Portia Sholar Jackson

The Freedom Train Storyteller; “Momma Portia” discovered storytelling in an unusual way – “She wasn’t deemed talented enough to sing in the church choir, so she was encouraged to do dramatic readings instead.” From that inauspicious beginning, Portia has become one of the best-known storytellers in Indianapolis. Portia believes that the oral tradition of storytelling is an important and unique component in the field of education with her degree in education from Indiana University, she seized the opportunity to utilize her talent/gift as a teaching tool.

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The power of her voice and her dramatic interpretations leaves listeners spellbound as she make the words of legendary black women like Harriet Tubman, Madame CJ Walker and Mary McLeon Bethune take on new meaning. Storytelling has allowed Portia to weave her two loves of teaching and the arts into a successful career. This very talented artist presents stories to audiences of all ages throughout the country and emphasizes such topics as cultural awareness, American History, self-esteem building, and decision-making skills.

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Story-time with Momma Portia consists of 30, 45 or 60-minute sessions including audience participation. Story sessions can be developed to enhance any theme or event desired. Momma Portia has over 200 stories and 65 themed story programs to choose from for the 2020-2021 season.