Onawumi Jean Moss is a storyteller, narrator, keynote speaker and author who encourages pride of heritage, appreciation of cultural differences and recognition of kinship. As a storyteller, Onawumi has made content-rich, thought-provoking and entertaining presentations before inter-generational audiences across the U.S. and in the Netherlands. Her solo performances, workshops and keynotes, offer a seamless blend of story and a cappella singing, and have consistently won high praise from audiences–kindergarten through college. While Associate Dean of Students at Amherst College (1985-2006) Onawumi founded and produced a multicultural storytelling festival (Keepers of the Word 1993-2006) which hosted nearly sixty celebrated tellers of African, Asian, European, Hispanic, Latin and Native American heritage.  During that time, she was twice invited by Amherst College students to give story-based keynote addresses (1988 and 2004) at Senior Assembly (the only administrator ever accorded this honor.)  TV/Fim: the PBS Special KWANZAA (1998). Writing: co-author of the children’s book, Precious and the Boo Hag with Patricia C. McKissack. Theatre: Onawumi’s autobiographical solo play Seriously…What did you call me? premiered at the Ko Festival in 2015 and went on to be performed at Amherst College, The Nyack Center and NorthWestern University. Awards/Memberships: Precious and the Boo Hag won the 2006 ALA/ALSC Notable Children’s Book award (Middle Readers category); national finalist for: the CCBC Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book Award; Storytelling World Award, Stories for Young Listeners Category (2006) and the Irma S. and James H. Black Honor for Excellence in Children’s Literature Award (2006).  Onawumi holds lifetime memberships in the National Association of Black Storytellers (NABS) and the National Storytelling Network (NSN).  She is the 2005 recipient of the Zora Neale Hurston Storytelling Award, the highest award given by NABS. She is the 2015 recipient of the National Storytelling Network Oracle Award for Lifetime Achievement, granted for sustained and exemplary contributions to the advancement of storytelling in North America. She is also a member of Northeast Storytelling which promotes the development and appreciation of storytelling as a vehicle of entertainment, communication, education, personal expression, healing and change. Connect: www.onawumi.com