The Story Collider celebrated its second annual Proton Prom last week on June 1st at The Bell House in Brooklyn, New York. The annual fundraiser was a great success and because of your support, we have raised over $40,000. This funding will help to support all of our Story Collider programming. We are so grateful for everyone’s support and to everyone who attended in-person as well as those who tuned in online. You all made it a night to remember.
Below is a selection of photos from the night’s festivities.

From left to right: Host and comedian Gastor Almonte, Story Collider Board President Eric Jankowski, storyteller and mathematician Ken Ono, Story Collider Executive Director Erin Barker, storyteller and comedian Natalia Reagan, and storyteller and journalist Nicholas St. Fleur.

Story Collider’s Executive Director Erin Barker on stage at Proton Prom.

Story Collider’s Board President Eric Jankowski shares a story at Proton Prom.

Comedian Josh Gondelman shares his story at Proton Prom.

Science journalist Nicholas St. Fleur shares his story at Proton Prom.

The audience at The Bell House in Brooklyn, NY.

Mathematician Ken Ono shares his story at Proton Prom.

The Proton Prom audience at The Bell House in Brooklyn, NY.

The audience at The Bell House in Brooklyn, NY.

The Story Collider was delighted to welcome our partners from Boise State University!

Story Collider’s partners at Boise State University, Anne Hamby and Krishna Pakala.

Story Collider Board member Ross Heinemeyer.

Proton Prom’s host, comedian, senior producer and board member Gastor Almonte.

Science journalist Nicholas St. Fleur shares his story at Proton Prom.

Science journalist Nicholas St. Fleur shares his story at Proton Prom.

Story Collider’s Board President Eric Jankowski

The audience watches Eric Jankowski share his story at The Bell House in Brooklyn, NY.

The audience listens to science journalist Nicholas St. Fleur tells his story.

Mathematician Ken Ono

Anthropologist, primatologist, comedian, Natalia Reagan shares her story at Proton Prom.

Anthropologist, primatologist, comedian, Natalia Reagan shares her story at Proton Prom.

New York Producer Fola Olusanya.

New York Producer Zack Stovall.

Story Collider Board member John Rennie.

The audience listens to science journalist Nicholas St. Fleur.

Story Collider Marketing Manager Nakeysha Roberts Washington and Science Advisory Fellow Edith Gonzalez.

Story Collider producers Fola Olusanya and Zack Stovall volunteer on Proton Prom night

Host Gastor Almonte.

Science journalist Nicholas St. Fleur in the crowd.

The audience listens to mathematician Ken Ono.

Story Collider supporter (and partner of Executive Director Erin Barker) Justin D’Ambrosio with Marketing Manager Nakeysha Roberts Washington.

New York producer Zack Stovall.

New York producer Zack Stovall places beads on a donor.

Guests at Proton Prom raise their hands to donate to the Story Collider.

Proton Prom attendees busting a move.


Anthropologist, primatologist, comedian, Natalia Reagan shares her story at Proton Prom.

Host and comedian Gastor Almonte and Executive Director Erin Barker on stage at The Bell House.

The folks from Lady Moo Moo deliver delicious ice cream sandwiches for intermission!

New York producer Zack Stovall holding a tray of ice cream sandwiches at Proton Prom.

Mathematician Ken Ono shares his story at Proton Prom.

Former Story Collider storytellers and Math for America teachers Anoopa Singh and Brittany Beck

Natalia Reagan (left) and former Story Collider storyteller Brittany Beck.

Host and comedian Gastor Almonte and Executive Director Erin Barker on stage at The Bell House.

Comedian Josh Gondelman shares his story at Proton Prom.

From left to right: Gastor Almonte, Erin Barker, Nicholas St. Fleur, Natalia Reagan, and Ken Ono.

Proton Prom guests connecting.

Story Collider Board member Latasha Wright with guests

Story Collider Board member Latasha Wright (left) with guest


Comedian Josh Gondelman shares his story at Proton Prom.

Host Gastor Almonte at Proton Prom.

Former Story Collider storyteller Robin Gelfenbein with guest.

Natalia Reagan on stage at Proton Prom, holding her femoral rod as a visual aid.

Host Gastor Almonte and Executive Director Erin Barker on stage at Proton Prom.

Marketing Manager Nakeysha Roberts Washington and New York Producer Zack Stovall.


Story Collider Science Advisory Fellow Edith Gonzalez in the audience at Proton Prom.

Former Story Collider storyteller and host of Yum’s the Word, Robin Gelfenbein.

Story Collider team members, from left to right: Nakeysha Roberts Washington, Gastor Almonte, Ana Buxton, Zack Stovall.

From left to right: Operations Manager Lindsay Cooper, Marketing Manager Nakeysha Roberts Washington, Science Advisory Fellow Edith Gonzalez.

Storyteller and award-winning science journalist Nicholas St. Fleur poses with his parents.

Proton Prom storyteller Natalia Reagan and guest.



From left to right: Host and comedian Gastor Almonte, Story Collider Board President Eric Jankowski, storyteller and mathematician Ken Ono, Story Collider Executive Director Erin Barker, storyteller and comedian Natalia Reagan, and storyteller and journalist Nicholas St. Fleur.
Photos by Zhen Qin.