Storytellers & Host
Michelle Matlock, Emcee
Michelle Nicole Matlock (all pronouns) is a performing artist, creative coach, teacher, director, producer and founder of Circle Up Productions (CUP), a live entertainment and performing arts education company based in Tacoma, WA.
Michelle has been a part of the entertainment industry for over 25 years and had the honor of being the first African American Person to create a main character for Cirque du Soleil. They toured with Cirque’s big top show OVO for close to 10 years.
Currently Michelle is an Adjunct faculty member at Dell’Arte International School for Physical Theater and a member of the Puget Sound Revels creative team. Recently Michelle was Clown Director/Consultant for Circus Bella and Emmy nominated actress’ Carolyn Ratteray’s solo show Both And…A Play About Laughing While Black.
Michelle has continuous teaching engagements and collaborations with organizations across the nation including, Clown Gym, Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, The Clown School, Laughter League, Circus Amok and Tacoma Light Trail
Michelle grew up in Tacoma, WA., studied theater for 3 years at Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA. and is a Graduate of the National Shakespeare Conservatory in New York City.
Elle Cree, Storyteller
Elle Cree (she/her) is a 57‑year‑old Marine veteran, lawyer, and trans woman who grew up in the reddest state and learned the hard way that institutions rarely protect the people they’re written for. She ran an ethical protest campaign for the Oklahoma state senate in 2016, passed every audit, and still watched other people’s stories about her drown out the truth.
Now living in Seattle, she channels her anger, grief, and survival into Stone Soup Crew, a scrappy 501(c)(3) serving transgender, BIPOC, queer, and veteran neighbors on the streets, and she shows up for TRACTION almost every day as a member of its Board of Directors to keep pushing for the community it claims to be, if not in practice. Elle openly admits she has hated life more often than she has loved it, yet she keeps showing up—to feed people, to confront betrayal in “safe” spaces, and to claim authorship of her own story. Tonight, she brings that unresolved, unpolished tale to the stage.
Gisella Gonzales, Storyteller
She has experienced incarceration and involvement in the juvenile court system, realities that now drive her commitment to justice reform and youth advocacy. Rather than letting those experiences define her, Gisella uses them as a foundation for her work speaking truth, challenging harmful systems, and creating space for other young people to be heard.
Gisella is an active member of the Youth Action Coalition (YAC) with TeamChild, where she works alongside other young leaders to push for change in systems impacting youth — especially those facing homelessness, incarceration, and marginalization.
Through storytelling, Gisella reclaims her narrative. She speaks not only for herself, but for her community for the girls, the trans youth, and the system-impacted young people who deserve to be seen, valued, and free.
August & Croweth Harmony, Storytellers
Croweth Harmony (he/him, above), 21, and August Harmony (he/him, below), 20, are trans men born and raised in Florida. Both men faced equal and opposite sides of discrimination for their identities, exacerbated by medical transition. They found themselves settling into Seattle in September of 2025. August has found a unique role at a residential dog daycare and will soon be attending school for drama, and has been able to meet his close online friends based out of Washington. Croweth has found himself busying his time with volunteer opportunities and miscellaneous creative projects, and will soon be attending school to work towards an MLIS. Both visited Seattle for their birthdays back in July and came to the same conclusion on the flight back—they felt like they were leaving their home. Here tonight, they speak on finding that home and the journey it took to get there.
GEO, Storyteller
GEO, T-thing, (he/him)
Morgan Whitten, Storyteller
Morgan Whitten (she/her) is a compassionate leader who cares deeply about creating safety and belonging in her community. Born and raised in Seattle and now living on the Eastside, she has spent her life blending technology, creativity, and service to make the world around her a little better for others.
Morgan has founded four startups and worked in technology and cybersecurity for many years. These experiences strengthened her love of problem-solving and her belief that safety and stability are essential foundations for growth. She has also served in Search and Rescue and now co-leads a local Girl Scout troop, helping young people build confidence and leadership through kindness and curiosity.
As a transgender woman, Morgan brings empathy and lived experience to her work with TRACTION. As a peer navigator, she supports trans and queer people and their families as they move toward safer and more affirming lives. In her role on the board, she contributes to the organization’s long-term planning and vision, helping guide its continued growth and impact. Beyond TRACTION, she collaborates with Nourishing Networks to help connect local groups and community members with resources that uplift and strengthen the region’s support systems.
