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The WHY of MY City - Fair Ground Podcast Show from Saint Louis Story Stitchers on Vimeo.

Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective

Performance Video the performance on April 18, 2024 at the .ZACK Theatre in Saint Louis, MO.

Executive Producer Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective Written by Saint Louis Story Stitchers Producer, Susan Colangelo Director, Sillo

The WHY of MY City is a multi-year signature program that captures and documents pieces of Black history through written word and art while training the next generation to become active, engaged citizens. Our goal is that programs become a force multiplier, rippling into families, schools, and neighborhoods, offering solutions to common urban problems. Check out The WHY of MY City album on major music platforms!

A new production by Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective The WHY of MY City - Fair Ground

The story… In a top podcast show, a 19-year-old Army Reservist draws inspiration from a Civil War story about the power of young people coming together to make progress towards fair ground.

StitchCast Studio Michelle Eunice as Ava Williams Bobby Norfolk as Elijah Jones Keith Brown as John Jones

WADE REPRISE Music and lyrics by Saint Louis Story Stitchers, 2022 Performed by Branden Lewis, Rachael Jones, Keith Brown

Video Quinsonta Boyd, Boyd Meda

Saint Louis Story Stitchers’ The WHY of MY City is funded in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts and Missouri Arts Council.

Support for Story Stitchers creative youth development programs is provided in part by The Lewis Prize for Music 2021 Accelerator Award.

Additional support is provided by Kranzberg Arts Foundation, where Saint Louis Story Stitchers is a proud resident organization, Ameren Missouri, and Arts and Education Council.

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DJ UP in The WHY of MY City from Saint Louis Story Stitchers on Vimeo.

Celebrate Black history and youth empowerment with a new production by Saint Louis Story Stitchers, written by Story Stitchers artists and directed by Sillo.

The WHY of MY City – Fair Ground April 18, 19, 2024 .ZACK Theatre

Synopsis of the story: In a top podcast show a 19-year-old Army Reservist draws inspiration from a Civil War story about the power of young people to make progress towards fair ground.

DJ UP Performed by Cast & Company - DJ Domo, Rich Grzelka, Dembari Tenah

Saint Louis Story Stitchers’ The WHY of MY City is funded in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts and Missouri Arts Council. Support for Story Stitchers creative youth development programs is provided in part by The Lewis Prize for Music 2021 Accelerator Award. Additional support is provided by Kranzberg Arts Foundation, where Saint Louis Story Stitchers is a proud resident organization, Ameren Missouri, and Arts and Education Council.

[storystitchers]

DJ UP in The WHY of MY City from Saint Louis Story Stitchers on Vimeo.

Celebrate Black history and youth empowerment with a new production by Saint Louis Story Stitchers, written by Story Stitchers artists and directed by Sillo.

The WHY of MY City – Fair Ground April 18, 19, 2024 .ZACK Theatre

Synopsis of the story: In a top podcast show a 19-year-old Army Reservist draws inspiration from a Civil War story about the power of young people to make progress towards fair ground.

DJ UP Performed by Cast & Company - DJ Domo, Rich Grzelka, Dembari Tenah

Saint Louis Story Stitchers’ The WHY of MY City is funded in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts and Missouri Arts Council. Support for Story Stitchers creative youth development programs is provided in part by The Lewis Prize for Music 2021 Accelerator Award. Additional support is provided by Kranzberg Arts Foundation, where Saint Louis Story Stitchers is a proud resident organization, Ameren Missouri, and Arts and Education Council.

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Saint Louis, Saint Louis from Saint Louis Story Stitchers on Vimeo.

Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective StitchCast Studio LIVE!

Traydon Rogers Saint Louis, Saint Louis April 23, 2024

Originally commissioned by Washington University in St. Louis, Confluence Collaborative for the Confluence Collaborative Awards Ceremony, 2024.

Saint Louis, Saint Louis, You speak to me, Giving me vision, Awakening a dream of you to be, I see you now, I see you to be World-Class, At last a vast paradise of possibility, Artistic and creative versatility, The center of cooperative capabilities, Intimately imbued with the 314 energy, The energies of many like Maya Angelou, Nelly, Anne Malone, Bishop L Scott, Story Stitchers, Central VPA, WordUp STL, and others I finally see you now, I see you so clearly now,

Now that the noise of poverty is few, Now with funding in our public schools, Now the youth's voices heard through and through, Through the hues of black and white news,

