WINTER

Maura hails from the Bronx, loves her Irish heritage, and worked on environmental issues in Tennessee. She moved to the Northwest and specialized in protecting workers from hazards on the job. She savored their stories for decades and now writes and tells her stories as a tribute to them, her ancestors, and the mentors who have supported her along the way.

​Mike Devenney found his inspiration not in conventional places, like viewing great art or listening to music, but while waiting at a traffic light.  It was a hot day, already filled with disappointment and a sense of failure. The light, it seemed, would never turn green. But then, THERE IT WAS! Inspiration, in the form of a bumper sticker: “LIVE A GREAT LIFE”.  With that as his Sacred Scripture, Mike has led a life of Hope, Love and a willingness to say "Yes!" to new adventures. He’s discovered that Great Stories aren't found in places. They are, instead, found in people. And that led him to storytelling. 

Chuck McConnell draws personal narrative stories from his careers in public broadcasting and association management, as well as his natural curiosity and varied interests, particularly music and aviation. He settled in Portland a decade ago, after serving as “an older volunteer” with Peace Corps in Ukraine. When not telling stories, he works as a mediator for small claims courts in Multnomah and Washington counties, builds science trivia multimedia for OMSI events, and plays old-time fiddle.