Everybody's Got A Story

Everybody's Got a Story (EGAS) began in 2023 as a dream from storyteller, activist and Hampton (VA) resident Janice "Jay" Johnson. EGAS is a non-profit arts organization with a mission to create spaces where communities can share stories and in doing so build bridges and tear down walls. www.hamptonstorytelling.art

EGAS hosts an annual Storytelling Festival the 3rd weekend of July, as well as two monthly programs: (a) No Rusty Ears Monthly Storytelling Program [2nd Sunday], and, (b) Hampton Story Swap [3rd Saturday]. These programs are mostly FREE and open to the public, and many provide deaf interpretation - making us more accessible to all communities. We also provide Storytelling Academies for all ages - teaching storytelling techniques, connecting neighborhoods and communities, and providing safe spaces for dialogue and change.

EGAS partners with many Hampton Roads organizations in helping make the events successful and to stretch our community connections. We have been fortunate to have partnerships with venues who allow us free, or greatly discounted, use of their space. Those who are donors help with the payment of artists and their travel expenses, accessibility [primarily through deaf interpretation], marketing, recordings and for some programs, food and decoration expenses.