April 2026
Special Guest Singer - Rupert McKenzie
Rupert McKenzie is a dedicated 30-year employee of The Home Depot, where customer service has always been at the heart of his work. Outside of work, he is a nature lover and avid wildlife photographer who enjoys birdwatching, stargazing, cooking, and singing. He can often be found in his “happy place,” the Chicago Botanic Garden. Above all, Rupert is a devoted family man who treasures creating magical, meaningful memories with his wife of 28 years.
Michal Eskayo
Michal Eskayo is a professor in the World Languages Department at Harold Washington College in Chicago, where she has taught writing, speech, and news literacy to English Language Learners since 2006. Teaching English to non-native speakers for more than three decades has enhanced her love of language; she has studied and speaks Spanish, French, Hebrew, and a bit of Mandarin. Michal considers her work with students the equivalent of winning the lottery. However, now that AI has invaded education, she is looking for a lucrative side job, such as storytelling. When not grading papers, Michal can be found tending to her urban chicken coop (AKA Leavitt Farm), attending cultural events with friends and colleagues, or traveling abroad with her partner and a single carry-on. Her most recent travels have taken her to Morocco, Israel/Palestine, Quebec Province, Bosnia, and the Danube, where she biked from Vienna to Budapest. Storytelling has always been in her background. But with the genocide in Gaza and the ascent of fascism in the United States, Michal finds herself reflecting even more on her Israeli father, New York City upbringing, and connections to family, Jewishness, and culture, which she’ll share tonight.
Christine Fugate
Christine Fugate is a Chicago native and appreciates all the city's artistic offerings, small and wide. On any given day she's out looking for street art treasures or using the member's lounge at the Art Institute of Chicago like her own personal catwalk. Stories, reading and writing became obsessions at a young age. She's been writing stories about relationships between people for a long time, even well after graduating from Columbia College Chicago with a degree in fiction writing. She's also a pretentious foodie to boot. And essentially a Jane-of-all-Trades with a penchant for making life beautiful.
Lyndsay Legel-Carmody
A native Iowan and proud Sagittarian, Lyndsay has lived in Oak Park, IL since 2007. She has held many jobs titles, such as farmhand on a melon farm, private investigator, insurance salesperson, and advertising coordinator for bowling magazines. But her most fulfilling roles have been in education. Lyndsay has taught in many contexts, but she most enjoyed her time teaching ESL in Spain. Most of her teaching career has been dedicated to helping high school students in the college search, application, and essay writing process. Since the recent, unexpected deaths of both of her parents, she has poured herself into writing, tarot cards, and Earl Grey teas. She lives with her husband Phil and two sons, where she is constantly wrestling or refereeing. They recently added puppy Alba to the house for some increased feminine energy. This is her first time on the storytelling stage.
Eden Novak
Eden Novak is a musician, actress, and essayist. She recently retired from being a vocational rehabilitation coucelor to take on part-time jobs: two in social services, as well as teaching for the Chicago City Colleges. She has led careers ranging from horticultural therapist to landscaper to boutique owner and to a short stint slinging hash at a local B&B. Eden’s work has been published in Seeds Journal, After Hours, and an anthology of essays and poems, It’s All About Shoes, published by Plain View Press, NY. She co-wrote and directed, “She Comes Undone: Meditations from Women Mustering the Audacity to Make Themselves Happy,” a multi-media performance focusing on stories of women in the midst of life changing events, transitions and dark nights of the soul. After rocking, jazzing, and country crooning (she hates to admit that!) with various bands, Eden splits her time now between Chicago and Door County, WI. She is researching how to sell her Greek pastries, design a one-acre garden, and hopes to put her band back together.
Tom & Merle Tresser
Tom and Merle Tresser will be celebrating 35 years of marriage this October. Tom is a civic educator, creativity, champion, and public defender. He is trying to get people like you to run for local office or to help someone run (www.100kproject.us). Merle has had careers in teaching, brand management, executive search, and consulting. She is Director of Marketing for the Old Town Art Fair and leads advocacy work for her temple.
