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If These Blocks Could Talk:
Urban Legend, Rumor, and Tall Tales
Summer / Fall 2011
Neighborhood Writing Alliance (NWA) participants explored the theme of “If These Blocks Could Talk”
In weekly writing groups, NWA participants shared their writing and engaged in dialogue about urban legends, rumors, mythologies of Chicago politics, and perceptions and reflections on the dynamics in their communities related to violence, family structure, gentrification, and other issues of personal and community identity. Born of the writers’ interests in stories of origin and passion to provide accurate portrayals of their own communities, the theme provided opportunities to cultivate writers’ storytelling abilities, writing skills, and performance styles. The project was supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.
- "Rumors and Legends" Workshops with Gary Alan Fine. Professor Gary Alan Fine, author of Whispers on the Color Line: Rumor and Race in America, lead NWA writers in discussions and creative writing exercises on the different types of rumors, and how rumors and legends are shared within a community.
- "Urban Legends" Workshops with Khari B. Poet, columnist, arts educator, and acclaimed performance and recording artist Khari B. lead a 3-part workshop series on “Urban Legends” to help the writers create and develop their own stories and performance styles. The series introduced methods of storytelling that enhanced the content, built skills, and engaged audiences both on the page and in oral performance.
- Writing workshop with Ronne Hartfield. Poet, essayist, and author of the biographical memoir, Another Way Home: The Tangled Roots of Race in One Chicago Family (University of Chicago Press 2004), Ronnie Hartfield lead NWA writers in a workshop that drew from No Place Like Home, an exhibition curated by Dawoud Bey which included work by Lisa Lindvay, Jon Lowenstein, Jason Reblando, Jessica Rodrigue, David Schalliol and Leilani Wertens. No Place Like Home takes its title from The Wizard of Oz and Dorothy’s desire to leave Oz and return to a normal and secure sense of home by reciting the magical mantra.
- "If These Blocks Could Talk" Performance. Spoken word soul artist Discopoet Khari B. brought his unique blend of kinetics, music, and truth to host and direct NWA writers in a staged reading of poetry and prose that explored the theme of urban legends, rumors, and myths, performed at Columbia College Ferguson Auditorium.
- Themed publication of JOT.
Creative Resistance: Art as Activism
Winter /Spring 2011
Neighborhood Writing Alliance (NWA) participants explored the theme of Creative Resistance: Art as Activism.
What is the role of the arts in social movement building? Artistic forms often aim to generate dialogue and inspire engagement in social issues, and art has played a major role in a range of activist movements. Through the use of current and historical examples of writing, film, music, and visual art utilized in activism, we encouraged individuals to voice their own experiences and opinions and to examine and reinforce the concept of art as a tool in social justice activism. Creative Resistance is supported in part by the Illinois Humanities Council.
- Freedom Riders Film Screening and Discussion—2011 marks the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Rides, a pivotal movement during the civil rights era. In partnership with the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, NWA presented Stanley Nelson’s dynamic new film, Freedom Riders, in conjunction with a writing workshop that explored reflections on the film, the era, and what it means today.
- Black History 101 Mobile Museum: “Necessary” Exhibit and Seminar—NWA Partnered with the Black History Mobile Museum to present their “Necessary” exhibit, which is comprised of a variety of artifacts surrounding the life and work of Malcolm X, and his impact on artistic movements over the past 50 years. Islamic rights activist and co-proprietor of the Black History 101 Mobile Museum, Tasleem el-Hakim, facilitated a workshop with NWA writers reflecting on the exhibit and the Malcolm X.
- Traveling Down Freedom’s Main Line: The Freedom Rides at 50—Performance. NWA partnered with WBEZ/Chicago, to present a staged performance of writers reading works inspired by the Freedom Riders film screening and writing workshop. NWA shared the stage with Congo Square Theatre, and Young Chicago Authors.
- The True Cost of Coal Exhibit and Discussion—NWA and the Beehive Collective presented “The True Cost of Coal,” a 14’ x 18’ portable mural. The graphic uses mountain top removal as a lens through which to understand the historical and contemporary story of energy, resource extraction, and its impact on American advancement globally. NWA writers participated in a discussion around issues raised in the exhibit.
- Panel: “How Art Works: The Impact of Art Forms on Chicago Movements”—NWA hosted a panel discussion and Q & A representing a variety of artistic mediums and social movements across the city. Presenters discussed the role of art in affecting specific social justice causes and how attendees can become involved.