I knew I heard you speak, Opening doors to those who knock and knock and knock til their knuckles bleed, I heard you decree unity in diversity, Yes, Unity in Diversity, Unity in Diversity, I heard you, I heard you,

Saint Louis, Saint Louis, You speak to me, And I'm listening, Listening to the integrity in your actions, The passion in your the collective inclusion, Relieved in your conclusions in resource distribution, Refusing to be closed minded in deciding that all should receive a portion, Pouring into every cup, More into every cup, Pouring in more of every cup, Filled to the brim with possibilities, Probable Possibilities

Yes, Saint Louis, Saint Louis We have possibilities,

The possibility of a confluence no longer divided, my youth ever loved and guided, the killings subsided, neighborhoods provided with opportunities to confide in each other with open arms instead of with hate and pointing open arms,

Saint Louis, Saint Louis You speak to me, No, you speak to us And we are listening, Listening with integrity Because Saint Louis, Saint Louis We have possibilities.

Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective, 2024

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Keep On Marching On from Saint Louis Story Stitchers on Vimeo.

Celebrate Black history and youth empowerment with a new production by Saint Louis Story Stitchers, written by Story Stitchers artists and directed by Sillo.

The WHY of MY City – Fair Ground

Synopsis of the story: In a top podcast show a 19-year-old Army Reservist draws inspiration from a Civil War story about the power of young people to make progress towards fair ground.

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Mending the Gap - Black Youth and Police

StitchCast Studio LIVE! Tuesday, April 23, 2024 6:00-9:00 PM Mending the Gap – Black Youth and Police with guest Sgt. Stephen Perry from St. Louis Police Academy Youth, ages 16-25 years old, will discuss the relationship between Black youth and the police, rights and responsibilities, and more in a live podcast recording on stage with guest Sgt. Stephen Perry from St. Louis Police Academy. A live…

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The WHY of MY City - Fair Ground Sneak Peek Promo from Saint Louis Story Stitchers on Vimeo.

The WHY of MY City - Fair Ground Written by Saint Louis Story Stitchers Directed by Sillo Thursday and Friday, April 18 & 19, 2024 7:00 PM .ZACK Theatre 3224 Locust, 63103

Tickets $10 at Metrotix and at the door Learn more at storystitchers.org/the-why-of-my-city-fair-ground/

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Sneak Peek! The Why of MY City - Fair Ground from Saint Louis Story Stitchers on Vimeo.

The WHY of MY City - Fair Ground Thursday and Friday, April 18 & 19, 2024 7:00 PM .ZACK Theatre 3224 Locust, 63103

Tickets $10 at Metrotix and at the door

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StitchCast Studio LIVE! Mental Health Crisis

Story Stitchers young artists take on the topic of mental health crisis and addiction with guest Hassan Shariff, in this edition of StitchCast Studio LIVE! Recorded live at High Low in Saint Louis, Missouri on March 26, 2024. Pick the City UP Arts Interlude Untitled by Kashela Armstead Clark  Saint Louis Story Stitchers, 2024 Recorded live at High Low, March 26,…

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Fox 2 AM Show highlights The WHY of MY City - Fair Ground

St. Louis Story Stitchers presents play: ‘The Why of My City’ by: Joe Millitzer Posted: Apr 15, 2024 / 08:53 AM CDT Updated: Apr 15, 2024 / 08:53 AM CDT https://fox2now.com/am-show/st-louis-story-stitchers-presents-play-the-why-of-my-city/ ST. LOUIS — It’s a nationally recognized artist collective known to collect stories, reframe, and retell them through art, writing and performance to promote…

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National Guild for Community Arts Education

Story Stitchers is pleased to join the National Guild for Community Arts Education as a member organization. Saint Louis Story Stitchers is part of a national cohort of creative youth development organizations created by The Lewis Prize for Music through a series of $500,000 Accelerator Awards. Story Stitchers received the Award in 2021. Now in year four of the five year award period, we have…

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We're celebrating our 10th year with a new Executive Director!

Saint Louis Story Stitchers is a nationally recognized Artists Collective known for high quality art and innovative youth violence prevention programs. We’re celebrating our 10th year with a new Executive Director! We’re hiring! Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective invites nominations and applications for the position of Executive Director. We seek a professional for the position of…

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Story Stitchers: combatting youth violence through art

Story Stitchers: combatting youth violence through art https://fox2now.com/video/story-stitchers-combatting-youth-violence-through-art/9542482/ Local NewsMar 22, 2024 / 10:50 PM CDT Thank you for coming by Saint Louis Story Stitchers’ Open House Mayor Jones and Fox 2 News!  

