FALL 2009

On December 4th, Neighborhood Writing Alliance(NWA) writers read their own works originally commissioned by the Goodman Theatre as the opening for the Jazz Institute of Chicago's presentation of "Until Emmett Till: Ernest Dawkins' Chicago 12" at Hamilton Park.

On November 8th, NWA was thrilled to present our writers at the 2009 Chicago Humanities Festival in direction with performer and vocalist Glenda Zahra Baker with vivid, original, and thought-provoking stories about laughter and humor across Chicago, accompanied by percussion, song, and movement.

On October 24th, NWA Board Member and Workshop Leader Sue Eleuterio and Program Director Rupal Soni presented as part of Finding Home: Creativity and the Expression of Place, a forum at the 2009 American Folklore Society Annual Meeting in Boise, Idaho. Programs in three communities—New York City, Chicago, and Harrisburg—were described, including the Neighborhood Writing Alliance’s Journal of Ordinary Thought.

On September 14th, NWA presented special guest speaker Ron OJ Parson, Director of August Wilson’s Ma Rainey‘s Black Bottom for our theme “Where I’m From.” Ron OJ Parson, director of Court Theatre’s current play, Ma Rainey‘s Black Bottom, talked about the play and led a discussion on his experience in directing the only August Wilson play to be set on the South Side of Chicago.

In September NWA presented Writing about Music, two workshops led by Erin Hogan. Erin Hogan led NWA writers through exercises to put words to the memories, feelings, stories, and associations they have with particular songs or musicians. Erin works for the Art Institute and last year she published a book, Spiral Jetta, about road trips and art. She is currently working on a book about learning to play the fiddle.

In September NWA hosted Bookmaking with Sue Eleuterio and Ian Weaver. This special 3-session workshop led by professional folklorist Susan Eleuterio and bookmaker/artist Ian Weaver helped participants to capture and document family roots and community histories in a handmade book.

SUMMER 2009

On July 15th, NWA joined the anti-violence community to present a special workshop facilitated by Donna Kiser that resulted in an anthology delivered to the Illinois General Assembly. In Using Our Pens! Donna Kiser lead the group to develop stories that show the individual impact of violence and the necessity of maintaining full funding for services that help survivors. 

On July 14th, NWA presented a film screening of Dislocation and discussion at the Hyde Park Art Center. Dislocation isa documentary by Sudhir Venkatesh. In it, Sudhir follows LeeLee and Chuck, two people whose families had been living in Chicago’s Robert Taylor Homes public housing development for decades but were suddenly given 180 days to move. Discussion was led by Mary Pattillo, professor at Northwestern and author of the books Black on the Block: The Politics of Race and Class in the City and Black Picket Fences.

On July 9th, NWA hosted a special Collage Workshop with Krista Franklin at the Hyde Park Art Center. Using visual images and words, participants created collages exploring the places they are from.

SPRING 2009

In partnership with The Illinois Humanities Council, the Newberry Library, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, and the Burnham Plan Centennial on June 30th, NWA presented two writers at Checking the Gauge: The Legacy and Future of Oil and Water Policy event at the Newberry Library. Sharon Warner and Nedra Mixon opened the program reading personal stories of how these large, systematic issues affect us as individuals and communities.

On June 6th, NWA presented 15 writers for the 5th consecutive year at Chicago Tribune's Printers Row Lit Fest. Writers read narratives, poetry, and personal accounts focused on issues involving choices directly, on individual (what we choose to eat or where we live and work) or collective (war, democracy, environment, prison system) levels.

This Spring, four pieces from the Journal of Ordinary Thought (JOT) will be featured in the study guide for the Goodman Theatre’s production of Magnolia – Regina Taylor’s play about an Atlanta family during the Civil Rights movement. The authors will attend the production and, using the guide, participate in a post-show discussion with the cast and students.

The Neighborhood Writing Alliance (NWA) presented two Blues Poetry workshops in May with poet Tyhimba Jess. Taking inspiration from individual, family, and community histories, Jess led NWA participants through the creation of blues poems, a kind of writing rooted deeply in Chicago’s tradition and music.

On May 8th, NWA celebrated the genius of Rafael Hernandez Marin, Puerto Rican composer and musician in a collaborative performance with the Lowell School Band and the Puerto Rican Community Choir, as well as readings from Norma Mateo and Edmee Cappas Velez of the San Lucas Writing Workshop.

On May 1st, three NWA writers – Christelle Evans, Larry Jackson, and John Quirk – read at the release party for AREA Chicago #8: “Everybody’s Got Money Issues.” Their pieces answered the question “How does money affect you, and how does it affect the choices you make about your life and work?” These were published, along with pieces from over ten more NWA writers, in that issue of AREA. Here, we’ve posted all the submissions in full.

On April 15th , NWA and Jane Addams Hull House partnered to present Who Framed Sex Ed? an informal speed-dating style chit-chat on reproductive choice, abstinence-only education, and sex ed using film clips and response boards.

On April 7th, NWA joined the Jane Addams Hull House to present RePROductive Choice?? an engaging and lively Soup soap box on the topic of: What does choice really mean as it relates to reproductive rights and justice?  Who gets to choose? If reproductive services are legal but accessible only to some, does one really have reproductive choice?  How does the framing of the issue of choice in media influence our thoughts and the predominant public discourse?

On April 2nd, NWA partnered with The Field Museum and the University of Chicago's Civic Knowledge Project to host a special workshop to explore what the environment means in an urban setting, and how we can work together to create environmentally-friendly communities. Short film clips and other interactive materials were used to help participants think about how the "environment" plays a role in their everyday lives.

WINTER 2009

On February 25th, Neighborhood Writing Alliance presented The Choices that Make History, a special workshop that focused on how we, as individuals and as a society, choose to represent our histories, led by Ryan Hollon using Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States.

On February 19th, NWA partnered with Jane Addams Hull-House Museum to present the film screening of "Soul Food" followed by dialogue with activist LaDonna Redmond on the topic of food anc community, including the "food deserts" on Chicago's West and South sides.

On February 5th, NWA hosted "Choosing Peace," a special workshop with Code Pink and folklorist Susan Eleuterio. Participants discussed the choices made regarding war, shootings and community violence, and gun restrictions and acessibility - and how we can chose peace and peaceful resistance.