The Connecticut Storytelling Center presented CT Humanities’ Susan Muro with the 2021 Barbara Reed Award at their 40th annual storytelling festival and conference last month. Given for distinguished and outstanding service to the Connecticut storytelling community, the Barbara Reed Award is named for the center’s founder. A storyteller herself, Reed encouraged and nurtured storytellers, especially as a children’s literature teacher at Connecticut College. In 1981, she and her students produced the first annual Connecticut storytelling festival. Reed went on to create the Connecticut Storytelling Center’s Schools Program and produced many storytelling events.

Susan Muro joined CT Humanities in 1996. As Book Voyagers Program Officer, Muro partners with libraries, schools and non-profit organizations to provide high-quality book discussions, storytelling and a wide variety of meaningful and creative experiences for children and families. With hundreds of sessions each year, thousands of Connecticut citizens can participate in engaging, relevant programming right in their own communities. Muro is honored to work closely with talented storytellers and performers across the state and is privileged to consider many as friends.

Prior to CT Humanities, Muro was the Executive Director of the Southern Connecticut Library Council, a multi-type library consortium. She began her library career at the Hamden Library, where she held various positions, including Children’s Librarian and Head of Technical Services. Muro holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in library science from Southern Connecticut State University, is active in continuing professional development and is a longtime member of the Connecticut Library Association.

Muro has been instrumental in connecting the Connecticut Storytelling Center with CT Humanities. The organizations partnered to present “Sharing Connecticut Stories” in twelve venues across the state. CT Humanities also supported the center’s recent collaboration with the Ubuntu Storytellers, “Stories Build Bridges.”

For more information about the Connecticut Storytelling Center’s festival and all the awards presented in 2021, visit https://connstorycenter.org/festival.htm.