Bowen Lee Storyteller

"I'm looking forward to telling you a story that you'll find valuable, one that might nourish your self-reflection, enlarge your perspective, maybe change your life."

Stories

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Stories *

Folk tales from Asia and around the world, multicultural and inclusive, culturally appropriate and told with cultural sensitivity.

Personal stories from a story slam winner. Sometimes braided with traditional tales for contemporary relevance.

Traditional and Personal Narrative

Historical

Asian women of history. Chautauqua characters Junko Tabei, the first woman to summit Mt. Everest, Anna May Wong, American film actress, Wong Choy Kui, Bowen’s great grandmother from the Chinese fishing village of Monterey.

Environmental

Stories for environmental conservation and sustainability, of the earth and humanity.

“Once Upon a Time…”

Means get ready to listen deeply. To hook your mind to your heart, To discover wisdom In what you didn’t know and what you already have within you.

To connect with others, the environment, and yourself.

 The Power of Story

More often than not, stories can transform people.

Stories give people a hook to anchor themselves to something new and make it their own by reflection, connection, insight.

Stories do more than educate, of course. Number one, stories entertain, and that draws us in. We buy a ticket to be amused, lose our concerns and worries. But in the end, the story should be helpful in resolving what bothers us. That’s why we keep coming back.

Testimonials

  • "Bowen was fantastic, lovely, and won the audience."

    Susan Tarleton

  • "Your Crane Wife was exquisite. Took us right into that crane’s being. You made that much loved story really live again. That’s what good storytellers do.  Blow life back into those ancient texts."

    Margaret Read McDonald

  • "I really was moved by your passion and energy…as well as the content and crafting of your story. I am wanting to tell more stories that directly address our “current situation” in our country and our world in ways that create hope and motivate seeking to understand each other. Watching you tell your story as you did was a great encouragement to me. Thank you for your role modeling!"

    Rose van der Berg

Family Programs for Schools, Libraries, Museums, and Youth Organizations

When Animals Talk, We Should Listen

You know it is a folk tale when animals in the story talk, and you also know that what they have to say is going to teach a lesson. Listen and learn from the animals in traditional tales from many cultures, and explore how animals might see things. Learn different versions of an animal from many traditions. Practice telling some talking animal stories, and act out their point of view. Maybe you’ll change your mind about what you think about animals, about the world, and about yourself.

In this workshop, participants will be able to understand the meaning behind talking animal stories. 

They will be able to tell some animal stories themselves from different cultures. 

They will be able to compare and contrast different points of view and discuss the lessons embedded in traditional stories.

They will create their own stories in collaboration and individually.

They will have a lot of fun.

The Great Race: The Chinese Zodiac and Problem Solving

Only twelve animals will get to be in the Chinese zodiac, and the order that they finish in a great race will determine their order in Chinese astrology. What’s your animal sign? How will your special animal perform in the great race, and how will they behave? Will it be naughty or nice? With their positive qualities, or their uh oh!- going-to-cause-trouble personality traits? Find out in my unique version of a traditional tale that explores the personality traits of the Chinese zodiac.

This workshop explores personality types and the differences and similarities people have with each other. Learn from the animals in the Zodiac how to accept and adapt to other personality types, and how to accept your own personality, the downsides and the upswings.

In the Great Race workshop we experience how personalities are different and similar. We practice problem solving and look at cause and effect situations.

They Wear Rainbows

Many animals are rainbow colors; birds, insects, and sea creatures, to name a few. Stories tell us how some of these animals got to be the color of the rainbow. Let’s hear some of those stories about facing adversity to get to the rainbow at the end of the storm, and make some rainbows to take home.

In this story concert we’ll hear many tales about animals and rainbows, How the Finch Got Its Colors, Rainbow Crow, The Little Abalone, and others. We’ll talk about the lessons in these stories in a safe environment for dialogue. We'll learn about rainbows and the animals in the stories. We’ll make rainbow art to take home.

CHAUTAUQUA

WOMEN OF HISTORY

  • Junko Tabei, the first woman to climb to the top of Mt. Everest and the Seven Summits, which are the highest peaks on all seven continents, has come to address American audiences about her work with the Fukushima Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Programs, particularly her Mt Fuji for the High School Students of Tohoku Project. She will recount her life as a child growing up in Fukushima and the early years of herself as a world class mountain climber, which led to her successful ascent to the summit of Mt. Everest. In 1975, it was a daunting challenge for a woman to get to the top of Everest. But this ordinary Japanese housewife learned long ago, “you can get there if you go step by step.” You are invited to join her on this journey.

  • Born in 1876 at the Chinese fishing village in Monterey, California, Bowen’s great grandmother was raised in the first village of Chinese families in America. Her story and the story of the Chinese at Monterey, tells of the major contributions the Chinese made in the United States, and their perseverance and resilience despite great animosity and restrictions.

  • Anna May Wong appears on the United States quarter as a reminder that sometimes, America can be beautiful. The film star who was named “The Most Beautiful Chinese Woman in the World,” was born in Los Angeles, California, a laundryman’s daughter. Her rise to international celebrity despite the restrictions of her time gives us a window into America in the 20th century.


Contact Us

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