2021 - 2022 TELLING ROOM ANNUAL REPORT
July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022
“To reach the sky, I needed more than just the few balloons in my back pocket. I needed hundreds, possibly thousands of them.”
— From “The Balloon Man” by Khalil Kilani
Published in Echoes from the Basement
Dear Telling Room Community Member,
As Alumni Ambassador Khalil Kilani wrote, we know that it doesn’t just take one or even a few buoyant balloons to lift us up. It takes a community working together to realize The Telling Room’s mission and for our students to thrive. We are so grateful to each and everyone of you who have supported The Telling Room over the past few turbulent but successful years, and we look forward to forming new partnerships and welcoming new members to our community in the years to come.
The Telling Room has gone through many changes recently. We have completed a full year with a new executive director, who is now leading the charge as we embark on a strategic planning process to guide us into our next three years with intentionality. We have adapted our programming to accommodate remote and hybrid learning throughout the pandemic, and continue to spread our reach to children across Maine. Your ongoing engagement, partnership, and willingness to share your voices and perspectives is critical to building a bright future for both The Telling Room and Maine’s youth. Thank you to all of you who have shared your words and reflections with us regarding the impact of our work in the community and with the youth we serve; it is humbling to witness what an amazing, creative, and strong circle of support we have.
We are honored to share with you the results of our collaborations over the past year and look forward to more conversations and deepening our connections in the year ahead.
Thank you for all that you do.
Onward and Upward,
Anya Endsley
Telling Room Board President
Anya Endsley
The Telling Room Board President
“I now understand that the environment around us can shape us, but we hold power to shape ourselves and what we can take away from our surroundings. We hold the most power when we let ourselves be our true authentic selves.”
— From “Finding Power” by Ana Burroughs
Published in Between My Ribs
Dear Friends,
As I reflect on my first year as The Telling Room’s Executive Director, I return to the words of authors like Ana Burroughs. Ana speaks to the fact that our communities, the spaces we are in, “shape us.” Who we share space with and how we are present there are all a part of who we are becoming. Being ourselves and sharing our own authentic selves with other people is one of the most trusting, vulnerable, and powerful acts we can do.
And that is what I experienced this fall, seated cross-legged on the floors in The Telling Room’s Portland studio, at desks in school classrooms across the State, in libraries around a table, and in Zoom rooms with our faces tiled across screens. I circled up with our teachers and teaching artists, with educators in schools, and — most importantly — with youth, who in every space bravely shared themselves with one another. We brought together young writers through our in-person programs and continued our SWARM! program, holding virtual space for a third year. Led by our Publishing Workshop, The Telling Room connected young writers across Maine in print, curating three anthologies featuring authors from Aroostook County to York County and ranging from youth ages 6 - 18.
With programs underway this fall, we are excited for the new year ahead. Driven by our mission, we are developing a new strategic plan that will guide our work for the next three years as we continue to lead with our values, informed by the experiences of COVID, and look ahead to The Telling Room’s next chapter.
When we began the planning process this summer, I was driven by what I learned and heard from youth and the community this last year: that The Telling Room is vital and youth need the spaces we hold for them where they can be together and realize their power. Ana’s words will continue to guide me: “We hold the most power when we let ourselves be our true authentic selves.”
With Gratitude,
Kristina Powell
Telling Room Executive Director
Kristina Powell
Telling Room Executive Director
2022 Founders Prize winner Leigh Ellis
The Founders Prize is awarded annually by the three founders of The Telling Room: Susan Conley, Sara Corbett, and Michael Paterniti, to the author of the best piece of writing to come out of a Telling Room program.
