Chris and Alia lead a discussion at the Grandel Theater with Terence Blanchard

Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective was invited to host a pre-concert panel discussion with Terence Blanchard on gun violence prevention in connection with his live performance on May 20th, 2018 and his recent album LIVE that reflects on gun violence and healing. The conversation was held in the Grandel’s Ballroom. Mr. Blanchard and The E Collective gave a beautiful performance to a large audience in the Grandel Theater later that night. The performance was sponsored in part by Jazz St. Louis and Kranzberg Arts Foundation.

Story Stitchers youth Chris and Alia guided the conversation with panelists:

Terence Blanchard – 5 time Grammy-winning trumpeter/composer

Howard Cox –Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artist in Residence

Pastor Johnnie Jackson

Cheeraz Gormon – Founder and Executive Director, Sibling Support Network

Terence Blanchard: “We’ve been on this campaign of telling people who have lost loved ones, let the music absorb your pain and frustration, that’s what it’s there for…

With the music and with what I do, I try to have a broader approach to try to reach more people and to try to change some hearts and minds when it comes to this issue because of people like this that are doing the grunt work with people, touching people, actually dealing with it first hand. It’s important, it’s important work.”

Youth leaders and the panelists were lively and thoughtful and the conversation included the power of the arts as a healing force and as a strong tool for communication, mental health, the role of faith and morality, the effects of violence and loss on families and communities, police brutality, implicit bias, and the importance of the roles of mentors and parents in ending violence.

Story Stitchers will release a video of the conversation.

Special thanks to Terence Blanchard, Kranzberg Arts Foundation, the community panelists, and the Stitchers youth leaders for your valuable contributions to this important discourse.

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The Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective is a non-profit organization engaged in urban storytelling whose mission is to document St. Louis through art and word to promote understanding, civic pride, intergenerational relationships and literacy. Collective artists work alongside 15-24-year-old urban youth to collect stories, reframe and retell them using the arts to promote a better educated, more peaceful and caring society. Current projects focus on public health issues including gun violence. 

I want to say thank you to Ms. Susan Colangelo for accepting me as an intern from Clive C. Miller Academy. It has been a pleasure working with her and designing and creating a business plan, something that she has been wanting ever since she started Story Stitchers.

When I first arrived to 616 N Skinker, I didn’t really pay attention to arts that much. I wasn’t aware that people used the arts as something therapeutic to them. I wasn’t aware that they used it to make a living. I didn’t realize that it meant the world to people and it was their lives and she actually brought awareness to me about that.  

It has been so fun! I believe that I have had the best internship out of my class. She gave me a free hoodie and I literally wore that hoodie every single day to school. It grabbed so much attention! And I think that is just what we need in our community. People like her that stand up for us and really leave a mark. Thanks Ms. Colangelo.

Harold

Age 18

Business Intern from St. Louis Public School District, January-May, 2018

Congratulations to you Harold, on your high school graduation!! Thank you for all of the help and for leaving your mark on Story Stitchers. When you first came I told you to always do your best wherever you go, so that people will miss you when you move on. Good job with that! We miss you already.— Mrs. C

Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective

The Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective is a non-profit organization engaged in urban storytelling whose mission is to document St. Louis through art and word to promote understanding, civic pride, intergenerational relationships and literacy. Collective artists work alongside 15-24-year-old urban youth to collect stories, reframe and retell them using the arts to promote a better educated, more peaceful and caring society. Current projects focus on public health issues including gun violence.

Representing The Collective: Leading performing artists in the Stitchers Youth Council will perform their original poems, Different by Emeara and Different II by Branden. The poems draw from stories collected by the artists from St. Louis neighborhoods and reflect on the pressures of gang violence. The artists will each present one additional poem.

UP Next 4 Story Stitchers  —

Details at www.storystitchers.org.

Rachel

Gun Violence

15-years-old

It’s no justice in this world man it’s just us,
Being a black girl in this country shawty its gettin rough.

I learned from young age I gotta woman,
Gotta be prepared to see my people in cuffs.

They say the good die young why can’t we live forever,
It’s ashamed we afraid of a piece of metal.

Face on a shirt RIP in bolded letters,
Another man behind bars ain’t gonna make it better.

That was Lil Tay brother and he out for revenge,
It’s a continuous cycle so tell me when will end.

Moms crying cause kids dying the reps trying,
The thought of me in the streets is terrifying.

Every black boy he wanna be a hero,
But the S on his chest man it represent struggle.

He try to help out but all they see is trouble,
His heart gone cold so let the world crumble.

Black bodies on black bodies, black bodies,

One shot in the chest, that’s a dead body.
No finger on the trigger man it shouldn’t be a hobby.
Guns flying out the window at a block party.

__________

Saint Louis Story Stitchers is supporting this program in partnership with the Missouri Humanities Council and with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the St. Louis Storytelling Festival, Kranzberg Arts Foundation, and Missouri Foundation for Health and in collaboration with the City of St. Louis Juvenile Detention Center and the City of St. Louis Department of Health.

