VillageSoup interviews Leaverton for preview of storytelling event
In a preview for the “Picnic of Books” event at Triplet Park in Unity June 16, VillageSoup interviewed Lisa Leaverton, a part-time faculty member in communication and journalism at the University of Maine as well as an artist, writer and director. The event will be an opportunity for children of all ages to hear stories about appreciating differences while enjoying lunch in the park. It will be co-hosted by Leaverton’s cousin Kathryn Piper, who owns a halal butcher shop with her husband that was the target of vandalism, possibly through a hate crime, according to the article. “The incident in Troy made me think about how we come to appreciate people who are different from us,” said Leaverton. Leaverton teaches storytelling at UMaine, and this event was partly inspired by an activity she does with her students involving interpreting children’s literature through oral performance. “We rely upon it culturally as a way to introduce children to culture, to ideas, and to help them master so many things,” said Leaverton. The event will foster both the benefits of literacy and the appreciation for and knowledge of different cultures. “Literacy is essential for expanding our horizons since we encounter cultures through books, traveling beyond our own backyards,” said Leaverton.