Speaking
Noa Baum
Noa Baum’s extraordinary talent in storytelling and relatability, enriched with history and culture, was a breath of fresh air to our employees. It comes as no surprise that we hired her again. The stories she shared, and the thought provoking questions she asked the panelists were phenomenal and sparked an amazing dialogue.
Shayla R. Spann, Acting Deputy Director, Diversity & Inclusion, APHIS, USDA
Forget the boring, uninspired lecture… Noa delivers dynamic, thought-provoking talks described by others as “a breath of fresh air”!
The power of story as a catalyst for leadership, connection and peacebuilding is at the heart of Noa’s work as a speaker and Master of Ceremonies. She brings passion, humor, authenticity, and insight to keynotes, lectures and author talks that motivate and inspire.
Noa speaks in person or online for government agencies, colleges, nonprofit organizations, festivals, faith-based organizations, and communities.
Clients include:
-
NSA, US Department of Defense
-
The Mayo Clinic for Humanities and Medicine
-
Smithsonian Associates, Washington, DC
-
USDA APHIS
-
The Army National Guard, VA
-
DLA (Defense Logistics Agency) Troop Support
-
Jewish Writers Festival, Sydney, Australia
-
The World Bank
-
Sydney International Storytelling Conference, Australia
-
Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide
-
US Securities and Exchange Commission
-
Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, DC
-
AARP, Washington, DC
-
Storytellers of Canada National Conference
Get in touch to discuss your needs
"It was fabulous and we are getting rave reviews. You were spot on on our topic, captured us and set the stage perfectly for our day of learning. Not many people can combine content with entertainment, and you did. Not many people can hold the attention of 700 people and you did.
Thank you Thank you Thank you."
Mara Bier, Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, DC
Keynotes
Noa offers engaging talks on a variety of topics custom designed to address your needs.
Here is a sample of topics:
-
Beyond Labels - Bridging Differences through Storytelling
Gateways for inclusivity and tolerance in workplaces and communities.
-
Visionary Women: Champions of Peace & Justice.
Women’s history; Voting rights; Women's leadership.
-
Leading with Heart & Mind: Storytelling as a Leadership Skill
Facilitative Leadership; Value-centered leadership.
-
Oral Tradition and Jewish Heritage - Passing Values Through Stories.
Jewish history and culture; Celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month.
-
Remembering into a Different Future
Can we learn from past trauma to help us create a different future?
Days of Remembrance; Holocaust Remembrance Day.
-
Mobilize the Power of Diversity: A Story Centered Path to High Performance Teams
Team building; Storytelling as master connector across differences.
-
The Art-Full Process: Creating A Land Twice Promised
Tips and insight on transforming oral history into live performance.
-
The Power of Story: Rekindling Our Shared Humanity
Celebrating our similarities across cultures through stories.
Noa is available to discuss customizing any talk and creating new ones to meet your specific needs.
"Your lively moderation of the event and storytelling expertise encouraged attendees to share their story, and stressed the importance of effective communication with physicians,
family members and friends."
Emily Carroll, Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide
Book Talks
Dynamic, interactive, and thought-provoking talks focus on the transformative power of listening to “the other” and the importance of kindness to heal our world.
For Adults and Teens
Speaking Life:
An Israeli Woman’s Quest for Peace
Noa shares her experience of using storytelling as a tool for dialogue
and peace building in this compelling presentation about her
award-winning book A Land Twice Promised. This deeply personal memoir recounts her journey from girlhood in post-Holocaust Israel to her adult encounter with “the other”. With honesty, compassion, and humor, she captures the drama of a nation at war and her discovery of humanity in the enemy.
In this dynamic session Baum demonstrates the transformative power of listening to the other and challenges us to take the first step toward building bridges of inclusion and peace in our communities and workplaces.
"In this touching and honest memoir, Baum shares the story of how her search for peace informed her life... Baum's genuine desire to make a difference may well inspire others to do the same."
Publishers Weekly
"Impressively well written, organized and presented, A Land Twice Promised: An Israeli Woman's Quest for Peace is a compelling, thoughtful, and thought-provoking read."
Midwest Book Review
"A penetrating, introspective memoir that mines the depths of the chasm between the Israeli and Palestinian experiences, the torment of family loss and conflict, and the therapy of storytelling as a cleansing art. You will not think in the same way at the end of this captivating book as you did at the beginning."
David K. Shipler, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Arab and Jew:
Wounded Spirits in a Promised Land
For Schools and Families
How the Birds Became Friends (ages 3-8)
In this delightful take on a Burmese folktale, told by award-winning
storyteller Noa Baum and illustrated by renowned ecologist and artist
Zev Labinger, watch the power of kindness change the world.
Rooted in the timeless values of her Jewish heritage, Noa tells the story and engages young and old in an interactive conversation about the choices we can make to bring more peace into our world. Children also learn how a story told in the oral tradition becomes a picture book.
“The children were captivated as Noa brought the story alive with her expressions and energy and wove in songs creating a multigenerational singalong. The act of kindness penetrated the air as one girl noticed another girl (that she didn't know prior to the event) was cold and walked over to share her blanket. After the presentation, the children were glowing as they met the author in person and had her sign their books. I highly recommend bringing in Noa Baum for an interactive and impactful experience deeply rooted in tradition and Jewish values."
Melissa Seltzer, Director Community Arts, The Gordon Center for Performing Arts, Baltimore, MD
“Noa Baum’s clear, colorful retelling of this simple story reminds us of the simple truth - kindness and acceptance are the basis of friendship and peace. Quail’s surprising act changes everything for all the birds and reminds us we’re capable of doing the same.”
Bill Harley, author, Grammy Award winning storyteller/musician