/reconstructions Denise Valentine is a storyteller of forgotten and neglected African and African American Histories. She worked closely with Reconstruction Inc., where she helped formerly incarcerated men build storytelling skills grounded in concepts from African and African American storytelling traditions in order to provide a cultural context for navigating new or difficult knowledge. Ms. Valentine’s storytelling performance illustrates the power of story to transcend differences between people, transform negativity and inspire hope. Denise is a proud member of Keepers Of The Culture, Inc., and the National Association of Blackstorytellers, Inc. Denise is also a historical performer and has portrayed Sojourner Truth and Phillis Wheatley. The storyteller is a lifelong resident of Philadelphia and a long time activist for peace and social justice. In 2013, she founded The Philadelphia Middle Passage Ceremony & Port Marker Project and Ancestral Remembrance Day to raise awareness of Pennsylvania's role in the slave trade and to advocate for a historical marker at Penn's Landing in honor of African ancestors disembarked there.
"I use the power of story to transcend differences between people, transform negativity and inspire hope. I combine historical narrative with folktales, mother wit and the whispers of the ancient ones. I teach concepts from African and African American storytelling traditions to provide a cultural context for navigating new or difficult knowledge. My purpose is to build storytelling skills, tools and techniques needed to: reclaim their ancestral names and homeland, reclaim their stories and the authority to become the “storyholders” in their communities."