Mom and Pop are the centers of their universe, just like the roux in Gumbo.  The House (what the children call the homestead) on 9th Street in Milwaukee (more than hundred years old) expands and adjusts as people come and go.  As many as a hundred bodies have been in the house simultaneously. 

Parents bought an adjacent lot and turned the new lot into a miniature park, equipped with bird baths, and picnic tables.  Pop refused to plant anything that he could not eat, so the vegetable garden was his creation. Their mother planted the nonedible plants, like scrubs, and pine trees.
 
Gathering at their parents home is not just a way of passing time.  It is the way the wisdom gets passed along, and old times rekindle.  It helps them live a life worth remembering and reaffirms their love toward another and gives thanks to their parents for always being there for them.  The roux in their Gumbo.

With love of history and Black Indians in particular, I caught sight of a notice in the Sunday paper about a Black Seminole exhibition at the Institute of Texan Cultures.  I fell in love with the exhibit and the Institute and volunteered to work as an Educator.  The Institute recongnised my talent as storyteller and researcher, by honoring me with the Directors Award for Excellence.  I then developed a workshop for the University of Texas Elder Hostel Program unraveling Texas History through a dramatic narrative of the Black Seminole Indians and Black Cowboy's.  

At a friend's wedding in 2000, I met John, fell in love and we married in 2001.  I packed up my bags, and moved to Connecticut where once again my love of history brought me to the Connecticut Historical Society Museum where I am currently an Artist-In-Residence.  

 
Gwendolyn's Appearances include:

Mystic Seaport Summer Teacher Institute
New Britain Museum of American Art 
Essex Peabody Museum (MA)
Connecticut Story Telling Festival (CT)
Fall at the Alamo Educational Event (Texas)
The Institute of Texan Cultures
Old Fort Parker Living History Days
The Westin La Cantera Resort Summer Program (Texas)
George West Storyfest (Texas)
Tejas Storytelling Festival (Texas)
Schreiner University Kerrville, Texas
Texas Folklife Festival
The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum
Institute for American Indian Studies (CT)
Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center (CT)
Wadsworth Atheneum Museum (CT)
The Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum (CT)
Custom House Maritime Museum (CT)
Mattatuck Museum (CT)
The Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich (Bush-Holley Historic Site (CT)
The Prudence Crandall Museum (CT)
Three Apples Storytelling Festival (MA)
The Adams Family Farm (VT)
America's Black Holocaust Museum (WI)
The National Association for Interpretation - Cultures, At A Crossroads Workshop Conferences, Washington, D.C.
 
Nutmeg TV (CT)
WCTV Wethersfield (CT)
 
Gwendolyn is member of .....The National Association of Storytellers... National Association of Black Storytellers, Inc.,...The National Association for Interpretation.....African American Associations of Museum....The Connecticut Storytelling Center....League for the Advancement of New England Storytelling (LANES)....Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center....Mystic Seaport The Museum of America and The Sea…
Gwendolyn's mother.
"I enjoyed your African-American History performance.  You were absolutely marvelous."  Gary McGhee retired history teacher, Kerrville, Texas.
 
"Thank you again for your marvelous stories that spellbound your audiences.  You were the perfect accompaniment to the Black Seminole exhibit and National Children's Book Week", Donald P. Zuris, Head Curator, Corpus Christi Museum Science & History.
 
"Your participation in 'Fall at the Alamo' helped make it a tremendous success.  I was mesmerized by your storytelling."  Mary T. Carmack, Alamo Committee Chairman.
 
"Gwendolyn's Passionate presentation of life as a slave was truly inspiring and thought provoking.  She made history come to life!"  Laurie Lipari, House of Bread, Hartford, CT.
 
"Spellbinding, captivating and riveting performance that takes the audience back to the time of slavery in America.  Her period clothing and candid storytelling enthrall each listener."  Elizabeth Santoro, teacher at Bucks Hill School, Waterbury, CT.
 
"Excellent job of melding the information you received from Diane along with your own extensive research at the Connecticut History Society, your stories were entrancing.  You definitely became the old and wise Hagar, an African-American in Wethersfield in the 1770's."  Jan Peake, Director of education, The Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum, Wethersfield, CT.
 
"Gwendolyn's commitment to history and her craft are evident each time she steps in front of an audience and I would highly recommend her, as an Artist in Residence, to anyone looking to add quality and dept to their educational programming."  Cindy Vengroff, Coordinator of Interdistrict Programs, Hartford, CT.
 
"Gwendolyn's understanding of the character and of the social constraints free black women had to endure in early 19Th century New England, brought an authenticity and complexity to her interpretation of Sarah Harris.  She brought to life the rationale of one woman's hopes and aspirations.  I feel very fortunate to have her as an invaluable part of the museum's interpretation."  Kazimiera Kozolowski, Museum Curator, Canterbury, CT.

"We all felt your warmth and passion in your performance.  It is clear that you love what you do and that you very effectively convey an important message to your audience."  Glenn O'Neill, Social Studies teacher, Coleytown Middle School, Westport, CT. 
 
"An inspirational performance.  The students were captivated by your portrayal of Ruth with her pain and struggles.  Your tears made some actually believe you were Ruth.  Your presentation aligned perfectly with our social studies curriculum."  Mary Kay Rendock, teacher, Carmen Arace Intermediate School, Bloomfield, CT.
 
"I am greatly impressed with how you brought Ruth's story to life.  Teaching in this way leaves an indelible mark on students and increases their joy in their learning of history, especially from the voices in history that have often been sadly neglected."  Barbara Simpson, teacher, Wheeler School, NO. Attlebora, MA.
 
"Many thanks for your superb performance in filming our tobacco trigger tapes!"  Karen Hudman, director, Michael O'Keefe Productions, Farmington, CT.