Today we’d like to introduce you to Satori Shakoor.
Hi Satori, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Six years following the death of my mother; and then my son nine months later, I felt that I was coming back to life. I wanted to live. However, Wall Street had crashed, and “Too Big to Fail” had failed. All my investments crashed with Wall Street, and there wasn’t a theatre job. I had to move out of my loft of 9 years into a bedroom in my sister’s house. I had no idea what I was going to do. Even though the future looked bleak with no promise, I vowed to do what I love to do for the rest of my life no matter what. I went back to doing standup comedy and open mics in Detroit. Then I met The Moth (www.themoth.org), an organization dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling. I threw my name in the hat, told a story, and won. I went on to the Grand Slam with one goal: to tell a story that would encourage someone to hire me to do a job I would like. My biggest hope was to work with people in a health food store. I didn’t win the Grand Slam. I came in second, but the folks at the Moth loved what I gave. They asked me to tell a story at The Fillmore Theatre the following month and host the new Moth story slam beginning in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I was elated! I made a bet with myself that I could earn more money telling stories than I could work a job, which I did. After I brought the house down at The Fillmore Theatre, the Moth began flying me around the country, telling stories, which I loved. I went to Nova Scotia to perform in a play, and when I got back, I was living in the basement of a friend’s home in Ferndale, Michigan. One morning sitting in her garden, I had the vision to create a space where people could come to listen and tell stories with the intention of healing. I discovered that telling my story of grief and loss was healing me. When I thought about all Detroit had lost: people, water shut-offs, foreclosures, emergency management, loss of democracy, water poisoning– I thought if storytelling could heal me, could it heal the City of Detroit? That’s when the idea for The Secret Society Of Twisted Storytellers®️ came to me. I had no money, so I rented a little loft space that could seat 45 people, sold tickets in advance, and it sold out. We expanded every month until, finally, someone paid for a space that could hold 200 people. A month later, the then President of The Wright Museum invited us to consistently produce our monthly events there. Ten years later, I’m the Executive Director for The Society for the Re-Institutionalization of Storytelling, a nonprofit 501 (c) 3, and a 2017 Kresge Fellow for “Storytelling,” a category that did not exist until me. We are still telling stories with over 500 storytellers who have graced our stage, along with performing artists. Over the years, I have built a business teaching and coaching people, organizations, corporations, etc., to tell their own stories and be a public speaker myself. After all this time, I recently returned to the stage on the 20th anniversary reprising a role I originated in 2004 in Toronto. The team I have in place in Detroit has run the monthly event now for two months. I’m returning to Detroit at the end of December and will resume hosting the shows. Visit my website for more information www.satorishakoor.com and www.twistedtellers.org
Would it have been a smooth road, and what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road could have been smoother. It has been a bumpy road filled with many, many challenges. However, I loved what was being built, and I kept going. As an artist, when you have a vision, it is imperative to realize it, no matter what. I had health challenges, board of director challenges, learning curve challenges, and a need for more funds. I went into debt keeping The Secret Society Of Twisted Storytellers in existence. I’m happy to say that today, I have no debt. Through it all, I looked for little things that gave me hope and kept me going. I found it in the people we served, and that served us. Today, we have a mission-driven board committed to our global mission: “To connect humanity, heal and transform the community and to provide an uplifting, thought-provoking, soul-cleansing entertainment experience through the art and craft of storytelling.” Like organic fruits and vegetables, storytelling is an organic connection, healing, and transformation.
Moreover, we have discovered that the audience, the story listener is the soul mate of the storyteller. We have found that listening is generosity and human kindness; listening grants being to others; listening is a revolutionary act. At its highest level, listening is the possibility of love.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. What can you tell our readers who might need to be more familiar with what you do?
I am, above all, an artist. My area of expression is a live performance; I began as a singer. I toured and recorded professionally with George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic as one of The Brides of Funkenstein. I expanded my career and became an actor, improvisational artist, and standup comedian. When I moved to Toronto from Los Angeles, I began a career in theatre, tv, and film. While in Toronto, I was the catalyst and a founding member of Obsidian Theatre Company in 1999. When I moved back to Detroit, I founded The Secret Society Of Twisted Storytellers. I am proud of the vehicles I have created, founded, and inspired others to collaborate, participate in, and express themselves. I am very proud and find satisfaction in teaching/coaching others to tell their stories. It’s a privilege and a gift.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Yes. Where there is a will, there is a way. Our storytelling events were built for live audiences. During Covid, we obviously could not have the live experience. However, Zoom afforded us a way to bring our events to people on a global level. It expanded our YouTube Channel in viewership. We learned that people are constantly creating stories through the choices and experiences of their lives. I learned that, as people, we need each other. That is important.
Pricing:
- Tickets to attend our live events are $20.00. You can purchase online at www.twistedtellers.org
- We appreciate and accept all donations big and small. We accept donations via our website www.twistedtellers.org or they can be mailed to 1546 Lee Pl #2E, Detroit, MI 48206
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.twistedtellers.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetwistedstorytellers/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSecretSocietyOfTwistedStorytellers
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/twistedtellers
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TwistedStorytellers
- Other: https://www.satorishakoor.com
Image Credits
Monica Morgan Felicia Tolbert
