VB Touray is an Educator, Speaker, Storyteller, Poet, and the Author of a collection of poetry entitled, “A Peace of My Mind”. Having worked more than 20 years as a Language Arts educator; being a lover of the written/spoken word, VB has always been “home” in the world of literary arts. A wife and mother of school-age children, VB finds plenty to do. When she's not playing super mom and wife, you can find VB speaking at an empowerment events, performing at poetry events, teaching in classrooms, public libraries and telling 'edutaining" tales, in the character of “Granny Johnson”. VB is available for lectures, talks, storytelling, lessons, and other events. *Distance travel at host's expense
Truly enjoyed Granny J's performs. As Granny J, Vickie Brent-Touray was very engaging with the children and parents. She told a wonderful story that painted a picture that you could truly see. Ms. Brent-Touray used tones and sound affects that captured the attention of her whole audience. Sitting in her rocking chair dressed in a house dress reminded me of a real granny I know. Great performance!!! Looking forward to the next one.
Response from VB Touray:
Hello Ms. Catherine, thank you for attending the Detroit River Days Festival. I truly enjoyed my time with you all.
She was easy to make plans with and her performance was very engaging to the students and their families. She gave an excellent performance as Granny J and had a fun follow up craft that related to the theme. Thank you so much! Fun was had by all!
Response from VB Touray:
Thank you Mrs. M, I enjoyed you all immensely.
The performance was engaging and entertaining. Students and staff enjoyed the performance of Granny J and the story she told.
Response from VB Touray:
Thank you, Ms. Joseph. I enjoyed my time with your students as well.
VB was part of the planning committee for the SMART Transportation Summit from the start. Because of her ability with corralling the attention of the crowd she was to open this summit. Not only did she articulate the history of our project, she integrated a story that captured the attention and the hearts of the audience. Her success in setting the stage was a critical component to the success of our event. She has a gift that is amazing and awesome! I am so blessed, thankful that she was brought into this event and truly honored to now call her my friend!
Response from VB Touray:
Awwww. Thank you Madonna. It was my pleasure amd you all give me LIFE!
VB Touray masterly combined her life experience with a focused community issue to open an assembly of community leaders convened to learn how to return community transportation to Pontiac Michigan.
Response from VB Touray:
Thank you Jeff, for the imvitation and the opportunity. It was MY pleasure.
Walton Charter Academy was honored at our Second Annual Harriet Tubman Freedom Walk, to hear from Granny J; a REFRESHINGLY DELIGHTFUL, HILARIOUS and CAPTIVATING STORYTELLER, who challenged us all to know our history, and to use what we've got to make a positive difference within the world we live. Would live to have her back! #keepsitreal #rarejewel #vivid
Vickie was amazing. She was great with our audience. She spoke well, knew how to adapt, had gorgeous language, and was overall a great person. She is welcome back anytime and I would suggest her to anyone!
Response from VB Touray:
Awwww. Thanks Emily. I enjoyed your group--immensely. Great energy in the room and in the office. Thank you all so very much for having me. I look forward to an opportunity to visit with you all again.
Awesome, Engaging and Pleasant Entertainer. VB Touray is professional, easy to work with, and respectful of our program needs. She is flexible and easily adapts to the changing time schedules of our program. As a professional entertainer, she tailors her performance to meet the audience needs. I will work with her again. She is authentic!
Response from VB Touray:
This was an awesome event. I truly had a great time in Appleton, and with Appleton. Thanks for the invite!
When VB Touray visited Brooklyn, Bedford Stuyvesant, she left the audience thoroughly entertained and wishing for more. Her enthusiasm and love for storytelling and crafts was enjoyed by adults as well as children. Ms Touray is an excellent entertainer and we at Macon Library look forward to any program she is able to do for us.
Response from VB Touray:
Thank you Brooklyn Public. It was a pleasure being with you.
Most Loved in All the World by Hegamin, Tonya
Listeners felt their own deep family love through this poignant story of a mother sending her daughter away into freedom on the Underground Railroad. Story time was interwoven between elements of music and a creative craft that ended with a hug and "I Love You" between parents and children. Awesome!
Response from VB Touray:
I always have a BALL at the Pontiac Public Library! Thank you Ms. Bonnie, for inviting me.
