Join Story Stitchers with founding Collective member Denise Ward Brown at the screening of her new film, Never Been a Time, November 5th at 7:30 PM at Washington University’s Brown Hall.
Denise collaborated with Story Stitchers for the open auditions for this film and many of the Stitchers appear on screen. Congratulations Denise!! We are excited to see the finished product!
Pick the City UP! Tour Finale & Glo Sho
#DROPTHEGUN #KEEPTHEPEACE
Pick the City UP Tour presents Saint Louis Story Stitchers unique brand of urban storytelling, featuring live 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. The Tour has stopped at community centers, neighborhoods and cultural venues across St. Louis, encouraging interaction with health care resources and using the arts as a catalyst for neighborhood community building.
Story Stitchers have performed throughout the Lou this summer starting with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America on June 3rd in Tower Grove Park, on to Make Music St. Louis in the Loop District June 21st, to the City of St. Louis Juvenile Detention Center, Mathews Dickey Boys’ and Girls’ Club, to Tillie’s Corner Historical Project in JeffervanderLou, Thomas Dunn Learning Center in 63118, the beautiful Contemporary Art Museum, in August 3 hot nights of Glo Sho’s at Fringe Fest, in collaboration with the City of St. Louis Department of Health at Marquette Park and in the Walnut Park neighborhood, and tonight on to the Finale at the .ZACK in the Grand Center Arts District!
The tour has been sponsored by the Arts and Education Council Monsanto Creative Impact Fund, Kranzberg Arts Foundation, .ZACK, the Steward Family Foundation, Yvette and John Dubinsky Family Foundation, the Institute for Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis, Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement at Washington University in St. Louis, Rome West Realty LLC, STL Youth Jobs, and many more individuals like YOU! Thank you for your support!
Pick the City UP is dedicated to St. Louis’s urban youth and gun violence prevention.
Guest Producer Joel P. E. King of JPEK CreativeWorks Theatre
C u in 2018!
Come out and see what the Story Stitchers do in the Storefront Studio!
616 N Skinker Blvd.
Open Saturday, October 7th, 2017
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Spectacular GLO SHO 2NITE!!
Pick the City UP Tour presents Saint Louis Story Stitchers unique brand of urban storytelling, featuring live 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.
PICK THE CITY UP GLO SHO!!
Tour Finale!
7:00-8:30 GLO SHO!!
.ZACK
3224 Locust in the Grand C enter Arts District
Don’t miss the Pick the City UP Tour Finale Glo Sho Friday, September 29th at the .ZACK theater on Locust! Pick the City UP presents Saint Louis Story Stitchers unique brand of urban storytelling, featuring live hip hop, spoken word and story magic on public health issues St. Louis cares about including gun violence. Special featured Guest Artists include Raven Fox of Radiant Studio Works, Caph Guei of Afryky Lolo Dance Company, SuperNova and PurpleReign, Story Stitchers Artists in Residence KP Dennis and Jarmel Reece and the Stitchers Youth Council with Guest Producer Joel P. E. King of JPEK CreativeWorks Theatre.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
6:00 Health Care Resources in the Lobby
Planned Parenthood
Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense in America
Mothers in Charge
Progressive Emporium and Education Center
Pay tribute, join the fun, and learn how you can make a difference and help to build a more peaceful St. Louis! Bring the kids!
Tickets are $10 general admission on MetroTix at Saint Louis Story Stitchers.
Visit storystitchers.org or call 314-899-9001 for more information.
The Tour has stopped at community centers, neighborhoods and cultural venues across St. Louis, encouraging interaction with health care resources and using the arts as a catalyst for neighborhood community building.
The tour has been sponsored by the Arts and Education Council Monsanto Creative Impact Fund, Kranzberg Arts Foundation, .ZACK, the Steward Family Foundation, Yvette and John Dubinsky Family Foundation, the Institute for Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis, Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement at Washington University in St. Louis, Rome West Realty LLC, STL Youth Jobs, and many more individuals like YOU! Thank you for your support!
Pick the City UP Tour presents Saint Louis Story Stitchers unique brand of urban storytelling, featuring live 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.
