Valerie Tutson graduated from Brown University with a self-designed major, Storytelling As a Communication’s Art, and a Masters in Theatre.  Valerie received an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Rhode Island College. She has received numerous awards for her work, including the Pell Award for Artistic Excellence from Trinity Repertory Theatre in Providence. Valerie has traveled the world teaching, gathering and sharing stories and songs.  Her repertoire includes folktales, personal and historical stories with an emphasis on black traditions, and first- person Bible stories. She works in schools, libraries, festivals,  churches, conferences, businesses and universities. Valerie is a founding member and director of the Rhode Island Black Storytellers and FUNDA FEST: A Celebration of Black Storytelling.

Besides telling stories, Valerie creates spaces for people to learn storytelling skills, and share stories.  Valerie believes in the power of stories, storytelling and story listening to help us heal ourselves and our communities.