Brave and Bold

I did not expect Scott to show up with story for Pitch Night. Scott is a personal friend, a LORE volunteer and a story lover. Scott is not your center of attention type of guy, in fact, Scott is very much the opposite. His piercing, baby blue eyes will definitely pull you into conversation, but the careful way he shifts the focus seems to intentionally turn the spotlight away from himself, allowing others to soak up the attention. And so, I am surprised that he has a story to tell and agrees to share it on stage.

When he steps onto the platform, his nervous laughter proceeds his confession that he is uncomfortable with the stage and the microphone and the audience. And when his story begins I am unsure of where he is going with it. It does not seem to be a story about hunger at all.

We are laughing and following his adventures and descriptions, flying high with him in the delight of the moment. And then he drops the revelation and we all breathe in. There it is. The vulnerable twist in the story that I did not expect.

I am not going to reveal any more about Scott’s story. You will have to come to the event to hear it. I will tell you this: it is brave and bold. And Scott is stepping outside of his comfort zone in a very big way to bring it to you, because that is what brave and bold people do.

So, if you want to hear Scott’s story, buy a ticket. Sponsor the event. Be there.

Scott Johnson

Eye to Eye

Nicole is slightly shorter than me. I say this because no one is ever shorter than me and when she and I talk, we see eye to eye - literally - eye to eye. And so, when I talk with Nicole, I feel like she seeing me. She listens intently and shares authentically, and she is with me. So if you are taller than Nicole and I, and you have had the pleasure of conversation with this beauty, tell me, is it just me, or does she see everybody?

When I met Nicole, the first thing she said to me was, “I can’t believe that this storytelling thing exists in Dayton. I have been looking for you my whole life!” And now, after taking the LORE Classroom 4 week course, I feel like I have helped to unleash the Kraken.

Nicole has stories to tell. They are exploding from her like steam from a pressure cooker: they must be told. Her life demands it. Her excitement with the process helps to carry this group of storytellers meeting each week to work on their stories of hunger. The group might be nervous, but when Nicole speaks suddenly everyone is excited. She just does that, she inspires you with smiles and laughter and tears and truth. Her vulnerability is real and raw. She is who she is and in her presence we all cannot help but feel as if she will accept each one of us exactly as we are.

Nicole’s hunger story could be any one of our stories. Her childhood experience of witnessing a mentor who made a difference in the lives of those in her community simply by doing the little things is touching and triumphant. And the way Nicole shares it is like someone who has stories to share. She understands the power of a story that we can relate to and so she paints a picture with her words that feels and reveals. And in her story, I see me, eye to eye.

A VIP ticket gets you the opportunity meet Nicole and I before the show where you can see us side by side, eye to eye. And every ticket gets a chance to hear her story, live on stage. So get your ticket. You don’t want to miss it!

Nicole Ruttencutter

Hear her story

She has seen more than most, given up more than most, this powerful woman before me with tears in her eyes. I do not understand her language and so I wait for the interpretation that will reveal the words behind the tears. And before I hear English my own tears have already started to fall. When the translation reaches me, I am speechless.

She had the good life: enough money and a comfortable home. And yet her heart broke for those in her city who had little and so she sought reform. She let her heart drive her towards helping those less fortunate. And because of her love for her people, she was branded a traitor.

This loving mother, this God-fearing activist, this giving soul before me, is a wanted person. Leaving her family with only a backpack, she hid in the shadows until she could escape.

“Horrible” she said.

That word I understood. Her story travels from Venezuela to Miami and then to Dayton, fighting through hunger to keep a roof over her family’s head. Starting over in a new world, she found that, for the first time, she had to rely on the helping hands of others. Food from churches and pantries and the kindness of strangers gave her the strength to walk the miles to work each day.

Today, she is the one helping those in need. Her story of resilience, kindness and helping her fellow man will leave you breathless.

And as I listen, I am reminded that this is why I do this work: to bring Mariela’s story to you.

Over the next 5 weeks, Mariela and I will be working together to cross the language barrier to bring to you a compelling story for the stage. I have never done this before. And neither has she. But we both know the impact. We both want you to hear the story.

So, support the stories. Buy a ticket. Sponsor the event.

Mariela is one of half a dozen storytellers that will be on stage on Thursday, May 9th 2019 at the LORE Mainstage event at in Dayton OH. And I can assure you, you will not want to miss a single one of them.

Mariela Adriana