Contact: Kate Dudding
518-383-4620
Judy Sima
248-644-3951
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Storyteller honored for outstanding contributions by national organization
JONESBOROUGH, TN July 8, 2013 - The National Storytelling Network ( recently announced that Judy Sima of West Bloomfield is a recipient of the Oracle Award for Distinguished National Service. This award is presented to those individuals who contribute their time and energy in an exemplary manner on the national level to forward the work of the National Storytelling Network.
First, Sima’s publicationsare numerous.Her writingshave greatlyexpanded thepublic awareness ofstorytelling. With Kevin Cordi, she co-authoredRaising Voices:CreatingYouthStorytellingGroupsand Troupes, one ofthepremier sources in thestorytellingand youth educationalcommunity.Thebook is on thesubjectofstorytellingand working withyouthtobuild storytellinggroups.Thebook is used by educatorsand storytellerseverywhere.Thebook received boththeStorytelling WorldHonorAwardandAnne IzardStoryteller’sChoiceAward. In addition, Sima is a contributingwriterin eight other books about storytelling as well as the author of many articles about storytelling.
Second, Sima has volunteered in many capacities for both the National Storytelling Network and the Northlands Storytelling Network, serving on the boards of both organizations for a total of 15 years as well as on various committees. She has been instrumental obtaining funding to bring many young adults to National and Regional Conference. Theextentofher service has unquestionably expanded thepublic awareness ofstorytelling.Sima has also been a vitalmember of TheDetroitStoryLeague.She has served twotermsas Presidentfrom1996-1999,and presentlyfrom2011-2013.She also has served as Chairperson formany committees and special eventsincluding theDetroitStoryLeagueannual "Tellabration.”
Sima has been tellingstoriesprofessionallysince 1987.AsaTeacher-Librarianfor37 years,she introducedmany young people totheartofstorytellingthroughher middle school storytellingtroupe. She has been chosen as a storytelling TouringArtist-EducatorfortheMichigan Humanities
Council since 1997.
Her workshops and performanceshave broughttheartofstorytellingtotheforefront formany educatorsand librarians throughher conferencepresentations. She has been invited to festivals, school, and conferences throughout the country. She educatedand bridged thegap fornon-storytellingorganizationslike theInternational ReadingAssociation,theMichigan ReadingAssociation,theAmerican Library Association,and theMichiganAssociationofMedia Educatorsfrom1995- to the present.
Sima will receive her award at the National Storytelling Awards Ceremony on Saturday, August 3, 2013 at the Hilton Richmond Hotel & Spa / Short Pump in Richmond, Virginia. For more information about Sima, see
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