Leigh Ellis is an eighteen year old from Raymond, Maine, and author of the young adult magical realism novel, Bach in the Barn. Leigh grew up writing at The Telling Room, and their work has been featured in Telling Room anthologies See Beyond and Shadowboxing. Though no longer a student, they hope to stay involved with The Telling Room and similar organizations in the future. Leigh is attending Columbia University with a major in creative writing and is passionate about queer representation and advocacy. Their goal is to continue sharing the stories they needed to hear growing up, as well as helping others to do the same. Leigh is also in the process of compiling a zine of queer writing called Frisson, based on the scientific term for “getting the chills.” When not writing, Leigh can often be found collaging, taking pictures of street art, and making Spotify playlists.
Excerpt from “Squid Season” by Leigh Ellis
I can’t remember when I realized I was trans exactly,
But it was probably sometime during squid season.
Either July or August,
I can’t remember.
They only come to the surface to feed at night,
The squid.
Summer nights always feel more infinite,
A blackness you can disappear into
A blackness you can lose your body in.
The silken surface of the ocean
Was a portal to another dimension,
A dimension where things like squid existed.
Leigh wrote “Squid Season” in the Fall 2021 semester of The Telling Room’s Second Story program. They created a mixed media collage to accompany the poem and shared both out to the audience at the December 2021 reading. This powerful poem was then selected as one of the student works to be made into a short film for Show & Tell, adapted by two Directing Fellows from the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. “Squid Season” has gone on to win the 2022 Maine Literary Award for Youth Competition in Poetry, and the short film is an official selection for the 2022 Seattle Queer Film Festival.
THE FINANCIAL STORY
FISCAL YEAR: JULY 1, 2021 - JUNE 30, 2022
Take a look at our books to learn more about how we brought our mission alive this fiscal year.
INCOME
Total: $926,508
EXPENSES
Total: $694,540
AUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS OF JUNE 30, 2022
ASSETS
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents: $1,001,111
Total Assets: $1,008,660
LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS
Liabilities
Total Liabilities: $50,524
Net Assets
Without donor restrictions: $886,136
With donor restrictions: $72,000
Total Net Assets: $958,136
DONORS
We are so grateful for all the generous individual, corporate, and foundation donors who supported us this past year. See our full list of contributors at:
COMMUNITY IMPACT
At The Telling Room, we empower youth through writing and share their voices with the world. As a literary arts education organization focused on young writers ages 6 to 18, we seek to build confidence, strengthen literacy skills, and provide real audiences for our students. We believe that the power of creative expression can change our communities and prepare our youth for success both now and in the future.
OUR YEAR AT A GLANCE:
Students Served Through Our Writing & Publishing Programs and Events: 2,125Program Hours: 1,766
Readings & Events: 71
Published Authors: 360
Books Published: 13
109 COMMUNITIES SERVED
Alna
Arundel
Auburn
Augusta
Bangor
Bar Harbor
Bath
Belfast
Berwick
Biddeford
Boothbay Harbor
Bowdoin
Bowdoinha
Bremen
Bridgton
Brighton
Bristol
Brooklin
Brunswick
Camden
Cape Elizabeth
Cape Neddick
Chebeague Island
Chelsea
Corinth
Cumberland
Cumberland Foreside
Damariscotta
Dayton
Dedham
Durham
Edgecomb
Eliot
Enfield
Falmouth
Falmouth Foreside
Freeport
Georgetown
Gorham
Gouldsboro
Gray
Hallowell
Harpswell
Hebron
Hope
Houlton
Kennebunkport
Kittery
Kittery Point
Lewiston
Limerick
Lincolnville
Lisbon
Mars Hill
Minot
Monmouth
Monticello
Montville
Morrill
Mount Desert
New Gloucester
Newcastle
North Yarmouth
Oakfield
Old Town
Orono
Passadumkeag
Portland
Princeton
Richmond
Rockland
Saco
St. George
Sanford
Scarborough
Searsmont
Sebago
Sorrento
South Portland
Springvale
Sullivan
Thomaston
Topsham
Trenton
Troy
Turner
Unity
Vassalboro
Wales
Waterford
Waterville
Wells
West Gardiner
Westport Island
Westbrook
Whitefield
Windham
Winthrop
Woolwich
Yarmouth
York
(Total communities served includes seven towns/cities outside of Maine)
“I believe I have a unique voice.”