Samuel Steenveld
Samuel Steenveld is an actor, singer, and writer whose work moves seamlessly between comedy and drama, guided by a deep curiosity about people and the stories that shape them. A multi-passionate creative, he follows inspiration wherever it leads—whether on stage, on the page, or behind the keys of his beloved 1956 Royal Aristocrat portable typewriter, where many of his ideas first come to life. Born and raised in Chicago, Samuel is a proud alumnus of Notre Dame College Prep in Niles and remains deeply grateful for the mentors and community at Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus, who helped nurture his artistic path. Samuel extends heartfelt thanks to his girlfriend, Ria, for her constant love, friendship, and generosity, and to their two dogs, Molly (12) and Mèabh (2), who keep him grounded, present, and happily humbled every day.
March 2026
Janine Ashley
Janine Ashley is a Chicago-based storyteller and theatre-maker who relocated to the city recently after many years working in theatre, folklore, and education across the South. She holds a master’s degree in folklore and has spent much of her adult life telling stories in one form or another, including traditional folk tales, mythology, Shakespeare, and personal narrative. Janine has been developing solo shows since high school, including an ongoing body of work centered on Mary Wollstonecraft. That work began as a college capstone and has followed her into midlife (yes, she is older than she looks), where it is now being rewritten as Mary Wollstonecraft Writes. She is also a co-director of Shakespeare Online Repertory Theatre and has spent enough time with Shakespeare to consider him both a collaborator and a recurring houseguest. She is a co-founder of Theatre for Hope and Healing, an international theatre company rooted in storytelling and performance as tools for connection, meaning-making, and repair. Janine is also a single mom of two, which means most of her current projects are being developed in between school drop-offs, voice acting gigs, and whatever is for dinner.
Donna Bellinger
Dr. Donna Smith Bellinger is a sales strategist, speaker, author, and proud “fun grandma” who believes life—and business—works better when you stop trying to be liked and start trying to be effective. Her journey includes being a homeless teenage parent, rising into corporate leadership by her early 20s, and later building a successful consulting business helping professionals turn conversations into revenue. She’s the author of You Lost Me at Hello, where she reminds us that not everyone is going to like you—and honestly, that’s a gift because it saves a lot of time. Known for her unfiltered, irreverent, and deeply human approach, Dr. Donna tells stories that make people laugh, think, and quietly say, “Well… that hit close to home.”
Adrian Castillo
Adrian is a Chicago native who has an insatiable curiosity about everything. He strives to change the world not by some daring act of goodness, but by the way people see it. Feel free to ask him about his community service, his hobbies, or more importantly...his cats, who are basically dogs! I guarantee that as you learn about him, you'll learn something about yourself along the way. That's just what he does!
Teri Healy
Teri Healy is a speaker, coach, and a visionary with a global reach. Most weekends, you'll find her out enjoying local music, and the first one to hit the dance floor. Professionally, she shows up for people and organizations looking and enjoys hanging out in the deep end of the pool. Her current favorite social media outlet is TikTok. Teri makes an impact showing up in service to her community with and authentic passion for growth and expansion of others.
Jessica Gray
Jessica was born and raised on the Southeast side of Chicago. She was blessed with progressive parents who always encouraged creativity and exploring the world. She allowed life to get in the way of pursuing her passion … until she woke up. Writing and storytelling are her mediums. The truth is what she seeks. She chooses love every day. Her inner child once told her “Just be happy. It’s that simple.” And, she listened.
Dimi Venkov
Dimi was born in Bulgaria, raised in Tennessee, educated in England, and has proudly lived in Chicago for the last 8 years. It took him 35 years to realize that maybe he has some interesting stories to tell. He studied theatre and film in college, which prepared him well for his current career as a nonprofit Salesforce administrator. In his free time, he likes watching movies, going to concerts, hiking, climbing, and reading. He lives with his wife in Lincoln Square, where they create spreadsheets together and brainstorm increasingly absurd names for their future dog.
