About Me
Storyteller
Janice Curtis Greene is an accomplished storyteller, an American Griot. She has been telling African, African American and Multicultural stories for over 25 years. She is the President and Life Member of the National Association of Black Storytellers (NABS) and Life Member and Past President of the Griots’ Circle of Maryland, Inc. She is also a member of the National Storyteller’s Network and the Network of Biblical Storytellers International. Janice Curtis Greene has also been
appointed by Governor Lawrence Hogan to serve as a Commissioner on the Maryland Commission of African American History and Culture.
Janice Curtis Greene has delighted adult and student audiences at various churches, schools, colleges, libraries, hospitals, festivals and gatherings throughout the United States including Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Camden, Los Angeles, Houston, Charleston, Cleveland and New Orleans and as far away as, Brazil, Canada, Zambia, South Africa and Egypt and on a Carnival Cruise. Janice mesmerizes her audiences with folktales, original stories and Bible Stories set to syncopated Rap rhythms. Janice has performed as narrator with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and is also known for her portrayals of historical African American females such as Harriett Tubman, Rosa Parks, Phillis Wheatley and Mother Mary Lange foundress of the Oblate Sister of Providence.
Janice the Griot has been honored for her community service by then Mayor of Baltimore, Kurt L. Schmoke and for her volunteer activities with children by the Continentals Societies, Inc. and Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority. In 2015 Janice was awarded the Woman of the Year in the Cultural Arts by Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Alpha Zeta Chapter and the LINKS, Inc and in 2016 received the Harriet Tubman Lifetime Achievement Award by Baltimore African American Tourism Council. Janice is also a spiritual revivalist. Her original stories “Conversations with my Mother” and “Standing My Ground” stories of healing after the death of her sons have touched many hearts. She has also been a
revivalist at Women’s Gatherings and Catholic Churches in Baltimore, Washington and Philadelphia.
Janice’s chant, “Storytellers in the House” the Anthem of Black Storytellers is published in “Sayin’ Somethin’: Stories from the National Association of Black Storyteller”. Several of her articles written for the Catholic Review Newspaper are featured in the book, “What We Have Seen and Heard: Essays and Stories from Black Catholics of Baltimore”. Mrs. Greene also authored the children’s book, “Thema and the Wonderful Black Gourd” for which she was honored by Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Howard County Executive, Ken Ulman for her contribution to African American Literature. Mrs. Greene is active in her church, New All Saints Catholic Church where she teaches Sunday School, sings on the Gospel Choir and has directed the Sacred Dance Ministry for over 20 years. She retired from the Social Security Administration in Woodlawn in 2008 after 35 years of service and resides in Windsor Mill, Maryland with her husband, Paris Wendell Greene.
