World Storytelling Day: Light in the Dark
With the Maine Irish Heritage Center
Friday, March 20th, 6:30pm
Coffee by Design
1 Diamond St., Portland ME
$10 suggested donation
This celebration of the power of the spoken word has been spreading throughout the world since 2003. Join story lovers from over 70 countries who are gathering on this day to share stories that reflect the theme for 2026. Bring a story, a poem, or a song for the open mic and help us fill the night with light.
Join the Maine Irish Heritage Center at Coffee By Design where we will take part in a worldwide day of storytelling. This global celebration of oral storytelling has been held on March 20 since 2003 with an annual theme chosen by participating storytellers themselves. Light in Darkness was the theme chosen for 2026. The event will be open to storytellers from across Maine’s vibrant communities, offering a rich diversity of voices and perspectives. The program will begin with two featured storytellers sharing their tales. After a brief break, we will have an open mic, inviting attendees to sign up and share a 5-10 minute story.
“Storytelling creates community, breaks down barriers, shares wisdom and tradition, with vivid and intimate experiences, powerful and deep. More and more people each year discover what they’ve been missing!”
Join us for our World Storytelling Day event, and become part of an global community that can inspire us all, and help build bridges between fellow Mainers!
Featured Storytellers:
Tae Chong
Tae Chong is a dedicated advocate for Maine’s underserved communities and a pioneer in local leadership. In 2019, he became the first Asian American elected to both the Portland City Council and the Portland School Committee.
Currently the Executive Director of Furniture Friends, Tae leverages over 30 years of experience in economic development and workforce diversity. An MBA graduate from the University of Southern Maine, he has consulted for major organizations like Allagash Brewing and Hannaford. Beyond his professional impact, Tae is an acclaimed storyteller, frequently sharing his journey from South Korea to Maine on stages like WGBH.
Cathy Furness
Although three generations removed from the family farm in County Laois, Cathy felt drawn to Ireland from a very young age. She followed that gravitational pull to Dublin, where she earned a graduate degree in Irish literature and folklore. She also studied traditional music while she was there by attending sessions at O’Donohue’s on Merrion Row nearly every night.How World Storytelling Day Happens
World Story Day has been celebrated around the world with great success since 2003.
Throughout that one day, oral storytellers around the world are busy inspiring audiences, and creating community, by telling classical tales, local stories, glorious, horrendous, happy, challenging, spooky, romantic and dramatic epic stories. Some wrapped in music, some staged and others intimate – but every story is told in a unique and compelling way, by a storyteller whose heart is full of great tales to bridge our divides and remind us what it is to be human
Oral storytelling is tens of thousands of years old, and has strongly regained popularity because of its deeply satisfying power to unite and entertain. Here’s what storytellers have in store for you on this special day…
- Professional and amateur storytellers all over the world choose a theme together, then find relevant oral stories to inspire adults or children
- Storytellers schedule live local events, and virtual online events, on or around 20th March each year, to celebrate, entertain, and inspire with these themed oral tales. You’re welcome to join in!
- Audiences gather in person or online, for big group concerts or single stories, for adults or children, for money or free
- Storytelling creates community, breaks down barriers, shares wisdom and tradition, with vivid and intimate experiences, powerful and deep. More and more people each year discover what they’ve been missing!
Learn more at https://momentofimpact.co.uk/wsd
Hosted by Coffee By Design!
Coffee By Design is a woman-owned, Maine-made, farmer-focused coffee roaster, retail, and wholesale business. Since 1994, Coffee By Design has always been about doing things the right way, not the easy way. From day one, we made choices rooted in values, not shortcuts. We believe every bean has a story. Every farm deserves respect. And every cup should be as thoughtful as it is delicious. Every coffee we roast reflects our commitment to quality, integrity, and impact. This isn’t coffee made for trends. It’s coffee for people who care. You’ll taste layered, complex flavors — because we roast to reveal the bean’s origin, not hide it. And you’ll know every cup supports real farmers, real communities, and real change.
Learn more at https://coffeebydesign.com/
Featured Tellers
Information Coming soon!