Born in Brooklyn, N.Y. and raised in St. Paul, Minn., stories have taken Patrick Thomas so much farther. As a child his father's bedtime stories captivated him, and he still tells some of those stories today. He comes from a long line of storytellers and teachers, but Patrick credits a pair of Danish storytellers, Nic and Poul, with inspiring him.
He met Nic and Poul while working as a counselor at YMCA du Nord in northern Minnesota in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. He continued his connection with nature and his thirst for stories in Alaska, spending a year in YWAM's Discipleship Training School. He lived and worked with the Athabascan and Inupiaq natives, learning their rich history and tales, especially with the late Chief Peter John.
His year in Alaska took him across the state, reaching Barrow, the northern most city in Alaska, and Kaktovik, the northeastern most city in the state. The year-long trip included children's ministry of all kinds where Patrick incorporated storytelling into many of the programs. He absorbed much of the Alaskan culture and stories, even participating in a Kiviaq dance festival that brought together many villages in the North Slope.
Patrick's connection with land and people has continued with his work at Willow Pond Farm for the Arts and Sciences and the stories he tells from Somali, Irish, and other Native American cultures.
Patrick believes storytelling can be both entertainment and educational. He loves sharing stories with children and teaching them to tell their own stories. He finds a depth and power in stories and the captivating hold they have on him and his audience.
Patrick is a member of the National Storytelling Network and the Northlands Storytelling Network.