In all programs, students’ confidence in this factor increased by 25% or more.
IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMS
SCHOOLS SERVED IN FISCAL YEAR 2021 - 2022
Biddeford Intermediate School
Brunswick Junior High
Dayton Consolidated School
Durham Community School
Edward Little High School
Georgetown Central School
Ironwood Maine, LLC
Leavitt Area High School
Marcia Buker Elementary School
Mast Landing School
Mt. Ararat Middle School
Oceanside Middle School
Oceanside High School
Shapleigh School
South Portland High School
Wells Junior High School
York High School
Students from Marcia Buker Elementary School in Richmond see their published chapbook for the first time
RESIDENCIES - BACK TO SCHOOL
215 students served in 8 programs
We were excited to be back in classrooms around the state this fall, when we returned to pre-pandemic levels of in-school programs. These have been long and difficult years for so many young people, and the one-on-one support from our volunteers, mentors, and teaching artists was instrumental for all of the students we served. Given all that these students were facing, their commitment to writing, working through the creative process, and challenging themselves to revise, led to poems and stories each author could be deeply proud of.
Our longtime partner, Shapleigh School, has taken the opportunity for students to write and grow with The Telling Room to the next level. Shapleigh School offers all of their students the chance to participate in a Telling Room residency during their time in fourth through eighth grade at the school. Some students jump right in early on during their time at the school, while others put pen to paper with us in eighth grade before moving on to high school. Whenever we are able to write with these authors, we are blown away by the might of their words, which can be found in this year’s chapbook, At That Very Moment.
““The Telling Room took me on a path of poetry that I didn’t know existed. Poetry has always been locked in a box inside the deepest part of my closet, constricted by the bounds of rhymes, stanzas, and syllables. The Telling Room taught me that is not the only way that poetry is written, and that I should explore new ways to write.””
PUBLISHED IN:
Students at South Portland High School watch excerpts from The Telling Room film, The Whole World Waiting
WORKSHOPS - DEEPENING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
623 students served in 19 programs
The Telling Room serves hundreds of students each year through our educational workshops, which take place in schools, at The Telling Room, or remotely. This year in particular, we deepened connections with our partner South Portland High School to meet the needs of over 80 students from asylum-seeking families who arrived after the school year had already begun and when capacity was limited in the classroom. Many of these students were Newcomers (students who were just beginning to learn English), and we were honored to support them as they grew more confident with the English language.
It was remarkable to see how many people came together to support these students — from school staff to our team of teaching artists and volunteers — and form a learning community. Several students were ready for more after the school year, and joined us at The Telling Room this summer for a week-long Young Writers & Leaders camp. We’re excited to see the connections formed with these young writers continue to grow.
““A collaboration with The Telling Room, with two such gifted teachers, has been a highlight of my year … I have followed the course through the year and I could only wish that every student had the chance.”
”
AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS
WRITERS BLOCK
A Writers Block student and volunteer dive into writing during an afternoon session
58 students served in 8 programs
Writers Block was in such high demand in the fall that we added an additional teaching artist to accommodate more participants. Inspiration in hand and in our hearts from our surroundings in the Old Port, we delved into technique: using our senses to convey details of setting, and our understanding of those around us to develop believable characters.
The spring semester was shortened to seven sessions rather than ten due to a rise in COVID cases, but that didn’t stop our group from quickly diving into creative play. By the last day each student shared a piece as well as their process. No two stories were drafted from the same prompt or activity — each piece came from a different source of inspiration, highlighting the importance of finding many ways into the writing process. Each student came away eager to explore more ways of writing and storytelling.
““I came to The Telling Room to get brave.””
SWARM! students hold up their published books at an online book launch.
45 students served in 6 programs
Throughout the year, SWARM! students Zoomed in from places like Trenton, Unity, Camden, Boothbay Harbor, and Vassalboro — all locations that are an hour or more drive from our Portland headquarters.
