ABOUT MIKE
How Mike got started in storytelling
Once upon a time, Mike's 7-year-old daughter Laura announced, "I have a special assignment from school. We have to turn off the TV for a whole week!" With no television to watch, the family made trips to their local library and discovered that the stories there were often better than the stories on TV. One night, rather than reading a favorite story to his children for the umpteenth time, Mike put the book down, looked into their eyes, and told them the story. From that day, a course was set which has led Mike to a career as a professional storyteller and speaker.
Where Mike's storytelling has led him
Mike is now an award-winning storyteller and public speaker, bringing a variety of educational programs to children and adults in venues throughout the upper Midwest. His presentations are filled with warmth, humor and inspiration.
What else is Mike up to?
Mike is a training consultant and speaker for the National Institute on Media and the Family. He is a certified trainer for the Minnesota School-Age Care Alliance where he teaches workshops on storytelling and Creating MediaWise Kids.
Newspaper Articles About Mike!
St.
Paul Pioneer Press - Eden
Prairie News - Minneapolis
Star Tribune
- Stillwater Gazette
Mike is co-author of Telling Stories, the Storytelling Handbook for families, groups, classrooms and individuals, by Cygnus Storytelling, 2007 (www.cygnus-storytelling.org). Mike writes a regular Media Parenting column for the McHenry County (IL) Woman Newspaper™ (www.mchenrycountywoman.com). He is a contributing author of The Art of Storytelling, 2003, Moody Publishers, where he wrote the chapter on Storytelling and the Family. He has appeared on Channel 9's Good Morning Minnesota and Kare 11 TV.
What Mike used to do
Prior to his career as a storyteller, Mike worked in the areas of human resources and corporate training, and spent the early years of his working life as a baker.
Memberships and affiliations
National:
- Member of the National Storytelling Network; participates in "Stories in Organizations" special interest group www.storynet.org
- Training consultant and speaker for the National Institute on Media and the Family www.mediafamily.org
- Anne Richardson Reading is Fundamental national award nominee www.rif.org
Regional:
- Member of Northlands Storytelling Network, serving as President from 2001-2003 www.northlands.net
- Founder and member of Cygnus Storytelling www.cygnus-storytelling.org
Minnesota:
- Founding Board member of Northstar Storytelling League www.northstarstorytelling.org
- Certified trainer for the Minnesota School-Age Care Alliance www.mnsaca.org
- Rostered member of Minnesota Story Alliance www.minnesotastoryalliance.com
10% of Mike’s Storytelling Fees are donated to support MediaWise Early Childhood Programs.
Building healthy families through the wise use of media.
www.mediawise.org |
