Valerie Tutson graduated from Brown University with a self-designed major, Storytelling As a Communication’s Art, and a Masters in Theatre. Valerie received an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Rhode Island College. She has received numerous awards for her work, including the Pell Award for Artistic Excellence from Trinity Repertory Theatre in Providence, RI. Since 1991 Valerie has traveled the country and world teaching, gathering and sharing stories and songs. Her repertoire includes folktales, personal and historical stories with an emphasis on black traditions, and first-person Bible stories. She works in all sorts of settings, from schools, libraries, festivals to churches, conferences, businesses and universities. Valerie is a founding member and executive/festival director of the Rhode Island Black Storytellers and FUNDA FEST: A Celebration of Black Storytelling.
In addition to telling stories, Valerie is committed to creating spaces for people to learn storytelling skills and to share stories. Valerie believes in the power of stories, storytelling, and story listening to help us heal ourselves and our communities.
Annette Alves is a community builder, cultural organizer, and advocate whose work bridges health, heritage, and human connection. As Director of FUNDA Fest, she brings a refined blend of creativity, precision, and purpose to one of Rhode Island’s most cherished cultural traditions — honoring Black voices and celebrating storytelling as a force for unity and transformation. A Certified Community Health Worker and Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist, Annette’s public health foundation shapes her commitment to community care, representation, and belonging in every space she curates.
With more than a decade of experience in event coordination, community engagement, and nonprofit leadership, Annette is known for turning ideas into impact. Her leadership includes curating Southside Community Land Trust’s annual Rare and Unusual Plant Sale — a record-breaking fundraiser generating over $100,000 annually for food access programs — along with impactful roles at the Institute for Nonviolence and Federal Hill House. Born and raised in Providence and fluent in English and Kriolu, she leads with compassion, humor, and a steadfast belief in the power of storytelling to heal, educate, and transform communities.
Shavon “Choclt” Smith is a Human Resources professional with 15-plus years of experience keeping the workplace happy, compliant, and thriving across HR management, employee relations, talent development, and compliance. A Bryant University graduate, mom of three, and grandmother of three, she volunteers weekly at Feed RI. She loves to travel, enjoy warm beach weather, take photographs, dance, and eat anything that looks good on a plate.
Mel is the Marketing Director for RIBS, where she oversees graphic design, website development and updates for both the RIBS and Funda sites, social media management, and digital marketing strategy. With more than 30 years of experience in the creative industry, Mel began her career in pre-press printing before transitioning into graphic design and later serving for eight years as the Creative Director of a marketing company.
Over the past decade, she expanded her expertise into digital marketing and website development. In January 2020, Mel left her Creative Director role to launch her own marketing company, RedDesign (reddesigncreates.com), where she helps organizations and businesses build strong, meaningful brands.
That same year, Mel joined the RIBS team, inspired by the organization’s commitment to telling the stories of people of color. As someone who is part Native American—whose distant family was forced to hide their heritage—she deeply understands the importance of oral traditions and believes that stories truly matter.
In addition to her professional work, Mel taught art for many years in after-school programs throughout Rhode Island, working with at-risk youth. This experience reinforced her deep belief in the power of the arts to strengthen communities, inspire creativity, and create opportunity. She is especially passionate about working with nonprofits and supporting local businesses, using her skills to amplify voices, nurture culture, and create lasting impact.
