Diane Macklin will present a storytelling workshop based around the life and work of Zora Neale Hurston, noted author, folklorist, and anthropologist.

Hurston’s works, which include Their Eyes Were Watching God, are cornerstones of American literature, often centering on Black American community and culture. Zora Neale Hurston worked for the WPA Federal Writer’s Project during the Great Depression, and she collected stories throughout the American South and Appalachia, later published in various works and collections, including The American Guide.

At this special event, Diane Macklin will share Zora’s stories and encourage participants to share their own, joining the rich history of Zora’s art and our local traditions in a celebration of storytelling and humanity.

Participants will have the option to purchase a meal ticket for dinner catered by local restaurant The Southern Kitchen. Dinner tickets will be presale only, and more information is coming soon!*

Menu:

Baked Chicken or Jerk Chicken

Mac and Cheese

Green Beans (vegetarian)

Corn Bread

*Scholarships for dinner may be available. Contact director@beverlyheritagecenter.org for more information

More about Diane Macklin

Diane Y. Macklin has found refuge in stories since childhood. She is a professional storyteller, teaching artist, and emerging writer with a Master of Arts in teaching English from Simmons College. Diane is also a Certified Educator, Actress, Historian, Lecturer, as well as a Conflict Resolution and Multicultural Mediator. In 2000, she was called beyond the classroom walls into the ancient art of storytelling. She has performed from Massachusetts to California; and her written work has received honorable mention for the Passager Poetry Contest 2024. Her life and career are centered around “Making a Difference, One Story at Time.”

Acclaimed storyteller Diane Macklin captivates early learners with her dancing hands, lyrical voice, and high energy. Her engaging style is charming as well as delightful. Diane is also a Certified Educator, Actress, Historian, Lecturer, as well as a Conflict Resolution and Multicultural Mediator. She has performed, let workshops, and conducted residencies nationally. She stirs a savory blend of stories seasoned with truth, wit and humor and rich with family traditions, folk heroes and the creative resilience of the African American experience.