It takes a village.
The WSF could not be possible without the festival committee members, who work to review applications, coordinate volunteers and food orders, promote the festival through videos and blog posts, and fill in all the many jobs that aren’t covered by the festival volunteers.
Thank you to the volunteers who help put out the programs, work the door and the merchandise table, provide rides, monitor the Youtube stream, and help make sure the festival runs smoothly.
Thank you to the Festival Committee:
Stacy Crickmer, Bonnie Gardner, Carol Moore, Miriam Nadel, Jessica Robinson, Jack Scheer, Cyndi Wish, and Andrea Young.
Thank you to the Festival Volunteers:
Lona Bartlett, Nick Baskerville, Judy Clapper, Laura Deal, Bonnie Gardner, Kate & Mustafa Hersi, Brenda Mantooth, Arlene Moore, Miriam Nadel, Beth Ohlsson, Sarah Snyder, Christine Vincent, Cyndi Wish, Andrea Young, and Sandy Woolfenden!
Finally, we want to thank the Emcees for the Festival, who are also volunteers. The emcees guide us through the weekend’s storytelling events and keep the shows running smoothly. Please take a moment to read about our emcees – Noa Baum, Sherry Grimes, Bonnie Gardner, Carol Moore, Miriam Nadel, Jessica Robinson, Cyndi Wish, and Andrea Young – below.
Noa Baum
EmceeBorn and raised in Israel, Noa Baum is an award-winning storyteller, author, and coach. She presents internationally to diverse audiences ranging from the World Bank, prestigious universities and organizations to inner city schools and congregations. Noa’s recordings won Storytelling World and Parents’ Choice awards, her memoir A Land Twice Promised – An Israeli Woman’s Quest for Peace – is a winner of several awards including the Anne Izard Storyteller’s Choice Award. Her most recent book is for children – How the Birds Became Friends. More about Noa at noabaum.com
Sherry Grimes
EmceeSherry Stafford Grimes is a NoVA native who brings a lifetime passion for the arts to her support of Better Said Than Done. From her full-time work at Grimm & Parker Architects supporting meaningful and empowered projects to her tireless support of artistic organizations such as The Moth and Artomatic, Sherry always works with passion and a smile to help make our DMV home a better place.
Bonnie Gardner
EmceeBonnie Gardner made her storytelling-for-the-stage debut in 2020. A former journalist who changed careers to work in IT, Bonnie never lost her love for a good story. She has performed frequently with Better Said Than Done and is a Six Feet Apart monthly story slam winner. She was a New Voice at the 2022 Stone Soup Storytelling Festival in South Carolina and is performing in the CT Storytelling Festival this April. She is thrilled to be back performing a story and emceeing in the Women’s Storytelling Festival.
Carol Moore
EmceeCarol Moore is a storyteller and public speaking coach. She has presented at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, served as a speaker coach for TED speakers through TEDxTysons, and won the title of Moth StorySLAM Champion. She’s competed in public speaking competitions with Toastmasters International and is a member of both the NSN and the National Communication Association.
Miriam Nadel
EmceeMiriam Nadel firmly believes that M.C. stands for Miriam of Ceremonies. She has performed folk tales, personal stories, and original fairy tales at venues ranging from a Hollywood art gallery to the Washington Folk Festival. She served as Virginia State Liaison to the National Storytelling Network and is currently on the boards of both Better Said Than Done and Voices in the Glen. All of the stories she tells are true, whether or not they happened that way.
Jessica Robinson
EmceeBetter Said Than Done Founding Executive Director Jessica Robinson is a professional storyteller, presenter, speaker, host, emcee, author, teaching artist, and story coach. Jessica performed at Exchange Place at the International Storytelling Festival, appeared on PBS’ “Stories from the Stage,” and was a featured teller in the 2020 Women’s Storytelling Festival and also at the Stone Soup Festival, the Washington Folk Festival, the Hampton Festival, and the Florida Storytelling Festival.
Check out her upcoming events here.
Cyndi Wish
EmceeCyndi Wish enjoys cooking, well organized plans, and large dogs. Though born in Virginia, Cyndi moved to New Jersey at a young age and identifies as being from the Garden State. She has a terminal degree in visual art, dreams of obtaining a PhD in linguistics, and strongly opposes the acceptance of irregardless into the OED.
Andrea Young
EmceeHaving lived overseas for over a decade, Andrea’s global nomad experiences have taken her around the world. There has to be a story in there somewhere and she hopes to find them. Andrea is inspired by storytellers, enjoys storytelling, and has appreciated being invited back to perform for Better Said Than Done and Artists Standing Strong Together. She is the Better Said Than Done President of the Board of Directors for the newly minted nonprofit and looks forward to serving you this year!