We also reached participants living in Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Brunswick, and Falmouth. SWARM! is a program that, even as pandemic restrictions ease, continues to reach families with a range of needs, whether that’s due to travel times, work schedules, transportation, health-needs, or comfort levels with remote programs.
““…I learned that there are a lot of great writers everywhere, even among kids.” ”
““To have The Telling Room’s resources
available to rural Maine kids is such a
blessing.”
”
Young Emerging Authors students hold their published books at book launch at SPACE Gallery (From left to right: Hailey Talbert, Victoria Yang, Noor Sager, and Leela Marie Hidier).
4 students served in 1 program
In October, the ninth cohort of Young Emerging Authors (YEA) embarked on a year-long journey of writing, revising, and publishing their own books. This year’s cohort included three high school juniors and one student, notably, taking a gap year before attending Dartmouth College for creative writing. It was a joy to watch them quickly bond as a group and enjoy each other’s company. This is the first year we’ve ever had a student drawn into the State of Maine in order to participate in the program, demonstrating what a unique opportunity this program is, even among other literary arts organizations.
As always, the mentorship element of this program was an essential part of the YEA experience for students, and mentor pairings this year were especially fruitful. Authors and agents Kathryn Miles, Deirdre Fulton McDonough, Iris Blasi, and Dawn Potter coached our authors along the way, and Richard Russo generously shared his expertise at our spring writers retreat.
This year’s books include three novels and one collection of poetry, and each explores pressing social and political issues such as climate change, queer identity, and the consequences of socioeconomic privilege. Perhaps more than ever, all four authors seem to see their work not just as a springboard for their own creative futures and careers, but also as a platform to spark deeper thinking and engagement among readers.
““The Telling Room wants to hear our stories right here and right now. They want our stories today for a better tomorrow.” ”
Check out this year’s Young Emerging Authors books:
A student writes with us during April Break Young Writers & Leaders camp with King Middle School.
44 students served in 4 programs
In October 2021 we began our nine-month Young Writers & Leaders (YWL) program by joyfully returning to in-person sessions while providing support for students if they needed to attend virtually. Students came from six high schools in the Greater Portland area, and identified with nineteen countries: Afghanistan, Angola, Brazil, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dijbouti, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Iraq, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Mexico, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, and South Korea.
A vibrant fall visit from Portland’s Poet Laureate Maya Williams kicked off our year of connecting to adult writers. We celebrated the students’ work in December at SPACE Gallery for our fall poetry reading — our first in-person YWL event in two years. When COVID cases rose in the winter months, we returned to our highly successful remote learning model developed in 2020. Students navigated the ups and downs of the pandemic learning environment with good cheer and flexibility, and continued to show up online with their full selves to write and share.
As the group shifted from writing poetry to personal narrative, they were joined by Phuc Tran, Jaed Coffin, Shugri Said Salh, and Abdi Iftin, and then worked one-on-one with their writing coaches to revise their personal narrative pieces for publication and presentation.
We were happily able to resume in-person sessions for our documentary studies module in the spring as students conducted vox pop street interviews in our working waterfront neighborhood. Students shared their writing to a packed house at the Portland Museum of Art as we returned to this familiar venue to honor the book launch of the 2022 Young Writers & Leaders chapbook, Between My Ribs.
““I am so grateful for my time here. This is such a healing environment...This experience meant learning about other people, their styles, their experiences, their points of view, and expanding my own through theirs. This program has meant the world.””
Second Story participant Amira Doale takes the mic at an end-of-semester reading.
8 students served in 2 programs
In the fall, Second Story welcomed juniors and seniors who wished to keep exploring their writer’s voice with The Telling Room. We dove into personal voice, artistic voice, political voice, and how the three intersect. Visiting Artist Malaika Uwamahoro joined us with Sarah Coleman from Portland Ovations to get our writers and our words on our feet. Together they led students in a workshop inspired by Cartography, a play that explores themes of migration, displacement, and what it means to find a new home. At our final reading, the voices of these writers resonated throughout our studio as each took the mic to create a chorus of powerful words.
