Lauren White speaks during her set at the Storytellers of Cedar Rapids show at Groundswell Cafe in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. The event is part of the second season where community members take to the stage to share life stories inspired by themes of learning, nourishment, shelter and community. The evening’s theme was “What I thought I Knew” Events are held every two to four months each season. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Harold Walehwa speaks about how he met his girlfriend as he performs during Storytellers of Cedar Rapids at Groundswell Cafe in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. The event is the first of four shows of the second season where community members take to the stage to share life stories inspired by themes of learning, nourishment, shelter and community. The evening’s theme was “What I thought I Knew” Events are held every two to four months each season. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Clarice Krippner speaks about giving birth to twins as she performs during Storytellers of Cedar Rapids at Groundswell Cafe in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. The event is the first of four shows of the second season where community members take to the stage to share life stories inspired by themes of learning, nourishment, shelter and community. The evening’s theme was “What I thought I Knew” Events are held every two to four months each season. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Lynn O’Donnell performs during the open mic segment of Storytellers of Cedar Rapids at Groundswell Cafe in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. The event is the first of four shows of the second season where community members take to the stage to share life stories inspired by themes of learning, nourishment, shelter and community. The evening’s theme was “What I thought I Knew” Events are held every two to four months each season. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Angel Ramirez (right) applauded after her boyfriend storyteller Harold Walehwa told the audience about how they met during a Storytellers of Cedar Rapids show at Groundswell Cafe in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. The event is part of the second season where community members take to the stage to share life stories inspired by themes of learning, nourishment, shelter and community. The evening’s theme was “What I thought I Knew” Events are held every two to four months each season. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Dani Cirves walks from the stage after speaking during the Storytellers of Cedar Rapids show at Groundswell Cafe in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. The event is the first of four shows of the second season where community members take to the stage to share life stories inspired by themes of learning, nourishment, shelter and community. The evening’s theme was “What I thought I Knew” Events are held every two to four months each season. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Joe Beadle performs during the open mic segment of Storytellers of Cedar Rapids at Groundswell Cafe in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. The event is the first of four shows of the second season where community members take to the stage to share life stories inspired by themes of learning, nourishment, shelter and community. The evening’s theme was “What I thought I Knew” Events are held every two to four months each season. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Jeff Koolbeck performs during the open mic segment of Storytellers of Cedar Rapids at Groundswell Cafe in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. The event is the first of four shows of the second season where community members take to the stage to share life stories inspired by themes of learning, nourishment, shelter and community. The evening’s theme was “What I thought I Knew” Events are held every two to four months each season. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Dani Cirves speaks during the Storytellers of Cedar Rapids show at Groundswell Cafe in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. The event is the first of four shows of the second season where community members take to the stage to share life stories inspired by themes of learning, nourishment, shelter and community. The evening’s theme was “What I thought I Knew” Events are held every two to four months each season. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Audience members applaud during a Storytellers of Cedar Rapids show at Groundswell Cafe in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. The event is part of the second season where community members take to the stage to share life stories inspired by themes of learning, nourishment, shelter and community. The evening’s theme was “What I thought I Knew” Events are held every two to four months each season. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Special musical guest Anji Kat performs during Storytellers of Cedar Rapids at Groundswell Cafe in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. The event is the first of four shows of the second season where community members take to the stage to share life stories inspired by themes of learning, nourishment, shelter and community. The evening’s theme was “What I thought I Knew” Events are held every two to four months each season. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Emcee and a co-producer of Cedar Rapids Storytellers Akwi Nji waves her arm as she describes the cue to special musical guest Anji Kat to play outro music as she speaks to the audience about the evening during the first of four shows of Season Two of Storytellers of Cedar Rapids at Groundswell Cafe in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. The event is part of the second season where community members take to the stage to share life stories inspired by themes of learning, nourishment, shelter and community. The evening’s theme was “What I thought I Knew” Events are held every two to four months each season. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Courtney Ball (right) co-producer of Storytellers of Cedar Rapids congratulates Harold Walehwa after his set about how he met his girlfriend during Storytellers of Cedar Rapids at Groundswell Cafe in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. The event is the first of four shows of the second season where community members take to the stage to share life stories inspired by themes of learning, nourishment, shelter and community. The evening’s theme was “What I thought I Knew” Events are held every two to four months each season. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Courtney Ball co-producer of Storytellers of Cedar Rapids waits to take the stage as he is introduced by fellow co-producer Akwi Nji during the Storytellers of Cedar Rapids show at Groundswell Cafe in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. The event is the first of four shows of the second season where community members take to the stage to share life stories inspired by themes of learning, nourishment, shelter and community. The evening’s theme was “What I thought I Knew” Events are held every two to four months each season. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Storyteller Harold Walehwa (left) visits with his girlfriend Angel Ramirez after his set during Storytellers of Cedar Rapids at Groundswell Cafe in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. The event is the first of four shows of the second season where community members take to the stage to share life stories inspired by themes of learning, nourishment, shelter and community. The evening’s theme was “What I thought I Knew” Events are held every two to four months each season. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Courtney Ball co-producer of Storytellers of Cedar Rapids speaks during his set at the Storytellers of Cedar Rapids show at Groundswell Cafe in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. The event is the first of four shows of the second season where community members take to the stage to share life stories inspired by themes of learning, nourishment, shelter and community. The evening’s theme was “What I thought I Knew” Events are held every two to four months each season. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Storytellers Clarice Krippner (left) and Harold Walehwa talk off stage after they spoke during a Storytellers of Cedar Rapids show at Groundswell Cafe in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. The event is the first of four shows of the second season where community members take to the stage to share life stories inspired by themes of learning, nourishment, shelter and community. The evening’s theme was “What I thought I Knew” Events are held every two to four months each season. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Emcee and a co-producer of Cedar Rapids Storytellers Akwi Nji introduces the next speaker during the first of four shows of Season Two of Storytellers of Cedar Rapids at Groundswell Cafe in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. The event is part of the second season where community members take to the stage to share life stories inspired by themes of learning, nourishment, shelter and community. The evening’s theme was “What I thought I Knew” Events are held every two to four months each season. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Emcee and a co-producer of Cedar Rapids Storytellers Akwi Nji speaks to the audience during the first of four shows of Season Two of Storytellers of Cedar Rapids at Groundswell Cafe in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. The event is part of the second season where community members take to the stage to share life stories inspired by themes of learning, nourishment, shelter and community. The evening’s theme was “What I thought I Knew” Events are held every two to four months each season. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Courtney Ball co-producer of Storytellers of Cedar Rapids gets serious as he speaks during his set at the Storytellers of Cedar Rapids show at Groundswell Cafe in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. The event is the first of four shows of the second season where community members take to the stage to share life stories inspired by themes of learning, nourishment, shelter and community. The evening’s theme was “What I thought I Knew” Events are held every two to four months each season. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Special musical guest Anji Kat performs between storytellers during Storytellers of Cedar Rapids at Groundswell Cafe in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. The event is the first of four shows of the second season where community members take to the stage to share life stories inspired by themes of learning, nourishment, shelter and community. The evening’s theme was “What I thought I Knew” Events are held every two to four months each season. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Lauren White is cheered on by other storytellers as she walks to the stage during the Storytellers of Cedar Rapids show at Groundswell Cafe in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. The event is part of the second season where community members take to the stage to share life stories inspired by themes of learning, nourishment, shelter and community. The evening’s theme was “What I thought I Knew” Events are held every two to four months each season. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

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