February 2026
Tim Gaster
I was born in a small town in a state in the Midwest that is not Chicago or Illinois, but I've been here in Chicago more than half my life (quite a bit more) and I've been paying taxes here long enough. I am a Chicagoan. I have had many different iterations of a career. I'm currently working in a hospital as a case manager, but I've also worked in the ER and Behavioral Health unit, which has provided me with many great stories. Tonight's story has nothing to do with any of that. Other careers have been tenured professor, bartender, ESL teacher, concierge. Tonight's story has nothing to do with any of that. Other interesting facts: I'm left-handed, vegan, and I like watching videos of not-your-run-of-the-mill sports like billiards, snooker, professional cycling, climbing, and frisbee golf. I also like to drink and give other people good tea, read, cook, travel, learn languages, do yoga, and meditate. My story is related to one of these latter categories.
Sandra Laney
Sandra grew up in a small Massachusetts town as a first-generation college student who went from rebel teenager and young mom to scientist studying neglected tropical diseases around the world. Today, she leads Strategic Journey Lab, Inc., a boutique advisory firm that helps philanthropists, family offices, and foundations design giving and investing strategies that create deeper meaning and greater impact. Her approach starts with purpose and draws on decades of experience across science, global health, philanthropy, and policy—from the Gates, Paul G. Allen, and Walder Foundations to the U.S. State Department. Having traveled to 55 countries, Sandra has seen the world from every altitude. Her purpose is to catalyze the collective genius needed to solve the world’s wicked problems. This is her first storytelling event—so she’s either brave or slightly unhinged. Maybe both.
Mike MacDonald
Mike MacDonald is an internationally published photographer, a nationally acclaimed author, a professional comedian and public speaker, and an avid conservationist. There are many words that describe Mike’s unique background. But only one word is needed to describe the man: passionate. And Mike is passionate about Chicago nature. Playing the role of “nature matchmaker,” he introduces Chicago’s natural beauty and biodiversity to people in the hope of sparking love affairs. Through passionate public speaking, inspirational writing, and breathtaking photography, Mike conveys the marvels and magnificence of a wild Chicago that rivals any place on Earth. His images and how-to articles have been nationally and internationally featured in many publications and, most recently, at a six-month immersive exhibition of his work was staged at Chicago’s Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, where his images were projected across a screen twelve-feet tall and as wide as a football field.
Adrienne Price
Adrienne has lived in Chicago for 13 years, working as a Director of Technology Success for a property management company and singing opera and cabarets around Chicago. Adrienne is also the Operations Officer for Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles, an LGBTQ+ non-profit and is excited to continue to bring more music to the Chicagoland area. She loves to spend quality time with her amazing fiancee and two very sweet kitties, and riding around Chicago on her motorcycle!
Jennifer Rogers
Jennifer grew up in Southwestern Michigan, moving to Chicago at the tender age of 20 years old. Her formative years in the big city were spent clomping around Wicker Park in her Doc Martens, Dickies jeans and thrift store flannels while listening to Check Your Head, Saturation and Everybody Else is Doing It, So Why Not Me on her walkman. After a couple years of some FAFO activities, Jennifer settled down in the Lincoln Square area to raise two amazing children. Aside from being a mom Jennifer has held jobs in food service management, catering and events and as the adoptions manager at a dog rescue. She now manages a veterinary clinic. When she isn’t working, Jennifer enjoys cooking, reading, and watching Nordic Noir mysteries and British detective shows. She is a West Wing super fan and even has a tattoo of “Okay, what’s next”.
Tom Sufleta
Tom comes from a lineage of storytellers that include his grandfather, aunt, and dad. At this stage in his life he is focused on fathering his 12 year old son, intentionally engaging in the close relationships and intentional communities that he participates in, and engaging in his professional careers as a product manager and wellness provider. Tom is always curious and geeking out about various intellectual interests including psychology, behavioral economics, geo politics, history, etc.