During the spring, we had four students, including two returning from previous sessions, as there are no limits to how many times a student can join this program. Returning seniors awaiting news on college applications were feeling quite vulnerable, and opened up to the small intimate group. They chose to share poems around the topic of identity, diving deep into personal reflections and hard truths. They were open and honest in their writing, and shared their work at a reading to a supportive Telling Room audience.
““My experience participating in Telling Room programs has been one I will always value. They have created such an open and creative environment, and it’s a space I always look forward to writing in. I don’t think I would be the writer (or person) I am today without it.” ”
Publishing Workshop participant Ayra reviews a drafted book introduction with teaching artist Kyle Battle
14 students served in 2 programs
Publishing Workshop participants came together in the fall to launch a new publishing initiative for Maine’s youngest writers, ages 6 - 11. We began to create a book featuring peer writing for elementary school-aged students by opening submissions to young authors all over the state. We partnered with the Maine Department of Education, the Maine Humanities Council, and the Maine Librarians Association to get the word out and received a massive pool of writing — hundreds of pieces by students from eighty-two towns across Maine!
In the spring, Publishing Workshop sorted the writing by category and theme, and we soon realized we had in fact created two wonderful books: Stepping Stones, a mixed genre anthology of stories and poems, and Footprints, a collection of nature poems.
For our annual anthology, Echoes from the Basement, which explored the theme of “mystery” this year, Publishing Workshop students served as first readers, consulted on title, design, and ordering of the pieces alongside our guest editor, Rose Heithoff.
All together we engaged over 300 youth in the process of making these three books of 124 individual poems, stories, and essays. The writers in these books range in ages from 6 - 18 and they come from fifty-three different Maine towns and cities. This was the most ambitious Publishing Workshop year to date — never before has The Telling Room published as many authors in books from so many regions around the state.
Samara Dana and Bryson Dana proudly hold up their fresh copies of Footprints
Annual Statewide Writing Contest Winner Lily Douglas reads from her winning story “The Monster Under the Bed” in Echoes from the Basement
Obi Eichler signs his first copy of Stepping Stones
Our annual celebration of young writers took place in June at Deering Oaks Park in Portland, and included a book fair with sales and signings, author readings, a scavenger hunt, and award announcements. We honored all the students who had been published with The Telling Room this year while launching three new anthologies: Echoes from the Basement, Stepping Stones, and Footprints. Authors came together who had written and published with The Telling Room in our afterschool programs, in-school residencies across Maine, and many that were new to our organization and who had answered our calls for submissions throughout the year.
A beaming crowd circled around the stage made up of families, friends, teachers, and community members; pulling up picnic blankets or camp chairs to listen to authors from each anthology share their words at the microphone and take home stacks of freshly printed books. Some families drove up to five hours, traveling from towns like Mars Hill (Aroostook County), Lincoln (Penobscot County), Hope (Knox County), and Princeton (Washington County) to join the festivities.
““I just want to write more…It’s my passion and it’s what truly makes me feel like I can spread my wings and express myself, not only as a person but as an author. “”
SUMMER CAMPS
A student pauses to reflect and write amidst the mountains of Newry during the Writers Expedition camp with The Telling Room and the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School.
196 students served in 16 camps
Our summer camps in 2021 opened up wide possibilities for writing and showed us that the power of words is as limitless as the view from a mountaintop in Maine. We increased in-person programming after writing together virtually during the academic year, and campers enjoyed writing both at The Telling Room and in new spaces as we expanded partnerships throughout the summer. Having the studio bustling with stories and young writers once more was a highlight for our team, as was drawing inspiration from flowers, goats, and forests at Scatter Good Farm. The reach of our summer programs went even further through the Writers Expedition to Newry. In collaboration with the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School (HIOBS), this adventure pushed our writing to new heights.
