/reconstructions Mission Statement
The National Association of Black Storytellers, Inc. (NABS) promotes and perpetuates the art of Black storytelling--an art form which embodies the history, heritage, and culture of African Americans. Black storytellers educate and entertain through the Oral Tradition, which depicts and documents the African-American experience. A nationally organized body with individual, affiliate and organizational memberships, NABS preserves and passes on the folklore, legends, myths, fables and mores of Africans and their descendants and ancestors - "In the Tradition..."
Vision
We envision strengthened communities through the telling, collecting, owning and institutionalizing of our stories.
Our Beliefs
We believe that communities are empowered through storytelling.
We believe we need to own and tell our stories by collecting, creating, publishing and archiving the oral histories of black life in America.
We believe that we must enrich our neighborhoods by developing programs and performances that share our stories, culture and history; and, address contemporary social justice issues.
We believe in institutionalizing storytelling in underserved environments by creating curriculum and guidelines that are unique to our art form.
We believe that we must sustain the tradition of Black Storytelling by listening and blending the voices of our elders and youth.
We believe it is our responsibility to provide both traditional and innovative tools of action in order that our members may be the best stewards of the Black Storytelling Tradition.