Announcing Our First Storyteller Fellows: Adrian Flowers & Andre J. McDonald
- Joseph Crown
- Aug 28
- 6 min read
In New Orleans, storytelling is more than art—it’s legacy. Today, The Crown Legacy Program is proud to announce the appointment of our first Storyteller Fellows: Adrian Flowers and Andre J. McDonald, C.Ht.. This milestone is both a formal announcement and a celebration of two creative innovators who will help us carry forward our mission. Storyteller Fellows are charged with amplifying voices and preserving cultural narratives, and these first fellows embody the fusion of innovation and tradition that defines our community. From cutting-edge virtual worlds to the age-old art of hypnotic storytelling, Adrian and Andre bring a dynamic spectrum of talent that we can’t wait to share with you.
Each Storyteller Fellow will contribute their unique perspective to our blog and beyond – making this not just an announcement, but an invitation to engage with new stories, ideas, and creative experiences. Read on to learn more about who they are, why this fellowship matters, and how you can support this visionary program.
Why the Storyteller Fellowship Matters
The Crown Legacy Program was founded on a simple belief: our stories are our legacy. By empowering underrepresented communities through support for artists, writers, and culture bearers, we ensure that those stories continue to thrive. Our initiatives span various media – from print to AR and VR – aiming to amplify these voices and enrich our cultural landscape. Launching the Storyteller Fellowship is a natural extension of this mission, centering the creators who keep our cultural memory alive in fresh and innovative ways.
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Earlier this year, we announced plans for a Sponsored Storyteller and Poet Fellowship launching in 2026. Why wait? Adrian Flowers and Andre McDonald are helping us begin that journey now. They represent the spirit of what we’re building: a future where technology and tradition coalesce, and where the voices of our community are elevated on a dedicated platform. From porch tales to painted murals, second lines to spoken word, New Orleans culture lives through its people’s voices – and in that spirit, our Fellows will help those voices resonate in the digital age as well.
Importantly, Storyteller Fellows will be contributors and ambassadors. They’ll be sharing stories that reflect not only their personal work, but also the values of cultural preservation and creativity that Crown Legacy stands for. This fellowship is a step toward sustainability for the artists who preserve our culture in words and images, ensuring that as the world accelerates, our heritage keeps pace without losing its soul.
Meet Adrian Flowers – Visual Innovator & Research Scientist
Adrian Flowers is a research scientist and a visionary in the realm of computer vision and virtual reality. By day, he pushes the boundaries of technology; by night (and often also by day), he’s a 3D artist crafting immersive worlds. Adrian creates visual novels, digital art, and interactive project-specific artifacts – including game-based elements built in platforms like Unity and Daz 3D. In other words, he doesn’t just tell stories; he builds them from the ground up, coding and modeling vibrant narratives into existence.
Adrian’s expertise in VR technology means he can transport audiences to new dimensions of storytelling. Imagine exploring a virtual gallery of ancestral art, or stepping inside a local legend brought to life in VR – these are the kinds of possibilities Adrian’s work hints at. With his blend of technical skill and artistic flair, he transforms concepts into visual experiences that engage the senses and the mind. As a Storyteller Fellow, Adrian will be channeling his talent into projects that honor cultural heritage while embracing innovation. His contributions will help us explore how emerging technologies (like VR and computer vision) can preserve stories that matter, keeping tradition alive through interactive media and creative tech. We’re excited to have Adrian on board to blur the line between storyteller and technologist, and to share the visual magic he creates.
Meet Andre J. McDonald, C.Ht. – Hypnotic Storyteller & Author
Andre J. McDonald, C.Ht. brings a completely different – yet equally captivating – set of talents to the Storyteller Fellowship. Andre is a hypnotic writer and a true Renaissance performer. He wears many hats: author, trainer, certified hypnotherapist, stage hypnotist, magician, and more. Through all these roles, one thread remains constant – storytelling. Whether he’s on stage performing mesmerizing hypnosis shows or at his desk writing about personal growth, Andre understands how to captivate an audience’s imagination and inspire change.