As we began the summer of 2022, we launched several pilot initiatives to increase access to Telling Room camps. Local restaurants and businesses came together to provide meals for campers throughout their time with us and we were able to award the highest number of scholarships yet, made possible in part through a collaboration with Portland Public Schools. We also continued to expand the geographic range of our camps, hosting programs in Belfast at Waterfall Arts for the first time. We’re looking forward to building on this foundation for next year as we increase opportunities for all youth to engage with our summer programming.
““[This] experience was a strong demonstration of the ways outdoor adventure empowers and inspires youth, and the rich territory for writing that comes from spending time challenging our comfort zones out in the fresh air!””
AMBASSADORS
Our Ambassadors brought their experiences and knowledge to many community events throughout Maine, lifting up the literary arts and youth voices in classrooms, on film, on Instagram, and beyond. Ambassadors traveled from York, the southernmost county of Maine, all the way up to the Acadia region to speak at events and foster partnerships.
Our alumni shone brightly online in the virtual space as well as at the microphone, whether they were exploring educational pedagogy in a classroom in Mount Desert Island or sharing fiction writing tips on Instagram for National Novel Writing Month. Thank you to this year’s Ambassadors, Yousi Alshuwaili, Amanda Dettmann, Cam Jury, Khalil Kilani, and Nina Powers, for sharing their voices and expertise throughout the year.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Androscoggin Valley Educational Cooperative’s Young Writers Group
Bath Book Bash
Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
Brooklyn Music School
Cambodian Community Association of Maine
Catherine Cutler Institute
Center for Grieving Children
Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine
Cross Cultural Community Services
EqualityMaine
Dean’s Sweets
Dski Design
Forging Opportunities for Refugees in America
Furniture Friends
Growing to Give
Gulf of Maine Books
Hurricane Island Outward Bound School
Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership
Indigo Arts Alliance
Jalopy Theatre
LearningWorks
Longfellow Books
Maine Academy of Modern Music
Maine Boys to Men
Maine Climate Action Now!
Maine Department of Education
Maine Humanities Council
Maine Public Radio
Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance
Make It Happen
NAMI Maine
National Novel Writing Month
New Brackett Church
New England Youth Identity Summit
New York Film Academy
Patten Free Library
Portland Community Squash
Portland ConnectED
Portland Food Co-op
Portland Museum of Art
Portland Ovations
Portland Public Library
Portland Public Schools Summer Learning
Print: A Bookstore
ProsperityME: The Center for Financial Education
Scatter Good Farm
Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine
Sherman’s Books and Stationery
Side x Side
The State Theatre
STRIVE
Two Fat Cats Bakery
Union Church of Biddeford Pool
Unwritten Roads
Walch Publishing, Inc.
Waterville Opera House
Waynflete
WBFY
WMPG
Youth Leadership Advisory Team
The Telling Room belongs to a vibrant community of youth-serving organizations and arts nonprofits. We encourage wide support of Maine’s many nonprofits that uplift youth and the arts so our whole community can be stronger together.
SHOW & TELL: A LITERARY SPECTACULAR
Where can you find a Broadway star, a late night comedian, a critically acclaimed short story author, one of Maine’s musical powerhouses, and Telling Room alumni sharing the same bill? Only at Show & Tell, of course! This year’s production was our first-ever hybrid event, featuring an in-person screening at the Portland Museum of Art, while also giving viewers the option to tune in from cozy nooks at home.
Director Sean Mewshaw collaborated with fearless filmmakers from around the country to capture on-screen storytelling by Mandy Gonzalez, Hari Kondabolu, and Morgan Talty, while Pandora LaCasse’s light forms set the State Theatre aglow as Telling Room alum Genevieve Stokes took the stage to debut a fresh new song at the piano. Poems by Telling Room alumni Zoe Blackman and Leigh Ellis were imaginatively adapted for film and moved audiences watching from across the country and internationally. It was a joy to share in this celebration of stories and music with our community for an evening that was nothing short of spectacular.
