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Meet Adam Gidwitz
& Our CNY Storytellers
Master Storyteller & Author of children’s books
Host of the Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest podcast
Inspiration for the Netflix series A Tale Dark & Grimm
Adam Gidwitz brings a modern approach to classic fairy tales, drawing children right into the storytelling process. Adam’s tales are inspired by the Grimm Brothers, but he does not accept the limits of the times in which those stories were written, or the biases that came with them. Adam, who is Jewish, intentionally works to remove antisemitic tropes from classic Grimm tales and draws on history and folklore to reshape these stories for today’s children and families.
During the event, Adam will tape a new episode of his podcast live in the ExploraDome at the MOST. Adam will actively engage children from the audience to help him spin a new Grimm fairy tale. The children’s answers to his questions and the perceptions they o er become an important part of every podcast episode. This part of the festival will be a ticketed event.
Meet Adam Gidwitz
meet the storytellers
Bruce Coville
Bruce Coville was born and raised in Syracuse NY. Before making a living through writing, Bruce made a living through odd jobs, including as a toymaker, gravedigger, cookware salesman, and assembly line worker. Eventually, he became an elementary school teacher.
After meeting and marrying his wife, Katherine, they began creating stories together, and in 1977 they sold their first book, The Foolish Giant. Since then, Bruce has published over 100 books and has won several awards for his writing.
Perry Ground
Perry Ground is a Turtle Clan member of the Onondaga Nation of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy. Perry has been a storyteller and educator for over 25 years and enjoys working with people of all ages to teach about the history & culture of Native Peoples. His presentations are lively, engaging, inclusive and filled with cultural and historical information that audiences young and old will enjoy.
Susan Keeter
Susan Keeter is an artist, writer, designer, and teacher living in Syracuse, NY. Susan has illisutrated books and painted portraits; written articles, speeches, and grants; designed annual reports, book jackets, and building signs; and has taught writing and art for both children and adults.
Susan's work focuses on celebrating the value of all people, whether it's the groundbreaking work of a physician, the contributions of an unsung hero, or the artistic talent of a small child. She has won several awards for her work, including the CNY Writers Award and Best Book for the International Society of School Librarians.
Vanessa Johnson
Vanessa Johnson is a Griot, writer, playwright, actor, fiber Artist, museum consultant, teaching artist, and storytelling band director. Johnson coordinated the Syracuse Juneteenth Festival for three years and directed the J.P. Morgan Chase Juneteenth Interactive Museum for five years. At the N.Y. State Fair she coordinated the Pan African Village for nine years, and the Harambee Youth Tent for 16 years, offering free art and cultural experiences for families. Vanessaʼs short stories are in “Womenʼs Voices: An Anthology of Poetry and Short Stories” and is the editor of stories written by youth from the Arts Academy – Community Folk Art Gallery in “High Flown Words” in 2022. She created the“Griot Guides” program at S.U. Community Folk Art Center, teaching African-American history through storytelling and art. Johnson is the Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundationʼs Artist in Residence. She has had five solo fiber art exhibitions.
Kelley Cooper & Grace Cogan
Kelley Cooper is the Director of Deaf Services at AURORA of CNY. Through their Bedtime Bok Reading Project, she brings stories to life in American Sign Language (ASL) through signs and facial expressions.
Grace Cogan is an is an experienced educator who showcases the visual power and beauty of ASL. She helps her students to recognize the cultural and linguistic richness of the Deaf Community. An interpreter will “voice” for them in spoken English.
Paul Solyn
Paul is an ordained Maggid, a Jewish storyteller and educator who uses stories to explore the ethical implications of our actions. Paul has a Master’s in Jewish Education and a graduate certi cate in eco-spirituality. He was ordained as a Maggid through study with Rabbi Goldie Milgram, Director of the Reclaiming Judaism Institute. Paul is also the Director of the Jewish Center & Federation of the Twin Tiers, based in Elmira.
Nanette Pérez
Nanette Pérez is a Puerto Rican writer whose work blends emotional storytelling, cultural identity, and a desire to help children feel seen and understood. She does not come from a formal literary background; she writes because she loves it. Her passion is to create stories that illuminate, empower and a rm the worth of every child.
Christine Darrow is the host of a PBS docu-series Christine the History Queen, which relates untold stories behind the history of Northern and Central New York. Today, Christine will show her Christmas episode that explores the real-life inspiration behind ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and the story of an Adirondack theme park that inspired Walt Disney to build Disneyland. She will also read her forthcoming children’s book, A Dickens Christmas in Skaneateles.
Christine Darrow
Narratio Fellows
The Narratio Fellowship supports the creativity of resettled refugee youth as artistic storytellers. It is a collaboration between SU’s Engaged Humanities Network, the North Side Learning Center and Narratio, a multimedia platform that ampli es the voices of young refugees worldwide. The Syracuse students in each yearly cohort pursue interests in poetry, lm or photography to explore the power of personal storytelling. As they exchange and discuss their creative ideas, they also forge friendships and build community.
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