Valerie Tutson’s storytelling takes you on a journey. Whether it is a world folktale learned in her travels, a story from African American history, a personal experience or an age-old Bible story, you are guaranteed to feel as if you are right there.

Valerie Tutson graduated from Brown University with a self-designed major, Storytelling As a Communication’s Art, and a Masters in Theatre; she received an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Rhode Island College.  Since 1991 she has traveled the country and 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 is the founding director of the Rhode Island Black Storytellers and their annual FUNDA FEST: A Celebration of Black Storytelling.

A life-long member of the UCC (United Church of Christ) Valerie works ecumenically and has been featured at numerous National Synods and Youth Events, Conference Meetings, churches and retreats across the country, sharing her gifts and helping others to tell the stories of their faith. She volunteers each summer at Silver Lake Conference Center, an Outdoor Ministry Program in CT and part of the Southern New England UCC, as a dean for the Sing Praise Conference, working with middle schoolers to create an original Biblical musical in a week.  Valerie is a member of Beneficent Congregational Church in Providence, RI.