For the past twenty three years Joe has been fully engaged in the art of loving, learning, and healing all that is human in the lives of young people and adults. In his vocation as a high school teacher, counselor and storyteller, he has discovered the profound educational and healing power of storytelling. It is through the intimacy and power of a heartfelt story that human beings discover the art of living a human life.
Joe performs all types of stories for all groups. He is a story looking for a place to happen. He makes use of musical instruments, sound effects, and even twists balloons as means of entertaining others about life’s most basic and treasured truths.
For the past several years Joe’s writing has focused on role that family storytelling has on personal identity. His tales of growing up in family of seven celebrate the joys and the sorrows of being family.
Joe has a B.A. in Theology, an M.Ed.in counseling psychology and is a Certified Parent Effectiveness Trainer.
For the past ten years Joe has taught courses in the Oral Traditions and the Art of Storytelling. He has recently completed his first book entitled Finding the Lost Art of Family Storytelling: A Guide for Parents, Grandparents and Family Historians.
Long before spankings and time-outs, ancient cultures disciplined their children through the art and the gift of story. If a small child misbehaved, the child’s parent sat the child down and told a simply story with a lesson connected to it. When adolescents acted out, parents and elders of the community would tell them stories teaching meaningful lessons from the lives of their ancestors. Through family and cultural oral traditions young people learned to live with honor
Parenting through storytelling not only teaches right from wrong, but also answers why it is important to behave properly and live a meaningful life.
A Full Day Retreat and Seminar in the
Finding the Lost Art of Family Storytelling for Parents, Grandparents, Teachers and Ministers
This program is designed to introduce participants to the simple art of storytelling. The program emphasizes identification and reflection on the spiritual process involved in storytelling. It also specifically covers the psychological process that the listener goes through when hearing a story. It teaches how to identify and organize life experience into simple and more complex stories. Included are several exercises that allow the individual teller to perform stories with rhythm, powerful characterization, and creative music.
A Three Hour Seminar
This seminar is designed to get parents, grandparents, storytellers of all kinds communicating to others through the art of story. The group works through the basic principles and specific articles of storytelling. Each person of the seminar will leave with a copy of the guide book and the class on compact disc so that they can walk through the exercises on their own time and at their own pace.
A Two Hour Performance
Joe will come to your community and perform stories from his compact disc recording called Family Legends…..Family Lies… The performance always ignites the memory and the imaginations of the audience. The show will go ninety minutes and Joe will stay around to share his strategies and sell his books and tapes to those who want to purchase them.
A Show and Retreat for Fathers and Sons
This two hour show/ retreat is directed for fathers and their sons. It is presented in the context of the storytelling show Tales My Father Never Told Me. The performance portrays the adventure of a father finding his own character of manhood through the challenge of raising his son(s). It covers the trials and tribulations of the father/son relationship, as well as, the meaningful rites of passage. The show includes music written by Harry Chapin, Jim Croce, and Jim Post. Also included with the retreat, is a booklet instructing fathers on how to mentor their sons through the storytelling and meaningful (spiritual) activities that fathers and sons can do together.
Open Performances:
Joe is a complete entertainer in the fact that he can perform stories from many cultures and explain the educational history behind them. He plays several musical instruments and is a professional balloon twister. Joe is available to perform for any kind of celebration!
"Joe’s storytelling talents are complimented by his vast knowledge of parenting, human development and spirituality. He really gave me a sense of the “big picture” in fostering an intimate relationship with my adolescent son." – Carol Erickson, parent
“Mr. Jekot is the best teacher I have ever had and one of the funniest men I have ever met.” – Linda Chlimoun, Oral Traditions student and finalist for the Northlands Youthful Voices competition
“In Mr. Jekot’s class I don’t take many notes. When he tells his stories it’s nearly impossible to forget.” – Jeff Jordan, Psychology Student at Loyola Academy College Prep.
“Joe told outstanding scary stories at the Campo-oree, to the Northwest Suburban Boy Scouts. He stood in front of a fire with more than 150 Scouts and you could here a pin drop between all the laughter” – Michael O’Malley, North Suburban Boy Scout Council
"Joe brings a Robin Williams-like energy and excitement to his performances. His has this uncanny ability to improvise aspect of his story making it humorous and applicable for any situation." – Dr. Kevin Gary, Professor of Education Goshen University
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$12 Family Legends… Family Lies… Every family has them! All too often it is hard to tell the legends from the lies and the lies from the legends. This is what makes family storytelling so entertaining. Joe Jekot has put together seven homespun tales filled with all the drama of being a family. From lying to nuns, to driving the family car through the garage door, Joe’s stories are electric and contagious. |
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$20 The Compact Disc version of The Lost Art of Family Storytelling allows the student to learn the art of story by simply listening. Included in the desk are more than sixty minutes of stories performed by Joe. |
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$15 |