The Importance of Diversity in a Tour Guide’s Storytelling

Panelists

Hosted by Mitch Bach & Alan Armijo, co-founders of TripSchool.

Leigh Jameson is the author of TripSchool’s volume on Alexandria and Mount Vernon, and an upcoming book on Virginia’s Historic Triangle. She has over thirty years’ experience as an actor and storyteller. She has been on the road for four years as a tour director, but before joining the industry, she was known for her work as the top requested ghost guide in Alexandria, Virginia. For the past ten years she has worked with some of the most prestigious museums in the country, including the Smithsonian and Colonial Williamsburg.

Marjie Southerland was born and built in New Jersey, but has been privileged to have performance carry her many different places across the country. Her recent adventures have brought her to the world of tour directing, which she has been doing for four years. Prior to that she worked for the largest living history museum in the country, Colonial Williamsburg. She spent 5 years in Williamsburg acting and interpreting the lives of free and enslaved blacks of the 18th century.

Marjie and Leigh are the founders of 52% Productions. Their mission is to highlight the stories of those marginalized by the traditional U.S. history canon, educate ourselves and others through research and open dialogue, and examine the inclusion of these stories in the public sphere, particularly museums, historic sites, and tourism vehicles.

Nikki Padilla Rivera was a NYC tour guide for 9 years, before stepping into the role of trainer. For the past 5 years, Nikki was in charge of making sure 1000+ freelance guides gave amazing experiences and told incredible stories with Intrepid Urban Adventures. More importantly, she has been an advocate for her guides at the global level, and a passionate advocate for doing tourism ‘right’: sustainably, and aware of the importance of storytelling in a place.