Patricia Enciso
Dr. Enciso's support of arts and storytelling on the west side began in 2008, at Hilltonia Middle School, where she collaborated with 6th-8th grade teachers to engage youth in creating and performing stories, set in the west side. Initial funding from the National Council of Teachers of English supported three years of storytelling (2008-2011). Subsequently, Dr. Enciso directed research and teaching for the OSU/RSC funded partnership with the Royal Shakespeare Company (2010-2016), which included monthly teacher development workshops and classroom-based arts and literacy education with west side youth. From 2016-2018, Dr. Enciso and Ohio State graduate students implemented superhero storytelling pedagogy and writing with middle grade youth. Since 2008, Dr. Enciso has published multiple articles about storytelling with diverse youth, presented multiple keynote and invited presentations at national and international conferences, and engaged multiple graduate students and educators in supporting and documenting youth's storytellling.
Gabrielle Solange
Ms. Solange views entertainment as a method to heal, educate, and empower. This past year she performed at many special events fighting for causes she holds dear including the YWCA's Stand Against Racism and Activists and Agitators campaigns, Franklin County Children's Services' Black Girl Magic, Rise Sister Rise's A Think Tank on Black Girls' Mental Health, The Columbus Museum of Art, Tapestry's Hidden Wounds, exposing the horrors of human trafficking and TEDxColumbusWomen.
She also opened for Musiq Soul Child, Bun B, Da Brat, Big Daddy Kane, Jon B and performed at many of Columbus' main events including High Ball and Easton's 21st Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Parade Ceremony.
Ms. Solange’s workshops with youth have been commissioned by the Columbus Urban League for after school programs in Columbus City Schools, and Central High and Second Sight program. Her youth-centered music video productions are highly interactive and inspiring. https://www.gabriellesolange.com/creationworkshops
Michael Watson
Michael Watson is a comic book artist, writer, and creator. He is a graduate of the Cleveland School of the Arts and the Columbus College of Art and Design(CCAD). He has worked in the comic field with his own publishing house Freestyle Komics and several other indie titles.
Mr. Watson's enthusiasm for comics is evident in his work as an after school art teacher with Fort Hayes, East, Downtown High Schools, Medina Middle school, CPAA, and Picktown Art Works. He has been published in Columbus Alive and illustrated a cover for the publication. Michael is also in his 5th season of running an internship program in collaboration with CCAD.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/GBNerdy/
www.shortfusemediagroup.com
https://www.deviantart.com/5000watts/gallery
Beth Krone
Beth Krone is a graduate student at Ohio State University who is studying how stories and storytelling make space for students to critically reflect on language and society. She is a former middle and high school English teacher who is experienced in creating kinesthetic close reading activities and pop cultural curricula. She holds a Masters in teaching and has attended the Breadloaf School for teachers of English. She has been a member of the Westside StoryArt Collaborative since 2016, and she has worked extensively with three author groups, each over the course of multiple years. In addition to bringing the best snacks, she has learned lots about Forntite, SpongeBob, anime and Marvel characters in her continuing work with youth. One of the groups she worked with created a breakdancing superhero, Bboy, so she also learned some dance moves —pictured here.