Affiliations:

• National Storytelling Network
• National Association of Black Storytellers
• Ase: The Chicago Association of Black Storytellers
• Northlands Storytelling Network
• The Fox Valley Storytelling Guild

  Current Workshops:

  New themes developed as needed

  The ABC's of Storytelling - Storytelling 101 for teachers, students and beginning tellers
  
  Storytelling for the Classroom - Techniques for bringing storytelling into the classroom everyday
  
  Out of the Story comes the Write Stuff - Creative writing projects from storytelling exercises
  
  Say It With Style - Expressive communication workshop for students
  
  Creative Expression Using Similes - Learning about similes through storytelling
  
  I Know I'm Good, You Need to Know Too; Now Hire Me! - Marketing workshop for storytellers
  
  Say it Clearly, Say It Completely, Say It With Energy & Attitude - a presentation workshop

Sponsorship:

The Illinois Arts Council ArtsTour program sponsors Linda. The Council will reimburse between 30% and 50% of her fee when she works for non-profit organizations.

Program themes:

(please note that many programs use stories from several themes)

Folks Forum - Folktales from around the world

Our World, Our Hearts - Stories to lift your spirits and make you feel good

R.E.S.P.E.C.T. & Other Character Stories - No preaching, just teaching

I Don't Want to Grow Up - Participation stories

Hair Raisers - Halloween Stories

Holiday - Christmas, Kwanzaa and Hanukkah

Legends - Harriet Tubman, Madam C.J. Walker (first self-made female millionaire)

A Country Divided - Civil War Stories

Mythological Love - Cupid & Psyche, Pygmalion

A Look at "Differences" – "The Little Rock Nine" and Me

Making it Better – Stories of peace, love & unity

Anansi & Other Spider Stories

Thanks for the Thanks!

“Linda Gorham is better than recess!” – Carrie Douglas, 2nd grader, Wild Rose School, St. Charles, Illinois

“Linda can rivet people of all walks of life with tales from all over the world . . . To some, Gorham is a hip, here-and-now, modern day griot. Griots were the fabled storytellers of West Africa who kept alive tribal histories and legends by weaving them into fascinating stories and retelling them.” -- Jon Anderson, The Chicago Tribune

"You're not an ordinary storyteller." -- Liz Emit, 6th grader, New Jersey

“Linda, I'm so proud of you, girl! The CD is fresh, engaging, and allows for uninhibited participation from wherever you are. Plus it has wonderful messages that all children (and adults as well) should give serious consideration to, but it is not 'preachy' in its approach. Your CD is also full of images and recollections that listeners -- cross culturally -- will be able to connect with. The story about Samuel, Horaldo, Jonathan Drew had my nieces cracking up and going UGH every time there was mention of the ‘distinctive’ taste combinations. And of course, wasn’t that the intention? It's a delightful work.” – Mama Edie Armstrong, Storyteller, Chicago, Illinois

“Wow! What a performance. What a night! Thank you so much for making room in your schedule for us. Thank you for coming “home” to Hill to share your talent.” – Mary Kelly, Hill Middle School, Naperville, Illinois

“Linda’s storytelling gift springs tales to life and prompts audience participation” – Carol Hegarty, The Beacon News, Aurora, Illinois

“What a fun time we all had during your storytelling at our school. The students and teachers are still talking about it. You were like the ‘icing’ on our Literature Festival cake. Thanks.” Vicki Johnson, Munhall Elementary School, Munhall, Illinois

"Middle school aged kids can be very difficult to reach at times, but it's obvious from their responses that you managed to do just that. The story of the mustard seed seemed to be a very popular one, and I was pleased to see that a number of boys had such a positive and insightful reaction to it." -- Barb Malina, 7th grade teacher, Illinois

"Hey are you the storyteller who came to our school? Way cool! That was great!” -- Unnamed male admirer, West Aurora High School, Illinois

"Being at your show was the finest hour I ever spent." -- Timmy Hapke, West Lawn Library, Chicago, Illinois

"At first I thought of it as a good way to get out of class, but afterward I wished she could have told more." "She was outgoing, funny, and has a good imagination." "I like it all but the best one was when everyone had to get up, especially the teachers." "You can tell she really loves her job. It was awesome." -- 8th graders, Mokena Jr. High School, Mokena, Illinois

"Your program enthralled students of all ages and grades, and your presentation was so captivating! The teachers asked me how soon we could have you return." -- Alan Molby, Principal, Hillside School District 93, Lisle, Illinois

"Your show was fantastic! You involved the children in participating in the stories in a super way. They, and we, the teachers, were spellbound by your words, tone, actions, volume, pitch, and every movement. Truly you are a master of storytelling!" -- Shongum Third Grade Teachers, New Jersey

"Grunts, silly faces, gigantic gestures, and animated arm waving punctuate Linda's lively stories." -- Judy Buchenot, Naperville Sun Newspaper, Illinois