September 15, 2023
Storytelling is the best thing about being human.
And I believe it can change the world.
That's right.
Stories can and do change the world.
-Padma Lakshmi, Moth Storyteller
ACT ONE
Close Encounters of the Vegetable Kind
Kelli Sallman
Thank You for Listening
Greg Jarvis
Me, the Bike, and the Battle of Naboo
Andrew Taylor
From Writing Struggles to Writing for Dr. Seuss
Alastair Heim
Intermission—15 to 20 minutes
ACT TWO
Two Ears, One Mouth
Melissa Matthews
The Gong Show
Bobbie Jeffrey
Bonded
Jon Bowles
At SpokenStory, we believe storytelling is an act of service,
not an act of self.
Great storytelling serves the story,
its audience,
its fellow storytellers,
and the community it builds.
Above all, storytelling holds an inherent responsibility to those who give us
the gift of their time and attention.
Close Encounters of the Vegetable Kind
Kelli Sallman
Thank You for Listening
Greg Jarvis
Me, the Bike, and the Battle of Naboo
Andrew Taylor
From Writing Struggles to Writing for Dr. Seuss
Alastair Heim
Intermission—15 to 20 minutes
ACT TWO
Two Ears, One Mouth
Melissa Matthews
The Gong Show
Bobbie Jeffrey
Bonded
Jon Bowles
At SpokenStory, we believe storytelling is an act of service,
not an act of self.
Great storytelling serves the story,
its audience,
its fellow storytellers,
and the community it builds.
Above all, storytelling holds an inherent responsibility to those who give us
the gift of their time and attention.
Proceeds from tonight's event will go to
Imago Performing Arts.
Learn more at www.imagoarts.org
or follow us on social media @ImagoArtsKC
Imago Performing Arts.
Learn more at www.imagoarts.org
or follow us on social media @ImagoArtsKC
Storyteller Bios
Jon Bowles
Jon is the founding pastor of Beggars Table, a church in the Kansas City Crossroads District which, among other things, runs and operates an art gallery. He has written for multiple journals and in 2010 published his first book, Art & Faith. He is married to his wife, Kari, and for the first time in years, both of their children, Palmer and Elli, are away at school. Jon and Kari have the TV to themselves!
Alastair Heim
Alastair Heim is the author of fourteen children’s picture books including the official sequel to HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! titled HOW THE GRINCH LOST CHRISTMAS!, as well as HELLO DOOR, which was named one of The New York Public Library’s Best Books of 2018, THE GREAT PUPPY INVASION, which won the 2019 Oklahoma Redbud Read-Aloud Award, and QUIET DOWN LOUD TOWN!, which was named a 2021 Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection.
Greg Jarvis
Greg has always had an interest in building a better world; that's what got him into community planning and economic development as a career. He shifted to real estate and field sales, and finally, he's been working in a Christian healing ministry as a Christian Science practitioner for the past decade. He's married to the love of his life who has a very dedicated public safety career. Which is a good thing—she is the stepmother to their seven, yes SEVEN children.
Bobbie Jeffrey
Bobbie has had a tenuous relationship with the truth ever since conscious memory. She's a professional pretender in a theatre career—director, theatre prof—now venturing into storytelling. What she loves about SpokenStorySlam? The stories are true as remembered and affirmed by the storyteller! Bobbie has a husband who is as honest as the day is long. Among her three sons, one's a director, one's an actor, and the youngest is a business guy who at least uses accents and dialects when he plays DnD.
Melissa Matthews
Melissa is a retired doctor. She has many stories about her patients that she cannot tell and many stories about her kids that she is forbidden to tell. Stories about her own adventures, however, and stories about her husband are still in play.
Kelli Sallman
Growing up, Kelli wanted to be a detective, but her family told her she'd never succeed because she drives like an old grandma. She has applied her observation skills instead to the work of editing and poetry. Mother to three adult creatives, and married to John, Kelli has finally perfected the art of avoiding the grocery shopping.
Andrew Taylor
Andrew is 31, resides in Kansas City with his wife, Emily, and son, Atticus. Andrew one day dreams of becoming the oldest child prodigy in the world. Here is what’s been said about Andrew:
“When I grow up I want to be like Andrew.” – The Dalai Lama
“He’s the best person I know. Really just an outstanding human being.” – Andrew’s mom
“A little known fact: I actually dedicated the Era’s Tour to Andrew.” – Taylor Swift
Jon is the founding pastor of Beggars Table, a church in the Kansas City Crossroads District which, among other things, runs and operates an art gallery. He has written for multiple journals and in 2010 published his first book, Art & Faith. He is married to his wife, Kari, and for the first time in years, both of their children, Palmer and Elli, are away at school. Jon and Kari have the TV to themselves!
Alastair Heim
Alastair Heim is the author of fourteen children’s picture books including the official sequel to HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! titled HOW THE GRINCH LOST CHRISTMAS!, as well as HELLO DOOR, which was named one of The New York Public Library’s Best Books of 2018, THE GREAT PUPPY INVASION, which won the 2019 Oklahoma Redbud Read-Aloud Award, and QUIET DOWN LOUD TOWN!, which was named a 2021 Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection.
