began her career as an actor, touring Europe with the "International Theatre." When her children were born, she came to storytelling. Cynthia works with regional arts councils as a performer and artist-in-residence. She has directed several youth theatre productions, including "Ellis Island through Stories." cynthia enjoys helping teachers bring storytelling into all areas of learning. A strong advocate for the arts in schools and communities, she serves on the Board of Directors for the Central Sierra Arts Council and is in leadership for The California Arts Project's Collaborative Design Institute. Currently Cynthia is developing a program to help families collect and preserve personal stories. began an active teller's career in 1974. She co-directed "The Story Tailors," one of California's first tandem telling groups. Working early in the California storytelling movement, B.Z. trained over 35 adult and high school tellers to tell in foothill schools. In 1993 B.Z. became a classroom teacher where she used storytelling everyday. In 2005 she received a "Teacher of the Year: Excellence in Teaching Award" from Tuolumne County Office of Education. Now devoted full-time to storytelling, writing, and promoting family literacy, B.Z. belongs to the California Indian Storytelling Association, the Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and the California Reading Association. B.Z. and Cynthia give numerous in-services for schools, organizations and public agencies. Both are teacher-leaders for The California Arts Project, bringing arts education to California schools. Their efforts influence innovative teaching techniquies to create art-infused learning. They are also members of the National Storytelling Network and The Storytelling Association of Alta California.