Crafting Tales

ALBANY, N.Y. (May 15, 2018) – Last month, UAlbany student volunteers working with Project MyStory and Skribblers Magazine, Inc., ran a storytelling workshop in the Campus Center for a class of fifth graders from the Delaware Community School. The conference theme was simply, “I Am.”

The children circulated among three stations: writing, art and drama. Their teacher, Cahtina Gamble, Ph.D., kicked things off by reciting a poem she had composed for the day. A member of UAlbany’s Precizun Step Team performed for the children during their lunch break. As they were leaving, many of the fifth grade students said they could not wait to come to UAlbany for college.

UAlbany student volunteer Khadijah Barrow said, "I think that all children should have access to days like this one; where they spend a day at a college with college students and participate in activities that they may not have at their own schools."

From student volunteer Justin Listman: "What really attracted me to this project was the idea behind it. I have always believed stories are important. But more recently, I have begun to see that it is even more important to communicate our personal stories because they teach us how to be better human beings."

And from student volunteer Casey Cummings: "In a world with a lot of negativity, it is easy to forget one's self-worth. Activities like this encourage people to look at themselves in a positive light."

Tammy Ellis-Robinson, Ph.D., an instructional support specialist with the Division of Special Education, and Project MyStory coordinator Rachel Moody helped the students prepare for the conference. Ellis-Robinson is the founder and executive director of Skribblers Magazine Inc., a local nonprofit promoting literacy. Project MyStory is a community building initiative of the Academic Support Center.

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