Selections from Show & Tell have gone on to be featured by film festivals and film across the country, including the Seattle Queer Film Festival (“Squid Season”).
OUR 2021 - 2022 TEAM
STAFF
Kristina M.J. Powell, Executive Director
Peyton Black, Program & Volunteer Manager
Rylan Hynes, Communications Manager
James Kim, Teaching Artist
Amy Kimball, Teaching Artist
Clare LaVergne, Publications Manager
Molly McGrath, Publications Director
Jenny O’Connell, Teaching Artist
Hipai Pamba, Young Writers & Leaders Co-Teacher
Laura Poppick, Teaching Artist
Rachele Ryan, Operations & Development Manager
Sarah Schneider, Development Director
Sonya Tomlinson, Young Writers & Leaders Lead Teacher
Meghan Vigeant, Teaching Artist
Nick Whiston, Programs Director
Marjolaine Whittlesey, Lead Teacher
Kathryn Williams, Lead Teacher
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ekhlas Ahmed
Chelsea H. B. DeLorme, Board Vice President (July - May)
Anya Endsley, Board President
Rob Gould, Board Vice President (May - June)
Tanuja Desai Hidier
Ninette Irabaruta, Board Secretary
Alisan Kavookjian
Kate Malin
Moises “Mo” Nuñez
Catherine Richards Olney
Laura Shen
Donna Simonetti, Board Treasurer
Peg Smith
Bob Zager
ADVISORY BOARD
Susan Conley
Sara Corbett
Gibson Fay-LeBlanc
Anja Hanson
Patty Howells
Lily King
Ari Meil
Genevieve Morgan
Michael Paterniti
Tim Schneider
COMMITTEES
GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
Anya Endsley, Chair, Board Member
Rob Gould, Board Member
Chelsea H. B. DeLorme, Board Member
Kristina M.J. Powell, Executive Director
Catherine Richards, Board Member
HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE
Rob Gould, Chair, Board Member
Chris Bicknell, Board Member
Libby Lauze, Community Member
Kristina M.J. Powell, Executive Director
Catherine Richards, Board Member
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Donna Simonetti, Chair, Board Treasurer
Ruth Charron, Community Member
Kristina M.J. Powell, Executive Director
Rachele Ryan, Staff
Sarah Schneider, Staff
Bob Zager, Board Member
MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Chelsea H. B. DeLorme, Chair, Board Vice President
Tanuja Desai Hidier, Board Member
Rylan Hynes, Staff
Kristina M.J. Powell, Executive Director
Rachele Ryan, Staff
Sarah Schneider, Staff
Laura Shen, Board Member
Heather Shields, Community Member
Peg Smith, Board Member
SHOW & TELL: A LITERARY SPECTACULAR
Alisan Kavookjian, Co-Chair, Board Member
Kate Malin, Co-Chair, Board Member
Peyton Black, Staff
Amanda Dettmann, Telling Room Ambassador
Rob Gould, Board Member
Tanuja Desai Hidier, Board Member
Rylan Hynes, Staff
Sean Mewshaw, Director
Sally Newhall, Community Member
Kristina M.J. Powell, Executive Director
Rachele Ryan, Staff
Sarah Schneider, Staff
Sonya Tomlinson, Staff
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Anya Endsley, Board President
Chelsea H. B. DeLorme, Board Vice President (July - May)
Rob Gould, Board Vice President (May - June)
Ninette Irabaruta, Secretary
Kristina M.J. Powell, Executive Director
Tim Schneider, Community Member
Donna Simonetti, Board Treasurer
How to Support The Telling Room
Donating to The Telling Room is about believing in our students.
Our vibrant and generous community makes it possible for The Telling Room to be what it is today. All donations help us advance our mission to empower youth through writing and share their voices with the world. We are a registered 501(c)(3) organization, so all donations are tax deductible. Thank you for your support.
Tax ID # / EIN: 74-3136956