As an author and coach, Andre has penned works of self-help and creative nonfiction, often focusing on the nuances of human relationships and personal transformation. His writing doesn’t just inform; it entrances – much like his hypnotist performances do. He knows that every great story has the power to shift perspectives, and he leverages this in genres ranging from heartfelt memoir to educational wellness content. (Fun fact: as a magician and hypnotist, Andre has learned exactly how to hold people’s attention – a skill every storyteller needs!)
Andre also leads the AN/EX Hypnosis & Wellness Center, where he guides individuals to unlock the power of the subconscious mind in daily life. This therapeutic background adds depth to his storytelling, infusing it with empathy, insight, and a dash of real-world magic. Whether he’s writing about overcoming emotional obstacles or crafting an allegory about trust and connection, Andre’s words carry a hypnotic rhythm that draws readers in. As a Storyteller Fellow, he’ll share content that might range from thought-provoking essays on wellness and relationships to behind-the-curtain peeks at the psychology of illusion. Andre’s multifaceted experience reminds us that storytelling isn’t confined to the page – it’s equally at home on stage, in conversation, and within ourselves. We can’t wait for you to be inspired (and maybe a little spellbound) by what he has to offer.
What to Expect from Our Storyteller Fellows
Our Storyteller Fellows won’t just hold the title – they’ll be actively sharing their craft with the community. Both Adrian and Andre will contribute at least one post per month to the Crown Legacy Program blog. These posts will be windows into their creative worlds: you might find Adrian sharing a sneak peek of a VR art piece or discussing how technology can archive cultural history, while Andre might post an excerpt from his latest writing project or a reflection on storytelling techniques drawn from his hypnosis practice. The content will be as diverse as their talents, but always rooted in the art of storytelling and the culture of community.
Each fellow’s post on our blog is just the beginning of the conversation. As they publish on their own websites and social media, they’ll link back to the Crown Legacy blog (specifically, back to this announcement as a cornerstone for their fellowship). This means our wider audience can follow along, and their own followers can discover the Crown Legacy Program. It’s a two-way exchange: our platform gives them space to shine, and their participation brings fresh energy and perspectives to our readers.
Expect articles, videos, art demos, maybe even interactive content – whatever these creatives are working on, they have the freedom to share it with us. We encourage you to engage with their posts: leave comments, ask questions, share your own insights. Part of the Fellows’ role is to spark dialogue, so your voice is welcome in this ongoing storytelling adventure. By tuning in each month, you’ll witness how a research scientist and a hypnotist-magician alike interpret the world around us through narrative. In short, stay tuned – there’s a lot of exciting material coming your way, and this is your front-row seat.
Join Us: Support Culture, Keep Legacy Alive
Bringing on these Storyteller Fellows is a bold step for our program – one that underscores our commitment to creative voices. But we cannot do this without you. In order to sustain and expand the Storyteller Fellowship (and to pave the way for future Poetry Fellows as well), we are actively fundraising and seeking support. In fact, we need to raise at least $14,000 by 2026 to fully launch this program, and we cannot do it without you. Your contributions will help ensure that fellows like Adrian and Andre have the resources they need to thrive – including, eventually, stipends and mentorship such as editorial coaching and publishing support for six months, crownlegacyprogram.org.
Please consider donating to the Crown Legacy Program’s creative fellowship fund – every bit truly makes a difference. You can make a contribution by donating here: Donate to Crown Legacy Fund. Every donation:
Directly funds artistic labor – enabling creators to dedicate time and energy to their craft
Builds visibility for cultural creatives and local voices – spotlighting stories that might otherwise go unheard
Ensures our cultural legacy thrives in the digital age – keeping our traditions and perspectives alive for future generations
Your support directly fuels opportunities for local creatives, helping turn our vision into a lasting reality. With your help, we can continue to provide a platform (and, eventually, financial support) for those who preserve our culture through storytelling. Donate, spread the word, or reach out to partner with us – any form of involvement brings us one step closer to our goal.
Join us. Support culture. Keep legacy alive. This isn’t just about welcoming two fellows – it’s about investing in the storytellers, poets, and cultural creators who carry our collective memory forward. Together, we are building a future where our community’s narratives not only endure but flourish in new and creative forms.
Be Heard. Be Featured. Be Remembered. The Crown Legacy Program invites you to be part of this journey. Your story matters. Let’s tell it—together
Joseph Santiago, Executive Director,
Crown Legacy Program
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