Mission Statement

Celebrating the human spirit by listening to and telling stories
We believe that the desire to hear and tell stories is a fundamental human need, source of joy and building block of strong communities.  The Spring Grove Storytelling Festival will feature the best professional storytellers and provide opportunities for local participants to share their stories.

2025- Board Of Directors

Ann Livermore - President

NANCY KEPPLE - Treasurer

Linda Ludke - Secretary

Megan Wells - Artistic Director

EMILY BERKELEY
ELISE LIVINGSTON
​Aiden Zimmerman
Dorian Strombach

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Ann Livermore is a former teacher of 34 years where stories were an integral part of every day. Having worked as a classroom teacher, enrichment teacher and a resource teacher for grades K-8, the stories were wide and varied. She believes the single thread that connects all of us is that everyone has a story. Currently she is working within a school where she listens to stories through coaching or is assisting the staff with the kids telling a story through Project Based Learning. "Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world today." Robert McAfee Brown- Ann agrees!
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Elise Livingston is a local real estate broker and Past President of Illinois Storytelling, Inc. She loves being witness to the connections between people that storytelling fosters.
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Emily Berkeley is a resident of Spring Grove and Patent Examiner. She grew up in Chicago and has lived on both the East and West coasts. She is excited to be apart of the Festival team and believes stories are a wonderful part of human connection.
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Nancy Keppel has three grown children and three lovely and entertaining granddaughters. She has been building with Habitat for Humanity of McHenry County for fifteen years, and am Secretary of Helping Hands Food Pantry, Spring Grove. There is an African proverb, “When an old person dies, a library closes.” It is important to honor the stories of the past, embrace the stories of the present to weave together a inclusive future for all.
Previous Board Members
Jim May
Gloria Van Hof
Kristy Hinz
Patty Boyer
Ruth Burlini 
​Becky Johnson