Yarn Factory Listeners: Kankakee Storytelling

10/14/2026

Thanks to our phenomenal group of storytellers last night! Connie Edmund Lemon, Stephanie Brown, Sara Marion and Jennifer Bustos

10/13/2026

Join us for fresh stories tonight at 7:00 at The Venu' Lounge in Downtown Kankakee!

Our Storytellers:

Connie Lemon is a retired health care executive. She lives outside of Kankakee with her husband Steve, and youngest son Eric, their dog Luna, and cats Nala and Nugget. She has four children – Chris, Kara, Nichole and Eric, and four grandchildren – Annabel, Addison, Jonah, and Lulu. She loves to travel, cook and bake, read, attend theater plays and symphony, garden, keep busy with her service organizations, and of course, attend Yarn Factory.

From Jennifer Bustos:
Hello! My name is Jennifer and I am a lifelong Kankakee resident. I am 33 and currently the events and operations coordinator for the Kankakee county chamber of commerce. I am a recent KCC Graduate and like to stay connected to my community through various outreach and community groups and currently serving as the off site market coordinator for our Kankakee Farmers Market.

Sara Marion has lived in Kankakee County longer than she’s lived anywhere else, about 21 years. She works as a manager in chemical manufacturing and is the biggest fan of her husband, her kids, her friends, social justice, community theatre, professional theatre, nostalgia, and attempting to not come in last place at whatever race she’s most recently signed up for. She loves open conversations and hearing other people tell their stories, and fully believes human connection just may be the solution to all that is wrong in this world.

Stephanie Brown is a Care Coordinator at Thresholds Center of Wellbeing, where she provides case management and individualized support to help individuals navigate resources and services. She also works part-time as a Youth Resource Advocate with the Illinois Coalition for Community Services (ICCS). Previously, Stephanie spent four years as a Prevention Advocate with Harbor House, developing and facilitating trauma-informed education on domestic violence, teen dating violence, and healthy relationships. She is an Illinois-certified Domestic Violence Professional, serves on the Board of Directors for the Kankakee LGBTQ+ Network, and is a Racial Healing Ambassador with the YWCA & Grow Center. Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Millikin University and is currently completing a second bachelor's degree in Psychology at Governors State University, with plans to continue into a master's program focused on forensic interviewing of children.

10/12/2026

Tuesday Night! Oct. 13 is the next Yarn Factory Listeners: Kankakee Storytelling 7:00 at The Venu' Lounge in Downtown Kankakee!

We are excited to welcome Connie Lemon as one of our storytellers!

Connie Lemon is a retired health care executive. She lives outside of Kankakee with her husband Steve, and youngest son Eric, their dog Luna, and cats Nala and Nugget. She has four children – Chris, Kara, Nichole and Eric, and four grandchildren – Annabel, Addison, Jonah, and Lulu. She loves to travel, cook and bake, read, attend theater plays and symphony, garden, keep busy with her service organizations, and of course, attend Yarn Factory.

10/06/2026

Our next Yarn Factory Listeners event is scheduled for Tuesday, October 13 at 7:00 at The Venu' Lounge in Downtown Kankakee.

We are excited to have Jennifer Bustos as one of our storytellers!

From Jennifer:
Hello! My name is Jennifer and I am a lifelong Kankakee resident. I am 33 and currently the events and operations coordinator for the Kankakee county chamber of commerce. I am a recent KCC Graduate and like to stay connected to my community through various outreach and community groups and currently serving as the off site market coordinator for our Kankakee farmers market.

10/02/2026

The next Yarn Factory Listeners storytelling event is set for Tuesday, Oct. 13th at The Venu' Lounge in Downtown Kankakee at 7:00pm. We are excited to welcome Sara Marion as one of our storytellers!

Sara Marion has lived in Kankakee County longer than she’s lived anywhere else, about 21 years. She works as a manager in chemical manufacturing and is the biggest fan of her husband, her kids, her friends, social justice, community theatre, professional theatre, nostalgia, and attempting to not come in last place at whatever race she’s most recently signed up for. She loves open conversations and hearing other people tell their stories, and fully believes human connection just may be the solution to all that is wrong in this world.

10/01/2026

The next Yarn Factory Listeners storytelling event is set for Tuesday, Oct. 13th at The Venu' Lounge in Downtown Kankakee at 7:00pm. We are excited to welcome Stephanie Brown as one of our storytellers!

Stephanie is a Care Coordinator at Thresholds Center of Wellbeing, where she provides case management and individualized support to help individuals navigate resources and services. She also works part-time as a Youth Resource Advocate with the Illinois Coalition for Community Services (ICCS). Previously, Stephanie spent four years as a Prevention Advocate with Harbor House, developing and facilitating trauma-informed education on domestic violence, teen dating violence, and healthy relationships. She is an Illinois-certified Domestic Violence Professional, serves on the Board of Directors for the Kankakee LGBTQ+ Network, and is a Racial Healing Ambassador with the YWCA & Grow Center. Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Millikin University and is currently completing a second bachelor's degree in Psychology at Governors State University, with plans to continue into a master's program focused on forensic interviewing of children.

09/07/2026

We are excited to have Mac’s at The Venu' Lounge in Downtown Kankakee on Tuesday night! Get there early to grab some goodness before we start at 7:00!

BBQ, baked foods, fried foods and some desserts

09/07/2026

Yarn Factory Listeners returns Tuesday, Sept. 8 at the The Venu' Lounge in Downtown Kankakee at 7:00pm!

We are excited to welcome Otto Stuckmaier as one of our storytellers!

About Otto:
I've been in the area all my life being raised by my grandparents on a small farm around Martinton along the Iroquois River.
I have a wife and 4 children, all graduates of Bishop McNamara. We have 3 grandchildren as well. I also attended KCC, Lewis University and Governors State.

In addition to working on the farm, I've worked at A O Smith, Roper corporate, and 30+ years at Joliet Junior College in IT. I'm currently a help desk analyst for ellucian, a provider of ERP systems for higher education, working remotely from home.

09/07/2026

Yarn Factory Listeners returns Tuesday, Sept. 8 at the The Venu' Lounge in Downtown Kankakee at 7:00pm!

We are excited to welcome Donna Worth as one of our storytellers!

Donna grew up in the small idyllic village of Ladd, Illinois. After attending St Bede Academy, an all-boys high school (ok, PREVIOUSLY an all-boys high school) in Peru, Illinois, she studied (partied) at Bradley University in Peoria where she met the love of her life, Steve. She is most proud of the five incredible children they have raised along with the delightful people they have brought into their lives. She has been a volunteer with local theaters, community organizations, churches and schools.