News

‘Do Tell Storytelling’ features renowned tale spinner

Ray Christian will perform at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at A Place to Go Community Center, 505 Fifth Ave. E.

By Lightning Reports, Published: May 10, 2025

STEAP (Storytelling, Education and Arts Programs), a local non-profit arts organization, will host its fourth “Do Tell Storytelling” event when Dr. Ray Christian performs at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at A Place to Go Community Center, 505 Fifth Ave. E.

A retired U.S. Army paratrooper, Christian grew up on the poverty-ridden streets of Richmond, Virginia, the son of illiterate parents. He overcame that difficult beginning and achieved remarkable success in a variety of fields. He is a Fulbright Specialist Scholar in Education, with expertise in oral history and personal narrative.

He is the producer and host of the What’s Ray Saying podcast, a world of Southern-baked personal narratives interwoven with Black American history, and also hosts the monthly Moth Story Slam in Asheville.

In competitive storytelling, Ray is a 12-time Moth Story Slam Champion, and winner of the 2016 National Storytelling Festival Story Slam. His stories have been featured multiple times on the “Moth Radio Hour,” “Snap Judgment,” “Back Story Radio” and the “Spooked” podcasts, among many others.

A Place to Go is the vision of Roxanna and Ronnie Pepper as a venue to foster a sense of belonging, connect with others who share similar interests, gain and offer support and encouragement, learn from others, collaborate on projects and advocate for change on shared causes.

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The free event will be held outside weather permitting. Guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs or blanket to sit on the lawn. For more information visit www.dotellpodcast.com/dotellfestival