Rachal Brooks, Lisa Colleen, Amy Heiting, Chris Trani, and Scott Whitehair

“Writing poetry and stories gave me the voice I never realized I had. My poems and writing are evidence of living, healing, falling, and rising - shared to help others do the same. I’m a runner, writer, listener, occasional farmer, and adventurer. I love all kinds of music, traveling and being near the water.” 

-Rachal Brooks

Lisa Colleen loves the sharing of stories because they connect, empower and INSPIRE! As a mother, grandmother and coach, she has an endless supply of stories to tell. Rarely does she make it through the telling of one story without wanting to interrupt herself with another story. 

Amy Heiting has shared her love of stories and obsession with words throughout her years teaching high school English as she helped her students find their voices, explore their identities, and make sense of their histories through storytelling.  She recently stepped away from the classroom and, as a stay-at-home mom, is set on making sure her daughter is as captivated by stories and language as she is.  Her passion for reading and writing led her to pursue a doctorate in literacy which she will finish this May. 

Chris Trani is a fantastic up-and-coming stand-up comedian from Chicago, IL who strives to integrate all forms of comedy into his act: stand-up, storytelling, crowd work; and if need be, he can do it all in Spanish (kinda)! Winner of National Public Radio's The MOTH and the SNUBFEST Comedy Festival for Storytelling in 2015, Chris has shared the stage with TJ Miller, Roy Wood Jr. of The Daily Show, and Dov Davidoff of HBO’s CRASHING. Chris is the house emcee at The House of Blues Chicago and can be seen performing at clubs all throughout the region, including The Comedy Bar, Zanies, Laugh Factory, and Crackers Comedy Club Indianapolis, and his hometown venue, Helium Comedy in St. Louis, MO.

Scott Whitehair is a storyteller, producer, and teacher from Chicago,IL.  He is host of This Much Is True, one of the city's longest running personal narrative series, creator of Story Lab Chicago, which has put 600+ new and first time tellers on stage since 2011, and director of Do Not Submit, a citywide network of open mics with the goal of creating empathy among neighbors. He tells stories anywhere someone will listen, which has included The National Storytelling Festival's Exchange Place,  and on NPR and The Risk Podcast.. Scott teaches a perpetually sold out monthly class, and trains corporations, non-profits, and individuals to find their voices. In 2014, he was the featured instructor at Hong Kong Story Worthy Week, headlined by David Sedaris,