Pick the City UP

Pick the City UP Tour presents Saint Louis Story Stitchers unique brand of urban storytelling, featuring live original STL hip hop, spoken word and story magic on public health issues St. Louis cares about including gun violence. Pay tribute, join the fun, and make a difference. Bringing positive change to the Lou.
The program broadens and deepens participation in and access to the arts by targeting teens and young adults living in St. Louis City neighborhoods that are 70% or more black, underserved, and underrepresented.
Pick the City UP brings the arts to the forefront through a unique form of “urban storytelling,” collecting and reframing stories through the arts. A series of public performances and open air events held in summer and fall, 2022, will engage diverse groups of young residents within St. Louis City.
Lively public performances are family-friendly and promote understanding and civic pride. Local Black artists including top krump style dancers will create and perform alongside black youth, ages 16-24 years old, in a series of high quality musical performances and dance battles, in the Pick the City UP Tour, now in its 6th year. This year, Story Stitchers will incorporate guest artists into a “Spotlight Series,” curated on merit by Story Stitchers artists, to broaden awareness of the excellence of the Black and BIPOC arts movement in our region.

All events are free and family-friendly.

16-24 years old? Living in St. Louis region? Join Stitchers Youth Council to get involved! Reach out to storystitchers@gmail.com to learn more!

Sign up for e-news to follow or come to Tour events!

Juried competitions in contemporary dance with cash awards provided to

1st – 3rd place winners!!

$300 – $150 – $50!!!

16-18 year old UP and Coming Dancer

$200!!

Saturday, September 17

5:00-10:00 PM

Final Dance Battle of the Summer!!!

East Delmar Loop!

5959 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63112

Registration on Site

5:00-10:00 Dance Battle!

Battle is open to 16-24 year old youth living in S.t Louis

Under 15 must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian to enter.

Congrats! to JayMJay, Emeara, and Cheriyah!! 

Terry, Llord, Kelz, and Cozy!!

July 16 and Aug 20th Battle Winners!

 

  • Wanna compete?

  • You must be 16-24 years old
  • Living in the St. Louis region
  • Have a photo ID with birthdate
  • Bring a parent and a photo ID with birthdate if you are under 18 years old
  • Show up 1 hour prior to start time to register
  • Dance Battles have 3 top STL Dance Judges! Judges decisions are Final.
  • One 1st Place win maximum per person for summer season
  • Watch this page or sign up for E-news for the latest!
  • Join Stitchers Youth Council to get more involved!  You can earn money while you learn! Members earn stipends to enable and support community service efforts and receive T-shirts and Story Stitchers hoodies! Earn $100 for your 1st podcast! Reach out to Branden@storystitchers.org to learn more! Click the button and apply today! 

 

With support from the Regional Arts Commission

This event is made possible by a partnership with the Violence Prevention Commission & City of St. Louis using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

Meet Our 2022 Dance Battle Crew!

Dance Battle Event Manager: Slim

Slim and Rich perform with Saint Louis Story Stitchers at the East Delmar Loop Juneteenth Festival

Outreach: Britny

MC: Branden

Branden Lewis, Story Stitchers Youth Program Coordinator and Youth Council Chair, shown here with the Saint Louis Story Stitchers’ Lewis Prize For Music 2021 Accelerator Award, will MC the 2022 Dance Battles

Battle DJ’s: BlueBeatz & Story Stitchers NEW DJ UP Crew! 

Jelani, Melik, Kameron, and Aaron!

BlueBeatz, Story Stitchers Staff

 

Story Stitchers DJ UP Crew members Aaron, Melik, and Kameron, all STL Youth Jobs interns, at one of Ntegrity’s DJ UP Workshops.

2022 July Dance Battle Judges:

Lucas, Terry, and Deuce

Vandal, Rich and Small Talk

2021 Judges: Rich, Slim, and Lucas

Stitchers Youth Council Photographer: Toniio

Toniio at a marketing shoot

Stitchers Youth Council Videographer: Shawn Taylor

Shawn in Chicago

Stitchers Youth Council Social Media: Diamond 

Social Media: avery

Marketing: Julie K

Graphics: Julie F

Publicist: Marque Media

Tech Crew: Story Stitchers staff member BlueBeatz with Jeff from Craig AV and Story Stitchers STL Youth Jobs Interns Melik, Kameron, Zack, and Lynn

BlueBeatz in the Story Stitchers Studio

Story Stitchers STL Youth Jobs Interns She’Kinah and Aaron and

Cassandria White, Board member

Saint Louis Story Stitchers does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran or national guard status, handicap status, or any other factor prohibited by law in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in its programs and/or activities.

Check Story Stitchers BIG Summer Line UP!!

Plenty of Give Aways, Cash prizes, and Fun Times!

#STOPTHESPREAD   #KEEPTHEPEACE

Pick the City UP Tour! presents Saint Louis Story Stitchers unique brand of urban storytelling, featuring live original STL hip hop, spoken word and story magic on public health issues St. Louis cares about including gun violence. Pay tribute, join the fun, and make a difference. Bringing positive change to the Lou.

Programs provide fun, safe, creative spaces for youth in St. Louis. Your support through attendance, donations and sharing our story with friends and family is very much appreciated.

Go to storystitchers.org to learn more.

All events are free and family-friendly.

Sign up to learn more!

 

 

 

 

Saint Louis Story Stitchers does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran or national guard status, handicap status, or any other factor prohibited by law in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in its programs and/or activities.

This event is made possible in part by a partnership with the Violence Prevention Commission & City of St. Louis using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and with support from the Regional Arts Commission. Additional support is provided by the City of St. Louis Youth At Risk Crime Prevention Grant of 2022.

Support for StitchCast Studio and Story Stitchers youth programs is also provided by the Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund, The Lewis Prize for Music Accelerator Award, and Lush Corporation’s The Charity Pot, the Equity Impact Fund from Creative Reaction Lab and the Bezos Foundation, and the Arts & Education Council, and by generous individuals like you.

https://storystitchers.networkforgood.com/projects/144391-stand-together-campaign

This event is made possible by a partnership with the Violence Prevention Commission & City of St. Louis using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.


With support from the Regional Arts Commission

 

St. Louis Story Stitchers is an STL Youth Jobs employer since 2017.

St. Louis Story Stitchers is a resident organization of Kranzberg Arts Foundation since 2014.

 

 

Cali, Stitchers Youth Council 

To me I think it is because for 3 or 4 hours in a day, people get a break from what’s going around in their neighborhoods. They get to hear what we have to say and just a break from the mainstream music that’s all talking ‘bout just selling drugs, guns, girls then they come hear our stuff to hear about how to help and how to better our community, how to provide more stuff, not even physical just lyrical and I think that’s a good benefit.

Pick the City UP 2019 Tour was presented with support from Missouri Foundation for Health, LUSH Corporation’s The Charity Pot, Regional Arts Commission, Kranzberg Arts Foundation, Steward Family Foundation, Cardinals Care, and Incarnate Word Foundation.

Please consider making a donation to keep the Tour rolling along.

Thank you for your support!

See you soon!