Greg Jarvis
Greg has always had an interest in building a better world; that's what got him into community planning and economic development as a career. He shifted to real estate and field sales, and finally, he's been working in a Christian healing ministry as a Christian Science practitioner for the past decade. He's married to the love of his life who has a very dedicated public safety career. Which is a good thing—she is the stepmother to their seven, yes SEVEN children.
Bobbie Jeffrey
Bobbie has had a tenuous relationship with the truth ever since conscious memory. She's a professional pretender in a theatre career—director, theatre prof—now venturing into storytelling. What she loves about SpokenStorySlam? The stories are true as remembered and affirmed by the storyteller! Bobbie has a husband who is as honest as the day is long. Among her three sons, one's a director, one's an actor, and the youngest is a business guy who at least uses accents and dialects when he plays DnD.
Melissa Matthews
Melissa is a retired doctor. She has many stories about her patients that she cannot tell and many stories about her kids that she is forbidden to tell. Stories about her own adventures, however, and stories about her husband are still in play.
Kelli Sallman
Growing up, Kelli wanted to be a detective, but her family told her she'd never succeed because she drives like an old grandma. She has applied her observation skills instead to the work of editing and poetry. Mother to three adult creatives, and married to John, Kelli has finally perfected the art of avoiding the grocery shopping.
Andrew Taylor
Andrew is 31, resides in Kansas City with his wife, Emily, and son, Atticus. Andrew one day dreams of becoming the oldest child prodigy in the world. Here is what’s been said about Andrew:
“When I grow up I want to be like Andrew.” – The Dalai Lama
“He’s the best person I know. Really just an outstanding human being.” – Andrew’s mom
“A little known fact: I actually dedicated the Era’s Tour to Andrew.” – Taylor Swift
Special thanks from the folks at Imago
To Kelli Sallman--workshop instructor, Grammar Queen (sung to the tune of Abba’s Dancing Queen), wise counselor, word crafter extraordinaire, and friend.
To Jon Bowles--master storyteller, purveyor of deep thoughts, the spark for SpokenStorySlamKC, and partner-in-crime. Human connection? It’s your jam. Just sayin’.
To our storytellers-Kelli, Greg, Andrew, Alastair, Melissa, Bobbie, and Jon—you’re living proof that storytelling is an act of service. Deepest thanks for your vulnerability and generosity in sharing your story!
To Jonathan Jones--emcee, videographer, and social media coordinator—who, if he were only 10% as funny as he thinks he is, would be killin' it!
To Callie and Zeb Johnson--who might be two of the favorites in the hundreds of students Bobbie has known and loved...not that she has favorites...
To Maria Jones and Melissa-food is their love language, and they'd be happy serving the world from an international food truck. They’re our welcome mat, our springboard, our heart and soul.
To Mark Matthews, sound tech--who undoubtedly rolls his eyes every time Bobbie asks him to do something...and then does it!
To Jon Bowles, Bruce Jeffrey, Callie and Zeb Johnson, Jonathan and Maria Jones, and Mark and Melissa Matthews who gave so graciously of their time to set up and tear down. Stories change the world, so thank you for providing a space in your hearts for that to begin.
To the good folks at Beggars Table who shared their space generously, with kind hospitality, and with open hearts. And they got a guy (yes, thank you, Doug Vanmeter!) who knows how to run the freight elevator!
To Jon Bowles--master storyteller, purveyor of deep thoughts, the spark for SpokenStorySlamKC, and partner-in-crime. Human connection? It’s your jam. Just sayin’.
To our storytellers-Kelli, Greg, Andrew, Alastair, Melissa, Bobbie, and Jon—you’re living proof that storytelling is an act of service. Deepest thanks for your vulnerability and generosity in sharing your story!
To Jonathan Jones--emcee, videographer, and social media coordinator—who, if he were only 10% as funny as he thinks he is, would be killin' it!
To Callie and Zeb Johnson--who might be two of the favorites in the hundreds of students Bobbie has known and loved...not that she has favorites...
To Maria Jones and Melissa-food is their love language, and they'd be happy serving the world from an international food truck. They’re our welcome mat, our springboard, our heart and soul.
To Mark Matthews, sound tech--who undoubtedly rolls his eyes every time Bobbie asks him to do something...and then does it!
To Jon Bowles, Bruce Jeffrey, Callie and Zeb Johnson, Jonathan and Maria Jones, and Mark and Melissa Matthews who gave so graciously of their time to set up and tear down. Stories change the world, so thank you for providing a space in your hearts for that to begin.
To the good folks at Beggars Table who shared their space generously, with kind hospitality, and with open hearts. And they got a guy (yes, thank you, Doug Vanmeter!) who knows how to run the freight elevator!
Please take a minute to complete this short survey to let us know how your experience went this evening!
Thank you for coming to SpokenStorySlamKC!
