Greetings NABS Family and Friends,

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Welcome to the National Association of Black Storytellers where legacy lives, creativity thrives, and the voices of our ancestors continue to guide our steps. It is an honor and a blessing to serve as President of this extraordinary organization, one rooted in the African Oral Tradition and built on the shoulders of visionaries like our Co-Founders, Mama Linda Goss and Mama Mary Carter Smith.

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In these changing times when African American history is being challenged, restricted, or erased, our mission has never been more urgent. NABS stands as a powerful reminder that our stories matter, our voices carry power, and our cultural truths must be preserved, protected, and passed forward. Through our festivals, programs, youth initiatives, community partnerships, and Affiliate work across the nation, we continue the sacred work of keeping our stories alive In the Tradition.

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As President, my commitment is to ensure that NABS remains a thriving, welcoming, intergenerational home for storytellers, scholars, artists, activists, and anyone who cherishes our heritage. Together, we will continue lifting one another, training the next generation of tradition keepers, and celebrating the richness of the Black storytelling legacy.

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Thank you for your dedication, your membership, your creativity, and your love for this work. May this new chapter for NABS inspire you to raise your voice, share your story, and continue the beautiful journey of honoring who we are.

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With gratitude and storytelling spirit,
Kay L. Merrill
National President
National Association of Black Storytellers, Inc.​​​​