Events 2021
OCTOBER 16
3:30-4:30pm
Ashanti Files: teen poetry workshop
Awaken is a personal workbook for teens to explore identity and engage in creative writing as a coping tool for stress. The one hour workshop will provide a walkthrough of the content with the author, guided discussions, and readings of poetry created by other teens in the area.
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Ashanti is the 2021 Urbana Poet Laureate and founder of the Writers of Oya.
OCTOBER 16
2:00–3:00pm
Erin Tarr: Be Your Own Rebel
Rebel Girls is a global brand dedicated to inspiring and instilling confidence in a generation of girls around the world. Participants in the "Be Your Own Rebel" workshop will engage with the stories of multiple "Rebel Girls" before crafting their own biographical Rebel Story & stylized self portrait.
Erin Tarr is a Confidence Coach for teen and tween girls and creator of the fierce&flourish empowerment program. As a keynote speaker, parenting consultant, and host of the fierce&flourish podcast, she is a thought leader in the youth confidence space.
OCTOBER 17
2:00–4:00pm
Delight Flower Farm
Threshold Doula: Tending Grief
Join Melanie Sheckels, owner of Threshold Doula, as we come together to witness one another and be witnessed in whatever grief is present during this intense and historic time. Whether it shows up as something collective or as mourning a very personal loss, we will bring whatever we carry together to tend to the common "well of grief" that holds it all. We offer this space now, anchored in the belief that grieving in community is an essential step in dismantling the broken systems in our world and healing both personally and collectively.
Melanie will invite participants to write, draw, or paint to create a grief cairn in this outdoor workshop. Folks who choose to write or draw their grief will also be invited to submit to the Threshold Tending zine.
OCTOBER 21
7:00–8:00pm
Zoomland
Keynote speaker: Golden Brown
Golden Brown, zine author, educator, and founder of Disaporan Savant Press, will speak about creating the world we want through our creative practices.
OCTOBER 23
10:00am–3:00pm
CU-Jiu Jitsu
Lincoln Square Mall
Vendor Expo Day!
Join us at CU-Jiu Jitsu at Lincoln Square Mall to meet zine and small press creators! You'll have the opportunity to make some of your own zines, be creatively inspired, and take home some pieces of your own.
OCTOBER 23
11:00am–12:00pm
UCIMC Zine Library
Spencer Keralis: Bookmaking 101: Pamphlet Stitch and Toy Books
We'll be learning pamphlet stitch (a basic binding stitch) and how to lay out a toy book. Each participant will make two books (a mini-photo album and a toy book). These basic skills can be developed for other projects like scrap-booking, 'zine production, and gift books. Participation capped at 15. All materials provided.
Spencer D. C. Keralis is a scholar of the past, present, and future of the book. Dr. Keralis is Assistant Professor and Digital Humanities Librarian a the University of Illinois. They hold a Ph.D. in English and American Literature from NYU.
NOVEMBER 6
1:00–2:00pm
University YMCA
Kofi Bazzell-Smith: Introduction to Japanese Manga Storytelling
Join MFA candidate and Manga author Kofi Bazzell-Smith as he leads you through a workshop about Japanese Manga storytelling. The workshop will be held at 1001 S. Wright St, Champaign, at the University YMCA.