The Tour has stopped at community centers, neighborhoods and cultural venues across St. Louis, encouraging interaction with health care resources and using the arts as a catalyst for neighborhood community building.
Story Stitchers have performed throughout the Lou this summer starting with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America on June 3rd in Tower Grove Park, on to Make Music St. Louis in the Loop District June 21st, to the City of St. Louis Juvenile Detention Center, Mathews Dickey Boys’ and Girls’ Club, to Tillie’s Corner Historical Project in JeffervanderLou, Thomas Dunn Learning Center in 63118, the beautiful Contemporary Art Museum, in August 3 hot nights of Glo Sho’s at Fringe Fest, in collaboration with the City of St. Louis Department of Health at Marquette Park and in the Walnut Park neighborhood, and tonight on to the Finale at the .ZACK in the Grand Center Arts District!
The tour has been sponsored by the Arts and Education Council Monsanto Creative Impact Fund, Kranzberg Arts Foundation, .ZACK, the Steward Family Foundation, Yvette and John Dubinsky Family Foundation, the Institute for Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis, Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement at Washington University in St. Louis, Rome West Realty LLC, STL Youth Jobs, and many more individuals like YOU! Thank you for your support!
PICK THE CITY UP GLO SHO!!
Tour Finale!
Don’t miss the Pick the City UP Tour Finale Glo Sho Friday, September 29th at the .ZACK theater on Locust! Pick the City UP presents Saint Louis Story Stitchers unique brand of urban storytelling, featuring live hip hop, spoken word and story magic on public health issues St. Louis cares about including gun violence. Special featured Guest Artists include Raven Fox of Radiant Studio Works, Caph Guei of Afryky Lolo Dance Company, SuperNova and PurpleReign, Story Stitchers Artists in Residence KP Dennis and Jarmel Reece and the Stitchers Youth Council with Guest Producer Joel P. E. King of JPEK CreativeWorks Theatre.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
6:00 Health Care Resources in the Lobby
Planned Parenthood
Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense in America
Mothers in Charge
Progressive Emporium and Education Center
7:00-8:30 GLO SHO!!
.ZACK
3224 Locust in the Grand C enter Arts District
Pay tribute, join the fun, and learn how you can make a difference and help to build a more peaceful St. Louis! Bring the kids!
Tickets are $10 general admission on MetroTix at Saint Louis Story Stitchers.
Visit storystitchers.org or call 314-899-9001 for more information.
NEW!! Story Stitchers Hoodies!!
Available for $30 at
PICK THE CITY UP GLO SHO!!
Tour Finale!
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
6:00 Health Care Resources in the Lobby
7:00-8:30 GLO SHO!!
.ZACK
3224 Locust in the Grand C enter Arts District
Don’t miss the Pick the City UP Tour Finale Glo Sho Friday, September 29th at the .ZACK theater on Locust! Pick the City UP presents Saint Louis Story Stitchers unique brand of urban storytelling, featuring live hip hop, spoken word and story magic on public health issues St. Louis cares about including gun violence. Special featured Guest Artists include Raven Fox of Radiant Studio Works, Caph Guei of Afryky Lolo Dance Company, SupaNova and PurpleReign, Story Stitchers Artists in Residence KP Dennis and Jarmel Reece and the Stitchers Youth Council with Guest Producer Joel P. E. King of JPEK CreativeWorks Theatre.
Pay tribute, join the fun, and learn how you can make a difference and help to build a more peaceful St. Louis! Bring the kids! Tickets are $10 general admission on MetroTix at Saint Louis Story Stitchers.
“The “Pick the City UP” Tour was a concept that I created in response to the plethora of negative experiences that has effected our community especially dealing with inner city youth and gun violence. I have personally lost several friends and family to gun violence and was a victim of gun violence myself.
Since the Ferguson unrest, St. Louis has earned a bad reputation as being one of the most racially divided cities in the country and the news media tends to cover more depressing events and perhaps even biased or exploitive narratives.
The “Pick the City UP” concept is designed to uplift, inspire, entertain, give voice to, heal, educate and help to reconcile grievances between different groups of people through art and word. The showcase subject matter reflects on public health issues, including gun violence and can be heavy, but the musical feel of the vibe is both exuberant and upbeat.