Vickie participated in The Art of Comedy and provided an elegant touch of class and safistication to the event. The participants are still talking about her written and verbal poems. I am looking forward to working with her again in the near future.
Vickie Brent-Touray availed her text, "A Peace of My Mind" for my CMU students' extra credit poetry assignment. As an added bonus she visited my college classroom to share some of her favorite self-written poems and took audience member's request. One of my favorites is "Disgruntled Domestic." VB Touray readily interacted with my students and was quite engaging in her poetry delivery. She is scheduled to visit my CMU Auburn Hills classroom in a week, and I look forward to her sharing again.
Price Range: $175.00 and up
Gig Length: 15 - 60 minutes
Languages: English
VB Touray: AUTHOR/SPEAKER/LECTURER/TEACHER/POET:
1. INTRO: 10-15 minutes (unless otherwise directed): The author will introduce
herself. read and expound on selections from the book.
2. REQUESTS/Q and A: 15-20 minutes (unless otherwise directed): The author will
take requests from the audience and conduct a question and answer session,
concerning the book.
VB Touray: "GRANNY JOHNSON"
Once introduced, Granny Johnson will wander into the room and seat herself in the designated place. Once seated, Granny Johnson will tell an entertaining and educational tale to the audience. This performance is theme related, so you may suggest a theme (and some details at the time of booking).
This is an "interactive" performance, so Granny makes audience members a part of her stories. Audience members shouldn't be surprised if Granny asks them questions, mistakes someone for an old school mate, or invites someone a little closer for a sip of tea. Audience members will love Granny's spontaneity, humor and old-fashioned mother wit.
VB Touray: HOST/EMCEE:
As the Host or Emcee of your event, VB Touray is witty, conversational and creative. Audience members can expect to be engaged in interactions, participate in short trivia and other ice-breaking games. Having hosted events for more than 10 years, we're sure that you'll find VB's "hosting hospitality" to be both comfortable and entertaining for your guests.
VB Touray: EVENT PLANNER:
With VB Touray planning your event, you can be confident that your event will a success, starting with starting with your original planning session. to the thank you notes for your guests. VB has more than 30 years experience in event planning. Having planned events such as: music festivals, religious programs, plays, school programs, community programs, retreats, weekend get-aways, private parties, etc, VB is a seasoned organizer.
Most recently, she has founded and organized Yaktown Poets, a community of spoken word artists. As the founder, VB organizes a seasonal event called The Yaktown Poet's Revue. This revue is touted as the " sho 'nuff partaay for the GROWN, SEXY, FLY AND FABULOUS!" The Yaktown Poet's Revue format includes: featured spoken word artists, open mic session, live singing performances, a live band and local vendors. Pictures and video from some of these events can be found our the picture and video pages of this profile.
VB Touray is has been a Language Arts educator for more than 20 years. VB recently made a decision to transition from "full-time" classroom teacher, to"part-time" online teacher, so that she could pursue a life-long dream of becoming a published author, and "encourager" of others, in the role of speaker and performer. Since that time, VB has published three books and is currently working on children's book, to be released in summer of 2015. She is a doting wife and the mother of 2 school-aged children.
VB Touray: AUTHOR/SPEAKER/LECTURER/STORYTELLER:
1. Stool or chair
2. Microphone, microphone stand, and sound system in groups larger than 25.
3. Podium
4. Bottled Water and hot tea or coffee
VB Touray: GRANNY JOHNSON
1. Private secluded room for dressing
2. Chair, preferably a recliner or some other comfortable looking lounge chair.
3. Microphone (preferably a lapel microphone or headset microphone) in groups
larger than 25.
3. Bottled water and hot tea or coffee
VB Touray: HOST/EMCEE:
