July 15

---

Monica Acevedo’s a Nursing Logistics Manager at a Burr Ridge retirement home as well as an English fanatic in her free time. Whether it’s spending time reading books and writing down notes/ideas in her notebook, she is always pursuing new ways to enjoy different styles of storytelling.  Her first storytelling began when she partook in a course named Creative Non-Fiction Workshop in her junior semester of college. This course’s focus was telling narratives about oneself. From that moment forward, she’s been inspired to continue her journey in writing stories in her notebook; in the hopes that one day, she would be able to share her insights with others. And even though she’s fairly new in the community of Story R Us, and this will be her first time reading one of her stories to an audience, she’s excited to be part of this unknown journey and see where the future takes her.

As a biracial girl who grew up right off da’ Main Drag in small-town Wisconsin, Sorrina Bee has always stood out from the crowd. A fresh face on the scene, her storytelling and stand-up comedy cross-examine an idyllic suburban upbringing alongside her racial identity—and documented penchant for "making bad decisions." Sorrina Bee is a frequent performer at local open mics and showcases and an aspiring author, currently penning her debut novel and a collection of humorist essays. When she’s not on stage, Sorrina Bee earns her keep as a full-time writer and owner of Alter Ego Copy and The White Agency, a Brand Strategy consulting business. She lives in downtown Chicago with her fiancé and Newfydoodle, where she anxiously awaits for her human son to return home from college. Sorrina is a graduate of Marquette University. 

My name is Taylor Boyle and I have been married to my husband Mike for 20 years. We have three kids aged 22, 19 and 16.  I am a high school special education teacher and boys track and field coach. In my spare time I love to read, hike, crossfit and travel. We have one dog and 4 cats. I spend a lot of time volunteering at NAWS Mokena specifically fostering cats and kittens and assisting people in finding the perfect furry friend to adopt! I once thought I was going to have a public speaking career but now I get to speak to kids all day long so it worked out!  I am excited to begin my storytelling journey as I love to talk and enjoy listening to other people’s stories.

Laura Gillogly is a proud lifelong resident of Lockport, who is thrilled to share her story alongside so many other amazing storytellers. With a Master of Fine Arts in Performance, Laura is no stranger to the stage even though it’s been a couple of decades since her last performance! She is excited to bring those skills back to the stage as she connects with the audience in a whole new way. Laura also holds a Master’s degree in School Counseling and has spent the last 11 years helping high school students navigate their journeys. She is passionate about empowering young people to discover their true potential and thrive in all aspects of life. When she’s not working, Laura loves spending time with her husband, J.R., and their beautiful daughter, Norah.