In this current time of protest unrest and injustice St. Louis needs an entity that is consistently supportive and will still actively give a strong platform to teenage and young adult African American artists while and when all of the smoke clears!
Peace, Love, and Unity are the messages that Story Stitchers represent. So please come and enjoy some captivating storytelling, socially conscious poetry, some raw, family-friendly hip hop, some fly B Boy dance moves and a strong message of hope!”
— KP Dennis, Artist in Residence
Pick the City UP is about St. Louis’s urban youth and gun violence prevention.
#DROPTHEGUN #KEEPTHEPEACE
2017 TOUR FINALE
Friday, September 29th, 2017 at 7:00
in the .ZACK Theater, 3224 Locust
Tickets $10 General Admission, available on MetroTix and at the door
Pick the City UP Tour presents Saint Louis Story Stitchers unique brand of urban storytelling, featuring live 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.
The Tour has stopped at community centers, neighborhoods and cultural venues across St. Louis. Story Stitchers have performed throughout the Lou this summer starting June 3rd in Tower Grove Park, on to Make Music St. Louis in the Loop District June 21st, to the City of St. Louis Juvenile Detention Center, Mathews Dickey Boys’ and Girls’ Club, to Tillie’s Corner in JeffervanderLou, Co-Op City Market on N Sarah, Thomas Dunn Learning Center in 63118, Contemporary Art Museum, in August 3 nights of Glo Sho’s at Fringe Fest, and now on to the Finale at the .ZACK in Grand Center September 29th, 2017!
Special featured Guest Artists include Raven Fox of Radiant Studio Works, Caph Guei of Afryki Lolo Dance Company, SupaNova and PurpleReign, Story Stitchers Artists in Residence KP Dennis and Jarmel Reece and the Stitchers Youth Council with Guest Producer Joel P. E. King of JPEK CreativeWorks Theatre.
Public health care resources including Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, Progressive Emporium and Education Center, Mothers in Charge and more will be available in the .ZACK lobby from 6:00-7:00 prior to the performance and during intermission.
For 2018 bookings please contact storystitchers@gmail.com.
Today in the Storefront Studio, Stitchers discussed and reflected on the events yesterday and today…
What do you think about the Stockley Verdict?
Branden, 18 years-old —
I think that unfortunately, while this should be a catalyst for change, I believe that people will act on it for a month or so and then go back to their normal lives as if this never happened. And they will not rise again until another person is wrongfully killed and that officer is also let off the hook.
A few things need to happen. First, people of color need to understand that replacing White supremacy with Black supremacy makes you no better than your oppressor. Secondly, people of color have to understand that the first step to growth is unity and that until we are through destroying ourselves we will not be able to build.
Taron, 20 years-old —
All I have to say is that our justice system is not right and we need to change starting with who we let into the House of Representatives to create our rights and our laws. After hearing the verdict, I was at work last night. I heard that it was about to go down. I heard a lot of violent talk, like “no justice, no peace” and that “we are going to burn the city down to get the justice we want.” I think we should gather up tonight and think about what we’re doing and what’s going on. We shouldn’t put ourselves and other in danger.
Anna, artist —
I didn’t see a lot of coverage, but I was impressed by the African American cops in St. Louis coming out and calling out the injustices that are happening. I think that’s part of what’s been lacking. People need to be educated before they go out to a protest, about what to do, where the legal lines are, even just as a safety precaution. Violent protests only hurt the cause.
Juwuan, 21 years-old —
I heard on the street that the officer used one of the victim’s fingers to mark the gun after he shot the person. They said the officer still had his police gun in the holster. They said he shot the victim with this other gun and then planted it on him. I don’t know exactly…I heard it was recorded on a body cam or a cell phone. I didn’t see any TV coverage on it but I saw protesters downtown on TV and I saw Mike Brown’s mother on TV.
I didn’t think about going out to protest last night. I felt like it might get out of hand like it did before. I heard there was looting. I heard the protesters tipped a Metro bus on its side. I don’t know if there were people in it or not. Then the police took it. I saw on social media that people were wanting to loot. I stayed in and rehearsed for a play I am in. Stayed outta trouble.