January 2026
Holly Birnbaum
Following a career in public affairs implementing communications strategies from reproductive health to community development; disability rights to international peace initiatives; care near the end of life to affordable, accessible housing and mixed-income communities, Holly retooled. In 2005, her keen interest in creative problem solving led her to co-found Thoughtly Crew, providing a pool of emotionally intelligent creative thinkers to enrich clients’ ideation and co-creation sessions (www.thoughtlycrew.com). Although she rewired in 2018, she still helps a few clients as an editor and writing coach. She has served on the Leadership Council of the Marjorie Kovler Center for more than 20 years, where she volunteers as a French interpreter for asylum seekers. Holly has lived in Chicago’s Ravenswood Manor/Albany Park neighborhood since 1985.
Rachel Boutte
Rachel Boutte is an assistant professor, licensed clinical psychologist, and researcher. On her circuitous journey to discover what she wanted to do in life, she obtained a master's in divinity, a master's in psychology, and finally a doctorate in psychology. In 2022, she was fortunate enough to get a job doing a lot of cool things she loved, and then met and married an amazing man she wanted to spend her life with- all in the same year! At the end of 2024, she took a stand-up comedy class at the Second City and discovered a love of writing things outside of the constraints of scientific abstracts and NIH grants. Around the same time, the law changed, and it became illegal to use words like "gender" and "socioeconomic" in federal grant applications, which made her health equity-focused research very challenging to continue. So now, in true late diagnosed ADHD fashion, she is leaving her career in academic medicine and is unsure of what she will do next, but hopes it will involve writing and speaking. Also, she shaved her head in May (it’s a long story), but all of her headshots are from the before time, so this is what she looks like with hair. If you find your way to this event, you will get to see what she looks like without hair.
Mack Dihle
Mack is a proud butch woman who moved to Chicago 21 years ago, plays trumpet in a gay Latin band, holds a degree in music education, rides a giant motorcycle, walked the runway 6 years in a row as an androgynous model for New York Fashion Week’s DapperQ show, prior to the “panorama”. She has survived as an elder millennial and been a police officer for 16 years to pay the bills. She finds joy in living life with her fiancé Adrienne and two Tiger tabby’s in Rogers Park.
Tim Robinson
Tim Robinson grew up in a very small town in Indiana, and learned at an early age that he doesn’t love mowing grass or shoveling snow. Now he lives in a condo in River North with his amazing wife Rachel (who is also telling a story tonight)… with no mowing or shoveling. Growing up, Tim didn’t really know what he wanted to do with his life, so he went to school as long as possible. He works in investments, but he still doesn’t really know what he wants to do when he grows up. So he and his wife take classes at Second City and dream of a life away from office buildings and cubicles.
Gerardo Salamanca
Gerardo Salamanca is a cleaner who was born and raised in the Northside of Chicago. (Born in Ravenswood to be exact.) He is the current and two time T35-38 Chicago Marathon Para Divison Champion, the only in the Chicago Marathons storied history, a race he will be running for the 11th time this October. He continues to show his defiance to the Universe by running long distance races as an athlete with cerebral palsy and nerve damage. Gerardo intends on setting the 100 mile world record for his classification in 2026 at the Tunnel Hill Ultra in Vienna, Illinois, a race he is yet to finish. He is a moviegoer, who has seen well over 9,000 films, his favorite film of all time being William Wyler's 1946 masterpiece, The Best Years of Our Lives. While Gerardo is not cleaning, running, stretching, or watching pictures, he likes to cycle the trails and roads of Illinois with his bike Barbara, read tragic books, eat eggs (he eats 12 a day), bake breads and desserts, dance to New Wave music with his shadow, swing his kettlebell Dez, meditate, and continue his practice of formally learning how to dance.
Mark Weitekamper
60 years old . Born in Germany. Recent citizen. Mark Weitekamper is a chicago-based comedian and Improv actor and storyteller. He has appeared in various showcases around town including Laugh Factory, Zanies, and several others. He enjoys topical humor and relatable material as a hobby around town. Whether he’s riffing on modern life, family quirks, or his own misadventures, Mark’s comedy connects with audiences everywhere. He lives with his wife and son on the far north side of Chicago.