"I have seen bridges built with storytelling that invites listeners and tellers to unite in ways that are more potent than a town meeting and more healing than a therapy session. It’s pretty hard to hate someone whose story you know," said Rex Ellis. Rex is a teacher, historian, and storyteller. Formerly, he was the chairman of the Division of Cultural History at the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC. He has also directed the Department of African-American Interpretation and Presentations at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia.  Rex grew up in Williamsburg, Virginia and received his doctorate from the College of William and Mary. For years, he has been fascinated with history and storytelling and has used storytelling to educate and entertain contemporary audiences about their own times. Rex believes that storytelling is an excellent means for teaching sensitive cultural subjects within the home and community to break-down artificial social barriers. Rex is the author of seven books, has told stories in countless storytelling festivals and community socials across the country, and was hired by the Williamsburg Foundation to expand awareness of the colonial history of African-Americans in Williamsburg. As a part of his current employ, he tells stories extensively nationally and internationally. "The Call of Story" is a production of KBYU Television in association with Osric Productions, funding was provided by the Ashton Family Foundation. To learn more about telling your story visit www.callofstory.org. (The preceding biography was adapted from ¿The Call of Story¿ website and is based on various Colonial Williamsburg web pages.)