SPRING 2021 VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS COMING SOON!
For questions, please contact Director of Programming, Amy Tuttle,
In partnership with the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County:
Join us for this virtual creative writing workshop in collaboration with the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. In Teens Leading Change, youth work with our Director of Programming, Amy Tuttle, and guest teaching artists to explore the connection between creative writing, personal expression and social justice. Teens are welcome to attend one session or all. Registration required.
Teens Leading Social
Change Challenge
Check out our recently concluded programs to see what we've been up to:
Writing as Activism: a Creative Writing Workshop for Teens
Join us virtually for a creative writing workshop in collaboration with the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County! In this workshop, we will explore the connection between creative writing, expression and social justice. There will be six weeks of workshops; teens are welcome to attend one or all six. Registration required.
LIFE
Pre-COVID, a group of our teens were meeting each week to explore and respond to current events through writing and art. One student, all of 13 years old, held up her hand and said, "Wait a minute, wait a minute. This is so much for me to take in. Can we just back up and have a class on life first? This stuff is deep, and there is so much I want to learn!" Thank you, Violet—we hear you. In this series, students direct their own learning by leading with questions posed to local artists. Join in and see where LIFE takes us.
SCRIPTOBER
In this fun twist on Inktober, young writers will get daily prompts to help keep the words flowing all month long.
WordUP:
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Dr. Theresa Kulbaga teaches creative writing, gender studies, and courses in women's autobiography and memoir at Miami University. Theresa has been with WordPlay since 2013.
Samuel Foulkes manages Clovernook Printing House, the largest producer of braille in North America. In addition, he chairs Clovernook’s Arts & Accessibility Initiative which works with museums on accessibility projects, Sam has been with WordPlay since 2012.
How does knowledge contribute to justice and peace?
WordUP has been an after-school program at Aiken High School for 8 years. Now, as we enter our 9th year, we open up this powerful weekly gathering to all students in grades 7+. This year’s WordUP theme, Know Justice, Know Peace! will empower you to cultivate your knowledge, find your voice, and speak out against injustice while building connections with other youth from across. the city. We will read and write response poetry, persuasive speeches, and other forms of social justice expression through writing, while considering how writing contributes to contemporary movements for social change.
Free!
Writes of Passage
Ages 12-18
Wednesdays, Oct. 7 - Nov. 11, 4:30-5:30 PM
Teaching Artist: Simone Yael
Simone Yael ventures in stage performance, filmmaking, fashion, architectural design, poetry/spoken word, music and dance. She is intentionally finding new ways to marry creative projects with Art-Entrepreneurship & community engagement.
As our world evolves, young people face the persistent challenge of defining and redefining who they are and what they stand for. In this class, you will have the opportunity to express yourself while being supported by the strength of a diverse and inclusive community where all are valued and celebrated. This virtual class has a strong focus on character development and expression of personal and community identity. You'll work closely with local art mentor, Simone Yael, to discover and share your unique voice and explore creativity through group discussion, multi-genre writing, and visual art-making.
For elementary and junior high students:
MY STORY,
MY VOICE
TUESDAYS, SEPT. 29 - NOV. 3
4:00-5:00 PM
AGES 9-14
TEACHING ARTIST: NATALIE VILLACORTA
Free!
Calling all young writers to this collaborative exploration of poetry, prose, and creative writing! Discover and share your voice! Enjoy the opportunity to write and share your works with other teens, while being guided by professional writer Natalie Villacorta. This virtual program is a great place for experienced and new writers alike to explore creative writing of all kinds—poetry, stories, sci-fi, fantasy— anything goes. Sharing is always optional. Come experiment and play with writing without grades or judgments!
PUPPETS TELLING STORIES
TUESDAYS, SEPT. 29 - NOV. 3
4:00-4:30 PM
AGES 5-9
TEACHING ARTIST: TERRENCE BURKE
Free!
The art of puppetry is decades old, and it's also the perfect way to introduce the basic elements of storytelling to young ones. In this virtual exploration of puppet-making, kids will love crafting their own handmade puppets from basic household materials. Terrence Burke will also lead students in creating stories about their creations through learning about voice, plot and character. This workshop is perfect for both shy and outgoing children. Puppets Telling Stories is a great introduction to fundamental reading and writing skills.
RHYTHM & RHYMES
WEDNESDAYS, SEPT. 30 - NOV. 4
TIME: 4:00 - 4:30
AGES 5-9
TEACHING ARTIST: LIZ WU
Free!
Get up and get moving with this unique dive into poetry and dance! Writers such as Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein, Roald Dahl and many others have been delighting youth and adults for ages with their whimsical approaches to storytelling through rhyme. This online workshop series will have students experiencing poetry in a different way: through the use of hip-hop and movement. Engaging and upbeat, Rhythm & Rhymes will have children truly making words leap from the page.
COMICS & ILLUSTRATION
THURSDAYS, OCT. 1 - NOV. 5
4:00-5:00 PM
AGES 10+
TEACHING ARTIST: ANJALI ALM-BASU
Free!
Explore the world of comics, illustration, and storytelling with WordPlay’s Anjali Alm-Basu. Storytelling is so much more than just words on a page. Dive into this course to bring amazing ideas to life! In this virtual series, Anjali Alm-Basu will demonstrate illustration techniques and guide students through developing skills like character development, dialogue, color theory and more.
You Have a Voice!
Ages 12-18
Watch Tuesday, September 8th's session here
Thursday, September 10th 4:30 - 5:30 pm
Teaching Artist: Jeni Jenkins
Free!
Jeni Jenkins is a design activist, educator, and artist passionate about the role of art in transforming individual lives and communities. Equipped with a multidisciplinary background in social science and art, Jeni is interested in creating and leading projects that spur social and economic change through art and design.
YOU HAVE A VOICE! In this two-day class, Jeni Jenkins of Renegade Babe Design Studio will walk you step-by-step how to turn your intent into action. Participants will review examples of artwork created by artists and designers around the world who are interested in creating change, learn a few strategies on how to get started, and then create and share a work of art about an issue they care about.
Thank you to our generous sponsors:
