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Welcome to NABS… the place where you can hear, feel and see the authentic voice of Blackstorytelling.  While you are here, be sure to visit Our Story, the Gallery, Resources and our Blog. For a one-of-a-kind LIVE storytelling experience, in which all FIVE of your senses…and BEYOND…will elevate, titillate and jubilate. 

Since 2015, the Adopt-A-Teller Program has unapologetically placed Black storytellers in spaces where our voices must be heard, reaching more than 5,000 community members annually through 40 placements and 28 storytellers. These transformative moments of cultural preservation and empowerment have only been possible through the Nora Roberts Foundation and hard-fought NEA funding support, which we now see under deliberate attack.

This grant withdrawal is no isolated incident. It is a calculated move within a dangerous federal agenda to dismantle the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) as outlined in the proposed FY2026 federal budget. Make no mistake—this is a direct assault on America’s cultural soul and an intentional silencing of voices from BIPOC, rural, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, immigrant, and other marginalized communities.

These devastating cuts threaten not only our storytelling traditions but also a cultural sector that pumps over $1.2 trillion into the U.S. economy and sustains 5.4 million jobs. Our communities have been historically underfunded, overlooked, and underrepresented—and now they aim to erase us completely.

NABS will not stand idly by. We refuse to be silent. We reject these acts of erasure. And we call on every conscious citizen to join this fight.

This isn’t about one grant. This is a battle for the very values we claim to hold as a nation. NEA funding isn’t a token gesture—it’s a lifeline for institutions that shape identity, preserve history, and uplift communities. Without it, we lose not only funding but our rightful place in America’s cultural narrative.

Here’s How We Collectively Must Take Action—Right Now:

• Donate to NABS’ One-to-One Match Fundraising Campaign. Please help us raise $17,500, which NABS will match dollar-for-dollar to double the impact. 
• Demand Action from Your Legislators. Use the Performing Arts Alliance Advocacy Center to flood their offices with calls and emails. Make it clear: We will not be silenced.
• Complete the Americans for the Arts (AFTA) Survey. Help document and expose the real-world harm of these cuts.
• Amplify Your Voice. Record and share how Black storytelling has shaped your life and community. Spread these stories boldly and unapologetically.

While we have filed an official appeal, we know the real fight is in the streets, in the inboxes of our legislators, and in the unwavering resolve of our people. As our Founder, Mama Linda Goss, declared: “Ain’t Nobody Gonna’ Turn Me Around.”

We stand unwavering with every storyteller, folklorist, artist, nonprofit, and community under attack. Together, we will fight back, rise, and win.

Spread the Word. Engage in Action. Be Unstoppable.

In the Spirit of the Nguzo Saba,
The NABS Board and Program Directors