OUR STORY

Everybody’s Got A Story was founded to celebrate the voices, experiences, and rich histories woven throughout Hampton, Virginia—a city long recognized for its commitment to neighborhood identity and community engagement. While Hampton has spent nearly 30 years investing in the strength of its neighborhoods, the stories of those communities had yet to be lifted and heard. This organization was created to change that.

Hampton, Virginia, a city rich in history, is also a city rich in stories. For almost 30 years Hampton has been a city uniquely focused on the importance of its neighborhoods, but the stories of those neighborhoods and their residents have yet to be celebrated. Storytelling, an art that has gained much recent popularity across the country, is a significant opportunity to showcase the individuals and stories that make Hampton special.

In 2023, with support from Virginia Humanities, Everybody’s Got A Story launched its first Storytelling Festival—an annual event designed to introduce and embed the art of storytelling into Hampton’s cultural fabric. The festival serves as a platform for connection, healing, and community pride, spotlighting the personal and collective narratives that make Hampton unique.

In addition to the festival, the organization hosts monthly storytelling events, including local story swaps and special performances, building year-round opportunities for residents to connect, listen, and be heard. By empowering storytellers of all backgrounds, Everybody’s Got A Story is nurturing a culture of shared understanding—one story at a time.

A Look at our Journey

Building Community

At Everybody’s Got A Story, storytelling is more than performance—it’s a way to build bridges between neighbors, generations, and cultures. We are proud to collaborate with a diverse group of partners who share our commitment to strengthening Hampton through connection, creativity, and community pride. From the visionary work of the Peninsula Community Foundation and the inclusivity efforts of the Citizens’ Unity Commission, to the grassroots impact of the Fox Hill Neighborhood Association and Virginia Organizing, our partners help ensure storytelling thrives in every corner of the city.

Organizations like the Weyanoke Association, Hampton History Museum, and Victorian Station/Big Pink Music contribute cultural depth, historical insight, and welcoming space to our efforts. We’re especially honored to work alongside Hampton City Schools to encourage storytelling among youth and foster the next generation of voices. Together, these partnerships are helping us shape a stronger, more connected Hampton—one story at a time. Check out our partners page for more details on our supporters.