Thank you for following the Story Stitchers — for caring, attending and supporting.

Today is Give Stl Day, sponsored by the Greater St. Louis Community Foundation.

Your donation today will help to support Story Stitchers work with artists and youth ages 15-24 throughout the year.

Thank you!

 Give StL Day Link to Saint Louis Story Stitchers

 Give StL Day Link to Saint Louis Story Stitchers

‘Dwell in Other Futures’ conference this weekend

Dwell in Other Futures is a two-day festival of art and ideas exploring the collisions of race, urbanism, and futurism, providing a platform for alternate visions of the St. Louis to come.

Visions of the future shape how we see the present. On Friday and Saturday, April 27 and 28, Washington University’s Divided City initiative will co-sponsor “Dwell in Other Futures,” a two-day event exploring how collisions of race, urbanism and futurism might spark fresh ideas about the city that is and the city that is to come.

Dwell in Other Futures is organized by Gavin Kroeber, Tim Portlock, and Rebecca Wanzo.

Congratulations to all, especially Tim, a member of the Story Stitchers board.

Events take place at the .ZACK and the Pulitzer Arts Fundation

RSVP online.

https://dwellinotherfutures.com/

Saturday, April 14, 2018 7:30 PM

KDHX and St. Louis Poetry Center present Bullets Into Bells: Poets & Citizens Respond to Gun Violence

At The Stage at KDHX

Special thanks to Erin Quick from the St. Louis Poetry Center for the invitation to participate.

3524 Washington Ave, St. Louis, MO 63103

Free, open to the public

STORY STITCHERS PERFORMANCE:

Representing The Collective: Leading performing artists in the Stitchers Youth Council will perform their original poems, Different by Emeara and Different II by Branden. The poems draw from stories collected by the artists from St. Louis neighborhoods and reflect on the pressures of gang violence.

The Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective is a non-profit organization engaged in urban storytelling whose mission is to document St. Louis through art and word to promote understanding, civic pride, intergenerational relationships and literacy. Collective artists work alongside 15-24-year-old urban youth to collect stories, reframe and retell them using the arts to promote a better educated, more peaceful and caring society. Current projects focus on public health issues including gun violence.

Poets and panelists:
Dana Levin, Aaron Coleman, Mary Jo Bang, Cheeraz Gorman, Kenneth J. Pruitt, MO State Rep. Stacey Newman, Becky Morgan from Moms Demand Action, Emeara and Branden from Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective, Dr. Laurie Punch from Washington University in St. Louis and moderator, co-editor of Bullets into Bells, Brian Clements.

This program is presented in conjunction with:

I.M.A.G.I.N.E. Peace Now at Craft Alliance

Saint Louis Story Stitchers presentation is sponsored in part by a grant from Missouri Foundation for Health to Saint Louis Story Stitchers. The Foundation is a resource for the region, working with communities and nonprofits to generate and accelerate positive changes in health. As a catalyst for change, the Foundation improves the health of Missourians through a combination of partnership, experience, knowledge, and funding.

To learn more about Saint Louis Story Stitchers visit the exhibition Pick the City UP at the Sheldon Art Galleries through April 21st.

The Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that brings youth, 15-24 years old, and artists together in documenting our community  to build a healthier, more peaceful society through storytelling.

SAINT LOUIS STORY STITCHERS COMMUNITY COUNCIL

 The purpose of the Community Council is to build a network of support for the organization.

Story Stitchers Vice President Cassandria White serves as board liaison.

Community Council members…

Stay up to date, follow the blog and help to spread the word through social media.

Attend events and bring guests.

Participate in the annual Bowl A Thon fundraiser.

Join today!

Email storystitchers@gmail.com or call 314-899-9001.

Story Stitchers Youth Council members Antonio and Anthony will appear on the cat walk at the 89th Annual Sam Fox School of Art and Design Fashion Show.

Story Stitchers are collaborating with the Experimental Design class taught by Mary Ruppert-Stroescu, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Fashion Design to try to push their messaging of building a stronger city through design to new heights.

Anthony and Antonio will wear clothing that features accessories created by the student designers.

Sunday, April 15th

Third Degree Glass Factory

5200 Delmar Blvd.

Doors Open 4:30

Ticketed Event

The event will feature dozens of models wearing scores of outfits created by fashion design majors.

The show begins at 5p and will be followed by a reception for the designers at 5:30p. Advance VIP tickets—which include front-row seating, a gift bag, and a pre-show event sponsored by the St. Louis Fashion Fund—are $125.

General admission tickets (i.e. second- and third-row seating) are $50, or $20 for standing-room-only. Tickets are available through the Edison Theatre Box Office, 314.935.6543, or online at edison.wustl.edu.

For more information, email samfoxschool@wustl.edu or search #wustlfashion on Twitter and Instagram.