At Li’l Stories our mission is to prepare children to be thinkers, problem solvers and innovators. We envision a world where all children, regardless of zip code, enjoy learning and have opportunities to exercise creative thinking in the classroom. We work closely with teachers and students to develop learning activities that foster the development of critical 21st century skill like creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and digital literacy.

Our Team

Anke Stohlmann

Founder, Experience Design & Learning

Julliene Gatchalian

Curriculum & Learning

Diane Bezucha

Curriculum & Learning

Tim Au Yeung

Technology

Maureen McNeil

Business Dev. & Fundraising

Richard Baker

Illustration

Starting Our Story Together

Once upon a time—specifically in winter 2014—we had the idea for an educational framework that utilizes the power of storytelling to help teach communication skills to children. By early 2016, Li’l Stories is being used by educators at several schools around the country. And since 2017, we run Li’l Stories Labs, 1-week storytelling programs, in several elementary schools in New York City.

Li’l Stories is inspired in part by Li’l Stories founder Anke Stohlmann’s daughter Luna (now a 8th grader) and her love for stories. We developed Li’l Stories closely with teachers and students and spent many happy hours in the classroom—prototyping with kids and teachers, observing and listening to their needs and learning from clients, colleagues, friends and users. Creating a framework that helps teachers and makes learning fun for students was the first and most important step.

Our journey is just getting started, but we’ve already had an extraordinary response and are making a positive impact on hundreds of students. Here are some stats since our Kickstarter launch in October 2015.

140 Kickstarter backers helped us get Li’l Stories off the ground. Thank you!

Alexandria Fisk, Alicia Cheng, Allison Shaw, Andrea Baker, Ann Furnell, Ann Sipe, Ashley Marie Quinn, Bernd Scharrer, Bibiane Kabwe, Bill Shapiro, Brendan Schlegel, Brian Smale, Brian Wu, Brianna Olson, Carmen Dukes, Carrie Tsang, Cynthia Shaw, Dami You, David Fu, Debra Bishop, Dora Chomiak, Dorothee Pape, Dudu Torres, Edlin Yuen, Elise Lemle, Elizabeth Amon, Emily Chan, Emily Collins, Eric Olson, Erika Crumley, Erin Holloway, Erin Moore, Erin Weber Skurdal, Eugenie Huang Segway, Fadwa Abbas, Florian Bachleda, Florian Fangohr, Gary Chou, Hanna Moon, Heidi Michel Fokine, Hsing Wei, Ilise Benun, Illya Szilak, Ivan Cortazar, Jacqueline Cruz-Suarez, Jacqueline Thaw, Jane Hornickel, Janet Froelich, Jared Schmidt, Jean Hale, Jeff Eaton, Jennifer Leary, Jennifer Rittner, Jeremy Canfield, Jerome Cloud, Jessica Halloran, Jill Armus, Jocelyn Anker, John Driscoll, Julia Michry, June Korea, Karen McGrane, Karen Ng, Katherine Bigelow, Katherine Nelson, Kathy Heintzelman, Kelly Cummins Rozwadowski, Kenneth Hurwitz, Khoi Vinh, Kirk Baker, Kirsten Syrer, Lea Sorenson, Leigh Ecke, Leonora, Leroy Teller, Leslie Steiger, Linda Kruse, Lisa Wagner, Lou Vega, Luke Stern, Marc Ewert, Marcelo Meja Cobo, Marnie Henke, Matt Brigante, Matthew Septimius, Maura Fritz, Melody Quintana, Michael Luck Schneider, Michele Perez, Michelle Krasny, Michie Cao, Mike Morrison, Mimi Park, Nga Nguyen, Nicole Cox, Nicole Sylianteng, Ninja von Oertzen, Otto Steininger, Parlan McGaw, Patricia Childers, Paul Ford, Pedro Mateu-Gelabert, Phillip Tiongson, Rae Milne, Rebecca Asbury, Rebecca Perez, Richard Baker, Rima Fand, Sarah Haun, Sarah Henry, Shelly Ni, Shree Chauhan, Shula Ponet, Slava Shargorodsky, Stephanie South, Steve Faletti, Steve Farrell, Steve Mignogna, Steve Spoerle, Sun Young Regina Na, Susan Dazzo, Susan Libby, Svenja Greenwood, Tash Wong, Tina Ye, Trouble Makers, Urs Lerch, Valerie Ahms, Willa Tracosas, Winnie Lim, Yunsun Chung-Shin, Serif and 8 other backers