Biography and Resume for Lorna MacDonald Czarnota
Lorna has been telling stories professionally since 1985. She is an award-winning storyteller and author of the award-winning "Medieval Tales That Kids Can Read and Tell." An international storyteller, Lorna performs and presents workshops at schools, libraries, museums, festivals and conferences among other venues. Her performances include traditional and original stories and songs for all ages. She often incorporates music in her programs.
Lorna specializes in Medieval and Colonial American studies, Scottish tales and also works extensively with at-risk youth and healing through story. She was nominated in 2004 for United Way and Univera Health Hero Award. Lorna is the recipient of the 2005 Hopevale Incorporated Volunteer of the year ward.
In addition to her other accomplishments, Lorna is a keynote speaker, workshop
leader, artist, historian, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Creative Studies
for Young Children, as well as a Masters in Special Education. Lorna is the founder and Executive Director of
Crossroads Story Center, Inc,
a not-for-profit reaching at-risk youth through storytelling.
She is a member of Spin-a-Storytellers, National Storytelling Network, National
Network for Youth, Northlands Storytelling Network, League for the Advancement
of New England Storytellers, VASA, Scottish Storytelling Center and the Healing Story Alliance.
Lorna recently joined the Blue Eagle String Band which presents music from the Great Depression. Lorna is currently the female singer in this trio.
Lorna MacDonald Czarnota Professional Storytelling History
Healing and Therapy Presentations: Ongoing: storytelling and visual arts Compass House Runaway Shelter Compass House Resource Center Hopevale Residential Treatment Center Child and Adolescent Services TRY: a transitional housing facility for young women
2005 Erie County Task Force EPIC 4th Annual Fine Art Healing and Mental Health Project Healing Through Story Conference Sister to Sister Youth Conference Connecticut Storytelling Festival Fredonia Storytelling Festival 2003- 2005
2004 Dublin Yarnspinners Ireland Keepers of the Flame Storytelling Retreat YWCA: transitional housing program
2003 Chautauqua County Peer Education Project
Other
American Folklore Society 2002 / Northlands Conference 2002 / Peace Panel workshop at National Storytelling Festival, Jonesborough TN 2002 / Poster Session National Storytelling Conference 2001 / Pyramid Life Center Retreat 2001 / Healing Story Alliance session 2001 / National Storytelling Conference 2000
Storytelling and Education Presentations:
Tudor Gardens, Washington DC / Carnegie Arts Center, Tonawanda NY 2004, 2005 / New York Library Association 2002 / Northlands Conference 2003 / Sharing the Fire Storytelling Conference, Boston MA 2000 / Heads and Tales (Wisconsin) / 1996/ Pennsylvania Storytelling Conference / Reading Fun Camp / Lessons From Children / Alpha Delta Kappa / New York State Association for Compensatory Educators / New York State Association for the Education of Young Children 2002, 2003 / Regional Conference of Lutheran Teachers.
Festival Storytelling:
2010 Timpanogas Winter Conference / Folk Arts Festival, St. Catherine ON Canada 2005 / Guelph Storytelling Festival, Guelph Canada 2002 / Buffalo Waterfest 2000 / Chinquapin Music and Storytelling Festival, Peoria Illinois 1999 / Storytellers Celebration 1999, Hillsboro Ohio / Ocala Storytelling Festival, Ocala Florida (first year of the festival) / Scottish Festival, Amherst Museum / Medieval Festival, Hornell NY / St. Bonaventure Renaissance Faire/ Herschel Carousel Museum Renaissance Faire, Tonawanda NY/ Baycrafter’s Renaissance Fayre, Ohio 2002, 2003 / Niagara -on-the-Lake Storytelling Festival / East Aurora Toyfest / World University Games / Imagination Celebration (Very Special Arts Festival) / Panama Rocks Fall Foliage Festival / Sherman Days (Sherman, NY) / World Magicks (Sherman, NY) / First Night Buffalo / First Night Eden / Olmstead Winterfest / Friendship Festival (Canada) / Depew Centennial / Oneonta Storytelling Festival / Tellebration Buffalo NY, Wellsville NY & Danbury CT.
Affiliations: Scotland Storytelling Center / Healing Story Alliance / National Youth SIG / Spin-a-Storytellers / National Storytelling Network / League for the Advancement of New England Storytelling / National Network for Youth / Northlands Storytelling Network / American Folklore Society / New York State Library Association / Buffalo Friends of Folk Music / Virginia Storytelling Alliance
Special Accomplishments and Related Experience:
Awarded Hopevale Incorporated 2005 Volunteer of the Year.
Nominated for the Univera and United Way 2004 Community Hero Award
Published Author : Medieval Tales that Kids Can Read and Tell, August House 2000 Awarded recognition by the Parent’s Council Winner of the 2001 Pegasus Award for storytelling resources for middle and high school students.
Legends, Lore and Secrets of Western New York, y History Press 2009
"One Lace Glove", August House Book of Scary Stories, August House 2009 "Bleeding Heart", Healing Heart anthology, New Society Publishers 2003 "Magic Lands" audio cassette "Dancing in Dark Waters" cd winner of 2004 Storytelling World Honors "Crossroads" cd
Articles featured in National Storytelling Magazine, Museletter, Northlands Storytelling Journal, Diving in the Moon (Healing Story Alliance).
Coordinator of storytelling program for the World University Games 1993 Co-Director Western New York Storytelling Institute
Founder and Executive Director CROSSROADS Story Center: a not-for-profit reaching at-risk youth through storytelling.
Collaborations: Letters Home: stories of the North and South Peace Works: stories for peace and tolerance.
Special Projects: commission "Moving Dress" : fictitious story of a woman who experienced the dust bowl and its aftermath.
Education: Bachelor of Science: Creative Studies for Young Children Master of Science in Special Education
* Thesis: Effect of Storytelling on Reading Comprehension for Mildly Handicapped Students Bachelor of Science in Creative Studies for Young Children
Certification in Trauma Counseling: University of Buffalo Department of Social Work
Special Honors : * Gerald A. Calabrese Special Education Award : D'Youville College * Recognition by the New York State Arts Teacher Association
Adjunct Professor of Education and Children’s Literature: D’Youville College
REFERENCES Available on Request