- Themed publication of Testify: Art as Activism
Key Ingredients: Stories on Food & Tradition
Summer/Fall 2010
The Neighborhood Writing Alliance (NWA) participants explored the theme of Key Ingredients: Stories on Food & Tradition.
Food, tradition and culture are linked through such things as long-remembered meals; dishes prepared for ordinary meals as well as special occasions like family reunions or funerals; the handling and preparation of food; and regional specialties, including the best ribs, pizza, chicken, and greens.
Key Ingredients was supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.
- Belonging and Community — Chicago State University Associate Professor and Affrilachian Poet Kelly Norman Ellis lead a workshop that explored the idea of identity by drawing on “I am” poems to encourage reflection on themes such as sense of self and ability to make change. She encouraged approaches that considered the context of space, place, neighborhood, food, religion, and language. Workshop participants read poetry as well as create their own.
- Edible Activism — Bart Schultz, University of Chicago Senior Lecturer in Humanities and Director of the Civic Knowledge Project lead a two-part series designed to explore local and sustainable food systems, urban food access, affordability, and community gardens. Writing inspired by the first session was performed during the second session, which was open to the public.
- Community Gardening — NWA presented the opportunity to participate in a seminar and service project in a Chicago community garden.
- Food Audio — The Third Coast Audio Festival presented a compilation of audio recordings from their extensive archives on the theme of food. NWA writers had an opportunity to hear stories and expressions from a wide variety of perspectives. A discussion followed.
- Trick or Treat — NWA, as a part of “Mischief Night” at the Hyde Park Arts Center, hosted a writing workshop entitled “Trick or Treat.” Writing created in that workshop was performed that day as a part of the festivities.
- Writing Our Identities — Each and every one of us possess complex identities, which include such elements as race, age, ethnicity, gender, orientation, religion, class, nationality, political orientation, and much more. Dr. Mary Anne Mohanraj encouraged participants of this workshop to write their identities through the lens of poetry and prose. The workshop aimed to capture the power of our stories to build rich and compelling narratives.
- Call for submissions! — NWA writers collaborated with Affrilachian Poet Parneshia Jones to weave together and perform their own stories at a city-wide reading on the theme of “Key Ingredients.” Submissions were both consistent with the food theme and possessed performance quality. Writers accepted to this production took part in three rehearsals in addition to the culminating performance "On The Tip of My Tongue" in November at Gorilla Tango Theatre.
- Publication of "I Always Like Plenty of Napkins" with introduction by Lisa Yun Lee.
Our Environment -- Spring/Summer 2010
NWA participants examined the theme of Our Environment
The environmentis already a recurring topic in NWA workshops, including writing about and discussing their gardens, the foreclosures on their block, the planned closure of health clinics, and the challenges caused by reduced CTA routes. With the support of the Illinois Humanities Council, NWA’s project will take a broad approach to the issue of the environment, exploring topics from natural and built surroundings to social and cultural constructs.
Related Events
Where I’m From -- Summer/Fall 2009
NWA participants examined the theme of Where I'm From.
Writers discussed topics like migration,
immigration, regional colloquialisms, understood by folks who share backgrounds but not necessarily everyone, and
focused on their cultural origins.
NWA’s Where I’m From Project, including the production and printing of “Whistle Talk,” was supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Harper Court Arts Council, and the Southside Arts and Humanities Network.
Related Events
- Blues Poetry - Special workshop with Tyehimba Jess
- Collage Workshop with Krista Franklin
- Film Screening -
Dislocation with Mary Pattillo
- Bookmaking with Sue Eleuterio and Ian Weaver
- "Where I'm From" - Chicago Humanities Festival performance led by performer and vocalist Glenda Zahra Baker
- Writing about Music - Special workshop led by Erin Hogan
- Publication of "Whistle Talk" with introduction by Ronne Hartfield.
Making Our Own Choices -- Winter/Spring 2009
NWA participants explored the theme of Making Our Own Choices, ranging from individual to collective choices.
Choices affect each individual, both directly and indirectly.
Some issues work on both levels. There are choices we make for other people, and choices that other people make for us. "Making Our Own Choices" examined how every person’s life – our path, the decisions we made, and the understanding that results– is inextricably linked to the choices we made along the way.
Related Events
Previous Years projects
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