1. Stool or chair
2. Microphone, microphone stand, and sound system in groups larger than 25.
3. Podium
4. Bottled Water and hot tea or coffee
VB Touray: EVENT PLANNER (at the onset):
1. Budget
2. Written vision from Host
| February 27, 2017 • 8:00am - 9:00am | Campus Event |
| January 28, 2017 • 9:30am - 12:00pm | The Wonder Woman Breakfast Club (Host) |
| January 21, 2017 • 8:00pm - 11:00pm | Yaktown Poets Alleycat Open Mic Night! |
| December 31, 2016–January 01, 2017 • 9:00pm - 3:00am | The New Year's Eve Party! |
| December 30, 2016 • 7:00pm - 10:00pm | The Overcomer's Masquerade Ball |
| December 29, 2016 • 6:00pm - 10:00pm | Touray Friends and Family Kwanzaa Celebration! |
| December 12, 2016 • 10:00am - 12:00pm | Destination Station Lesson Part II |
| December 09, 2016 • 7:00pm - 10:00pm | Exfermintation Bar Fund Raiser (Poetry) |
| December 05, 2016 • 10:00am - 12:00pm | Destination Station Lesson (Charter School) |
| November 28, 2016 • 10:00am - 12:00pm | Candy Collective Lesson (Charter School) |
| November 26, 2016 • 9:30am - 12:00pm | The Wonder Woman Breakfast Club (Host) |
| November 25, 2016 • 7:00pm - 9:00pm | Our Story (Yac) (Soryteller) Alleycat Cafe' |
| November 21, 2016 • 10:00am - 12:00pm | Olode The Hunter Oba Part 2 (Lesson and Craft) |
| November 19, 2016 • 8:00pm - 11:00pm | Yaktown Poets Open Mic Night (Host) Alleycat Cafe' |
| November 18, 2016 • 2:00pm - 3:00pm | Samaritan Senior Center (Storytelling) |
| November 14, 2016 • 10:00am - 12:00pm | Olode The Hunter (Lesson and Craft) Great Lakes |
| October 15, 2016 • 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Pretty Princess Tea Party @ Pontiac Public Library |
| February 12, 2016 • 7:00pm - 8:00pm | The Yaktown Poets Revue: MOTOWN MADNESS!!!! @ The Pontiac Creative Art Center |
| December 30, 2015 • 7:00pm - 8:00pm | VB Touray at Touray Friends and Family Kwanzaa Celebration: Ruth Peterson Community Center: Pontiac, |
| November 30, 2015 • 7:00pm - 8:00pm | VB Touray at EMPIRE WATCH NIGHTS @ The Menagerie: Downtown Pontiac, MI |
| November 19, 2015 • 7:00pm - 8:00pm | VB Touray at Central Michigan University: Warren, MI |
| November 18, 2015 • 7:00pm - 8:00pm | VB Touray at EMPIRE WATCH NIGHTs @ The Menagerie: Pontiac, MI |
| November 14, 2015 • 7:00pm - 8:00pm | A Pop Up Culinary Experience at Reverse Church: Pontiac, MI |
| November 11, 2015 • 7:00pm - 8:00pm | EMPIRE WATCH NIGHTS @ The Menagerie: Pontiac, MI |
| November 06, 2015 • 7:00pm - 8:00pm | Granny J at Buckner's Cafe for Kids First Initiative Telethon: Pontiac, MI |
| October 28, 2015 • 7:00pm - 8:00pm | VB Touray to Judge PoetrySlam at Lyrics on Vinyl: Pontiac, MI |
| October 16, 2015 • 7:00pm - 8:00pm | VB Touray is a Twisted Storyteller at The Charles Wright Museum: Detroit, MI |
| September 04, 2015 • 7:00pm - 8:00pm | VB Touray at The Yaktown Poets Revue: Labor Day Edition@ The Art Experience, Pontiac MI |
| August 11, 2015 • 9:30pm - 10:15pm | Cultural Event |
VB Touray: Author/Speaker/Lecturer:
1. Dreadlock Prince
2. The Fabric of Me
3. For Nostalgia's Sake
4. These are My Sisters
5. A Manly Man
6. Black Is...
7. If I Had Time
VB Touray: Granny Johnson (Tales)
1. How I Got Over (A family's escape from Slavery)
2. Master Man (African tale of a arrogant wrestler)
3. Olode The Hunter Who Became Oba (King) (Nigerian Tale)
4. Back in the Day... (A tale comparing and current moral attitudes
and former moral attitude)
5. How Jack Beat the Devil (Zora Neale Hurston)
Zora Neale Hurston, Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, Tracey Ullman, Carol Burnett
VB Touray: Author/Speaker/Lecturer: Microphone system and microphone; stool or chair; podium
VB Touray: Granny Johnson: Lounge chair; lapel microphone
New York City, NY 
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