VILLAGE

The Vision for the Storytelling Village (AASV) is that it will be a place to practice, perform, articulate, and develop the folk arts.  It is a place of reverence and    respect for tradition; it is the Ko Taba School of Creative Storytelling, a Performing Arts Center, a Conference Center, and a Youth Arts Training Facility. The Village is a place of culture, creativity, commitment, and peaceful serenity.

What is Ko Taba  (ko TAH Ba)

“ Ko Taba” loosely translated means language to protect the culture.  Taken from concepts among the Mandan  peoples in Africa.

WHO IS DOING THIS?

The Village is a project of the African American  Storytelling Arts Institute, Inc. under the leadership of the Board of Directors and Baba Jamal Koram, Ed.S., a leader in the Storytelling Arts movement in America

Purpose of the Village

  The purpose of the AASV is to provide opportunities for cultural artists and organizations to create and promote discipline-specific works. The AASV will also work for  recognition of the folk-arts among state,  regional, and national organizations.

  The Village will accommodate:

· Youth Groups

· Church Groups

· Rites of Passage Programs

· Specialized Camps and Retreats

· Drumming and Dance Initiatives

· Individual Artists

· Community Education Initiatives

· Other projects and programs

Through its programming, the AASV will provide   residential training and performance facilities in a year-round format with a specific emphasis on community services and youth group programming