I think you need a reason to go out to a protest. It should be a personal or political reason. Sometimes people just want to be there for someone, to offer support.
I heard this morning that they busted the Mayor’s windows out and they didn’t take anything. She was just saying that she didn’t have any intel of what the officers were gonna do, their orders. She said they were trying to keep things calm, without chemicals. It was the unknown. But then they had to use them.
It’s too depressing to find out all the details.
Antonio, 16 years-old —
I feel like it was unfair and I also feel that the frustration should not go towards the judge but it should go towards everyone else because they voted for the laws that helped Stockley win the trial. The situation is due to the fact that people do not take voting seriously and if people were aware of the impact that voting could have on their lives and other people’s lives they world take it more seriously. The judge has no choice but to go by the letter of the law. Since Stockley abided by the law he was found not guilty. It’s the laws that need to change. The answer is for good people to educate themselves, get involved in legislating new laws, to change the current laws that allow things like this to occur, legally. Everyone must pay attention, educate themselves on the laws and take voting seriously.
Susan, artist —
For me, peaceful protest is an important tool in producing and pushing for change. Instead of marching I focus on art production and helping the youth to find their voices in ways that might better serve them throughout their lives, such as public speaking, anger management, writing and communicating in effective and powerful ways.
by Aynsley Hensgen
The St. Louis Story Stitchers Artist Collective spreads positivity during their performances of Pick the City UP at Strauss Park. Kicking off the festival, the collective of teens, youth and their mentors presented an inspirational “glow” to light the community. The troupe sings and dances to a wide variety of music, including gospel, hip-hop, and original compositions, that is connected through threads of hope, faith, perseverance, intelligence, and education. Each performance is captivating for unique reasons, but all are polished and deeply personal. The troupe thoroughly entertains while shining a positive light on our city’s youth and reaffirming the need to confront the violence and lack of opportunity that threatens our future.
Don’t miss the Pick the City UP 2017 Tour Finale! It’s a spectacular GLO SHO!
FR September 29, 2017
6:00 PM Health Care Resources in the .ZACK Lobby
7:00 PM Live Performance at the .ZACK, 3224 Locust, 63103
Special featured Guest Artists include Raven Fox of Radiant Studio Works, Caph Guei of Afryky Lolo Dance Company, SupaNova and PurpleReign, Story Stitchers Artists in Residence KP Dennis and Jarmel Reece and the Stitchers Youth Council with Guest Producer Joel P. E. King of JPEK CreativeWorks Theatre.
Public health care resources including Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and Progressive Emporium and Education Center will be available in the .ZACK lobby prior to the performance and during intermission.
$10 General Admission supports the ongoing work of the Saint Louis Story Stitchers
Presented with support from the Arts and Education Council Monsanto Creative Impact Grant, Kranzberg Arts Foundation, Steward Family Foundation, Rome West Realty, LLC, Gun Violence Initiative at the Institute for Public Health, Washington University in St. Louis, Yvette and John Dubinsky Family Foundation, and generous individuals in collaboration with the City of St. Louis Department of Health.
In February 2017, Rain Stippec, a Saint Louis dancer and choreographer, was shot while sitting in a car in Soulard. CommUNITY Arts Festival came to fruition shortly after to raise funds to aid her recovery but also to speak out against the violence that constantly threatens Saint Louis’ citizens.
Saint Louis Story Stitchers is supportive of the Community Arts Festival and is participating this year in the silent auction to help raise funds for Rain. We look forward to a developing and supportive relationship.
CommUNITY Arts Festival has brought together a lineup that includes all mediums of art; dance, theater, spoken word, poetry, and film will grace the stages of the Grandel and the Marcelle in this inaugural year. See Saint Louis’ own The Big Muddy Dance Company, Modern America Dance Company (MADCO), and Karlovsky & Company Dance, as well as many other high quality artists and groups in action. Tickets at MetroTix.
In addition to the performances, each night will spotlight a Saint Louis based anti-crime or art organization that is currently working hard to make a difference in the community. By speaking together as one strong voice against the crime and violence that is currently plaguing Saint Louis, CommUNITY Arts Festival looks forward to growing as a staple event in the area and aiding a different person affected by violence each year.
