Devan Sandiford is a writer, award-winning storyteller, and founder of Unreeling Storytelling—a Brooklyn-based organization that provides workshops, events, and space for repressed perspectives to be heard. Raised in the wake of his uncle being fatally shot by police outside of their homes, Devan spent 30 years repressing his voice. But longing to be seen and heard, Devan moved to Brooklyn, NY to push himself out of his comfort zone and find the power in his authentic voice.

Devan has now shared more than 75 stories to audiences of up to 1200. His stories are featured in The Washington Post, The Moth Radio Hour and Podcast, and Speak Up Storytelling, among other outlets. He is a recipient of the Corporeal Writing Scholarship for Writing Trauma Toward Healing and Joy and was a writer in residence at Voices of Our Nations Arts Foundation. Devan has received acclaim from multiple NYTimes bestselling authors, including Roxane Gay, who praised him as “an talented writer who will be endlessly interesting to [his] readers”, Terese Maria Mailhot, who said he “wills himself from one thought to the next with a work that has momentum and fluidity”, and Nancy French, who stated “Devan has a unique perspective… and navigates the complicated issues facing modern America with a deft, compassionate touch.” He has contributed his opinions on race, identity, grief, parenting, and storytelling for The New York Times and Washington Post.

After serving as the program manager of The Moth’s Community Engagement program, Devan became a senior communications officer, story developer, & writer at The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where he travels the world meeting and developing the stories of people committed to make the world a more connected and equitable place. Devan lives in Brooklyn, NY with his wife and two sons. He loves brunch, biking in a morning chill, bookstore crawls, being roasted on his birthday, and apparently all things letter “b” (except for the Boston Celtics - GO LAKERS! Sorry, forever a Southern Californian).