Outside of her nonprofit work, Morgan enjoys exploring creative projects that blend art and technology. She continues to learn, volunteer, and build connections with others who share her passion for kindness and authenticity. Her guiding purpose is simple: to help people feel safe enough to live as their true selves so they can find joy in being who they are.
Production Crew
C. Michael Woodward, Curator & Director
C. Michael Woodward (he/him) is a writer, rock star, change agent, rabble rouser, and early leader in the gender justice movement. He is a co-founder and the inaugural executive director of TRACTION, creator of its Project Open Arms, and former director of Seattle’s Gender Odyssey conference. He previously served as Executive Director of the Southern Arizona Gender Alliance and was a longtime volunteer with Odyssey Storytelling in Tucson, Arizona. He is also an experienced keynote speaker, LGBTQ+ inclusion trainer, and diversity consultant.
Michael has published myriad nonfiction books, articles, and blogs, most notably contributing the title essay to the 2014 transmasculine anthology, Manning Up and to Below the Belt, both from Transgress Press.
Michael represented Mayor Robert Walkup for five years on the City of Tucson Commission on GLBT Issues and is a founding member of the University of Arizona President’s LGBT Advisory Council.
Michael is also an aqua fitness coach and an accomplished vocalist. He was the lead singer in Tucson’s infamous trans and allies cover bands, Too Much Information and Black Magic: A Tribute to Carlos Santana. He lives in West Seattle with his nonbinary spouse, Carolyn, and their feline companions, Bruce Wayne and Cosmo.
This event was inspired by Michael and Carolyn many years volunteering as curators, hosts, and storytellers with Odyssey Storytelling, a monthly gathering in Tucson.
Shelley Shore, Producer
Shelley Shore (she/her) washed ashore in the latter days of the 20th century. She was found by an Angel, who nourished her and gifted her Hope. In her earliest childhood memories, she was awestruck and seduced by stories of Myth and Magic. Through it all she clung to those promises…3 Wishes offered…thoughtfully, carefully, she chose each one.
Today, everyday, she glides on frail wings, fueled by the thermal updrafts, mindfully balancing the magnetic attraction of the Sun’s warmth and the powerful pull of the Planet’s gravity.
Not a day goes by, not a moment, when she is not humbled by those courageous Warriors who daily fight side by side for their Community, their shared Existence, all those who created and continue to cut a path through the wilderness, those who have suffered, sacrificed, survived and found Joy.
The difficult things we can do right away.
The impossible may take a little longer.
– Shelley’s Dad
Matt "Chilly" Clements, Jr., Tech Director
Calling Seattle home, Matt Clements, Jr. (aka Chilly, he/him) swings above his weight class by engineering, producing and directing corporate, entertainment, and community driving events with an efficient tool set and minimal crew. As founder of FIIP Live, Chilly has worked to bring higher visibility of TRACTION’s live efforts and support of partnering events (Vibes, Queer the Vote, STANCE’s TDOR concerts). He hopes to grow Seattle’s appreciation of the trans+ communities arts and missions while educating those in the trans+ community in the ways of live production, an industry fraught with cis het white males, such as himself, in need of diversified enrichment.
Aimee Adams, ASL Interpreter
Nationally Certified ASL Interpreter, RID, & Music Educator, ’15 Texas State University alum, Aimee Adams (they/them) blends the two distinct fields of musical conducting and language access of American Sign Language interpreting into a passionate outpouring, beloved by the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Hearing community. As a CODA, Child of Deaf Adults, Aimee Adams engages in communication access in a wide variety of settings while interpreting, but specializes in the performance arts access: music interpreting, integrative theatrical interpreting, traditional theater interpreting, & the comedic arts.
See their latest works on Tiktok @AimeeAdams_MusicHands
Phelan Conheady, ASL Interpreter
Dr. Rene Coig, Timekeeper
Dr. Rene Coig (he/him), spent many years working in nonprofit roles focused on LGBTQ community support before becoming a scientist. His work centered on community engagement, building connections, and helping organizations better serve the people around them. He later earned a PhD in Laboratory Medicine and Pathology from the University of Washington, where his interests turned to the science of sex and gender. His research explores biological variation and how differences related to sex and gender are represented in data, with an emphasis on challenging overly simplistic categories. Across both nonprofit and academic spaces, he remains committed to bridging community perspectives with scientific inquiry.
Dustyn Moir, Storytelling Coach
Bio coming soon!