching from El Río Grande to the breathtaking expanse of Patagonia. Since arriving in the US, Carolina has performed at prestigious events such as the National Storytelling Festival and the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, leaving her mark on the storytelling community. As a Teacher Artist (Wolf Trap and Asheville Schools), Carolina continues to inspire and educate through the art of Storytelling.  With her boundless creativity and unwavering dedication, Carolina Quiroga is not just a storyteller but a cultural ambassador, weaving the threads of Latin American heritage into the hearts of audiences everywhere.

Davy Arch - Davy grew up on a subsistence farm in western North Carolina. As a boy, he learned the value of traditional Cherokee culture from his grandfather, who taught him the old stories, how to hunt and fish, and how to identify valuable medicinal plants. Today Arch is a practitioner of traditional medicine, a historian, storyteller and a folk artist with work on display at the Smithsonian Institution. He tells Cherokee stories, presents lectures on Cherokee history and culture, and demonstrates carving, flint knapping, and mask making. He adapts his programs for audiences of all ages.

Nicola Karesh - In 2006, Nicola re-discovered her love of writing in an online poetry group. Her first book, "Morning Glory: Poetry And Reflections," is a beautiful collection of writings from the heart over a three year period. "I wrote Morning Glory before I even realised that I was writing a book. Everything was all typed up online and in order, and then it sunk in that I had enough material for a book!" Nicola enjoys writing about personal life experiences; themes that most people will easily relate to. She shares issues where she has struggled and come to resolution. Her poetry reflects her love of life, nature and animals, inner explorations and her unfolding relationship with the Divine.

Dr. Nancy Tolson - A proud product of the Detroit Public Schools, Dr. Nancy D. Tolson received her Masters and PhD from the University of Iowa, researching the history and development of Black children’s literature. She has been a Ford Fellow, a NEH facilitator, as well as a Fulbright scholar/lecturer at the University of Cape Coast (Ghana) while conducting research on West African folklore. For three years, Tolson was an Illinois Humanities’ “Road Scholar” storytelling throughout the state. She is the author of Black Children’s Literature Got de Blues: The Creativity of Black Writers and Illustrators (2008) and Tales of Africa (1998). She is a commissioner for the Columbia Museum of Art, as well as an active docent there.  More of Nancy’s critical and creative work can be found in various academic journals and books.

“Lift Every Voice” - Collected oral histories and interviews from the two historic Pigeon Community churches – Mount Olive Baptist Church and Jones Temple AME Zion Church. The discussions were videotaped and featured members of Waynesville and Canton. PCMDC has also participated in videotaped Historical Society discussions. The oral history part of this project began in 2014. From a list of the black families in the county, the project involves interviewing the oldest members and transcribing these interviews. Community partners helping to preserve these materials are the Haywood County Library and Mountain Heritage Center at Western Carolina University. Haywood is one of four counties in the western part of the state in which similar projects are underway to bring to public view the history, culture, and contributions of the African-Americans in our society.