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Story Stitchers uses $10,000 grant from TEGNA Foundation for a brighter tomorrow

https://www.ksdk.com/article/money/story-stitchers-making-good-use-10000-tegna-foundation-grant-money/63-8c0ef8cd-7d15-4346-ac48-8c652b67502a Saint Louis Story Stitchers expresses thanks to KSDK and the Tegna Foundation for your ongoing support in helping to continue and strengthen our work with young people here in St. Louis. We appreciate the lift!

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StitchCast Studio LIVE! Tuesday, March 26

Catch StitchCast Studio LIVE!  High Low  Listening Room 3301 Washington Ave 63103 Tuesday, March 26 Mental Health Crisis Guest Hassan Shariff Doors Open 6:00  StitchCast and Art Interlude 6:30-8:00 Open Mic 8:00-9:00 Free and open to the public Cash bar ABOUT Watch and be a part of Story Stitchers live podcast discussions, presented on the state-of-the-arts stage of 3301 Washington Ave. Story…

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StitchCast Studio LIVE! Black Youth and Juvenile Justice

StitchCast Studio LIVE! Black Youth and Juvenile Justice Episode Link: https://stitchcaststudio.podbean.com/e/blackyouthandjuvenilejustice/ Download: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/k5njy4/scs_live_youth_and_juvinile_justice_ft_ryan_vickers64x85.mp3 Story Stitchers young artists take on the topic of Black Youth and Juvenile Justice with guest Ryan Vickers, Director of the St. Louis City Youth…

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Celebrate 10 Years Stitchers Style! from Saint Louis Story Stitchers on Vimeo.

Compilation video of end of year videos of Saint Louis Story Stitchers as we look forward to celebrating our first 10 years!

SAVE THE DATE! 10 Year Anniversary Celebration! August 9 and 10, 2024

Our History -

Once upon a time there was a stitcher who liked to embroider stories from the newspaper. One day she was stitching about two sisters who were shot on their porch in University City. One sister died. Two brothers were arrested for the crime. The stitcher reflected on the power of stitching throughout history; of the Aids quilt and quilts on the Underground Railroad. She determined to join with others to create change. In August 2013 eight artists gathered in Old North St. Louis and founded the Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective — to make change. On December 24, 2014, Saint Louis Story Stitchers was incorporated as a charitable organization in the Great State of Missouri.

Since that time, we have made great strides, working with people to stop the violence and to empower youth to make a change for Saint Louis through creative youth development.

Accomplishments by the numbers since 2014 include —

8 founding artists 800 teens and young adults have participated in free programs 179 artist mentors 37 board members

185 public performances to 62,000 live audience members 30 songs written 2 books, 1 game, and 1 portfolio published 3 plays written and produced 15,000 hours open for youth 4 studios including The Center 30 Saint Louis neighborhoods visited 153 podcasts published

Revenue growth from $59,324 in 2015 to $701,593 in 2023

In 10 years, with your help, we have brought $792,795 national dollars home to STL to support young artists and artists of color in building bridges to peace for all. National awards include 3 grants from the National Endowment for the Arts totaling $70,000, a 2021 Accelerator Award for $500,000 from The Lewis Prize for Music, $73,611 from the CDC Foundation, $25,000 from the Obama Foundation, and $30,000 from The Charity Pot.

Over 10 years, Story Stitchers have collaborated with artists 16 to 83 years old on music, storytelling, neighborhood block parties performances, public service announcement campaigns, and multi-year signature projects focusing efforts on high quality art and innovative youth violence prevention programs. Artists have built an archive of Black voices from 2014, through Ferguson and Michael Brown's death, the Covid-19 pandemic, George Floyd, and through years of heartbreaking violence in our beautiful city to bring unheard voices to light.

Together, with you, we are reshaping the future of our region through youth empowerment that builds from exposure and experiences in high quality artistic practice.

So let's celebrate!!

Here are the details of the event:

10 Year Anniversary Celebration

.ZACK Theatre

3224 Locust, St. Louis 63103

August 9, 2024

11:00-3:00 Youth Empowerment Summit

In memory of Michael Brown

Free to 50 youth with boxed lunches

August 10, 2024

7:00 VIP Reception with hor d'oeuvres, wine, beer, soda

8:00 Hall of Fame Awards from Stitchers Youth Council

9:00-11:00 10 Year Anniversary Album Release Party & Concert

Featuring Story Stitchers artists from across the 10 years!

Tickets coming soon on MetroTix! Follow our e-news at storystitchers.org to stay tuned!