upcoming events
The Story with Rell Be Free
The Story with Rell Be Free
Friday, April 5th, 2019 // 4-5pm // Youngstown Cultural Arts Center
Join us for our quarterly event, The Story, where we feature dope local artists to come in and share their experience and wisdom with the youth! This time we feature an amazing artist/activist - Rell Be Free.
For more information about Rell Be Free, check out his facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/UncagedRevolutionary/
Note: We should mention that The Story was, is, and always will be a conversation between our special guests and youth attendees. Grown ups are more than welcome to attend but we ask that you participate by supporting youth voice and observing in silence.
The Story with Momma Nikki (Rescheduled)
The Story with Momma Nikki
Friday, February 15, 2018 // 3:30-5pm // Youngstown Cultural Arts Center
(Rescheduled from Feb. 8 due to closures due to heavy snow)
Momma Nikki is a Haitian-Queer artist that sings, spits, or a combination of the two. She's a vocalist & MC in her band, Holy Pistola. As well as helped create a monthly poetry slam & artist showcase to help make a safe space for POC & QTPOC, called RingSide. She has an EP out titled: Dead-icated To: Side A. And just released a new EP titled: Momma Nikki Exposed: the other side of Nikki. She is known for her harmonies and this new raw EP exposes her heart to all, especially those who have lost someone.
Momma Nikki is also currently the host of RingSide Slam Open Mic & Head-to-Head Poetry Slam at Red Lounge/Taste of Caribbean in Seattle.
For more information log on to https://www.mommanikki.com.
Note: We should mention that The Story was, is, and always will be a conversation between our special guests and youth attendees. Grown ups are more than welcome to attend but we ask that you participate by supporting youth voice and observing in silence.
The Story with Gabriel Teodros
The Story with Gabriel Teodros
Friday, November 2, 2018 // 3:30-5pm // Youngstown Cultural Arts Center
Gabriel Teodros is a musician and writer from South Seattle who first made a mark with the group Abyssinian Creole, and reached an international audience with his critically-acclaimed solo debut Lovework. Over the ten years since he has set stages on fire all across the US, Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Ethiopia and South Africa; often in combination with workshops on creative writing, music, history, science fiction and media literacy.
His latest solo offering History Rhymes If It Doesn't Repeat (A Southend Healing Ritual) is a collective exercise in moving through trauma that was made completely in the months of August-September 2018, and produced by long-time collaborator (and 3 time Juno Award winner) Moka Only. The full-length therapy session includes features from nearly every phase of Teodros’ creative life, including Khingz (of Abyssinian Creole), Meklit (of CopperWire), Shakiah, Otieno Terry, Nikkita Oliver, Essam, Mikaela Romero, Rell Be Free, Julie-C and El Dia.
History Rhymes... is Teodros' first album since Evidence Of Things Not Seen released in 2014, a James Baldwin-inspired collaboration with Aotearoa-based producer SoulChef that was described by critics as Teodros’ strongest album yet, after a decade of notable releases that also include Colored People's Time Machine, Children Of The Dragon, and CopperWire's Earthbound.
In 2015, Teodros made his speculative fiction debut with a story published in Octavia's Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements, and in 2016 he graduated from the Clarion West Writers Workshop for Speculative Fiction. His writing has also been published by The Feminist Wire and Okayafrica.
Teodros is also currently active as a DJ on KEXP 90.3 FM in Seattle.
For more information log on to www.gabrielteodros.com
Note: We should mention that The Story was, is, and always will be a conversation between our special guests and youth attendees. Grown ups are more than welcome to attend but we ask that you participate by supporting youth voice and observing in silence.
The Story with Clinton Fearon
The Story with Clinton Fearon
Friday, May 11, 2018 // 3:30-5pm // Youngstown Cultural Arts Center
Born in Jamaica, Clinton Fearon became the bassist, vocalist and lyricist of the mythic Gladiators at the age of 19. He was also a session musician for Coxsone Dodd at Studio One and Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry’s at Black Ark in the 70s, two of the main producers on the island at this time. There Clinton composed some everlasting bass lines for well-known artists like Yabby You, Jimmy Riley, Max Romeo, Junior Byles and many others.
After leaving Jamaica in 1987, Clinton Fearon started a new career in Seattle. Him and some of the musicians of The Gladiators took advantage of the extra time remaining on their visa, at the end of the US tour, to started a band in the Northwest: The Defenders. The band built a nice following in the area but split after five years. Clinton Fearon finally formed his own band in the mid 90s in Seattle with local musicians: Boogie Brown Band. Clinton Fearon recorded eight albums with Boogie Brown Band and tour with them in the Pacific Northwest and Europe intensively, but also other places in the US and South America.
Each song of Clinton Fearon is a strong message coming from the heart of a man who is dedicating his life to help a better world to come. With chiselled music and poetic lyrics, he opens reggae to a wider audience who simply loves his beautiful songs.
“My music is roots reggae from the island of Jamaica. I grew up deep in the hills, up in St. Catherine, surrounded by nature, beauty and hard work. Even as a child, I knew I wanted to be a musician and began my career singing in church and at school, and eventually built my own guitar! As a teenager, my journeys took me to Kingston where I met many musicians and began writing and recording music. The Skatalites, Motown artists and Jamaican musicians who came before me all influenced my music.
I write from my heart. The world is full of inspirations... nature, people, politics, love. I write about them all. My music is good for the soul - always with a message of hope and betterment for tomorrow. It’s good for dancing, good for listening and I think it’s good for all.” ~Clinton Fearon
Note: We should mention that The Story was, is, and always will be a conversation between our special guests and youth attendees. Grown ups are more than welcome to attend but we ask that you participate by supporting youth voice and observing in silence.
The Story with Guayaba & doNormaal
Join us for the third installment of All Access Fridays x The Story featuring Guayaba & doNormaal who will discuss their own personal stories in how they navigate the music industry, their creative process, and more. Those that identify as femme, non-binary, trans, and/or queer/LGB+ are highly encouraged to attend. Please spread the word to young people that you may think could benefit from this workshop.
Guayaba
"Every person contains multitudes, but few embrace them as much as Northwest rapper and vocalist Guayaba. As an artist, she’s fronted metal acts, made experimental pop ballads, raps, etc. But this idea extends beyond how she executes her vision. Digging through her lyrics in her latest album, Black Trash/White House, she embraces her race, gender, sexuality, and every facet of herself that makes her who she is with an unshakable, bilingual flow." (Local Artist Spotlight, Dusty Henry, KEXP Blog, 24 April 2017)
https://aguadeguayaba.bandcamp.com
doNormaal
"Seattle emcee DoNormaal offers surprise after lyrical surprise in the tightly packed, staccato rhymes brimming on her latest LP, Third Daughter. The rapper, who burst on the Emerald City scene in November 2015 with the release of her beloved first full-length Jump Or Die has maintained status as one of Seattle’s most sought-after spitters." (KEXP Exclusive Interview: doNormaal, Jake Uitti, KEXP Blog, 19 Sept 2017)
https://donormaal.bandcamp.com
All Access Fridays is a new pilot series of music workshops led by femme, non-binary, trans, and/or queer/LGB+ identifying teaching artists. Workshops will take place on select Fridays in Winter and Spring 2018 in the Totem Star studio at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in West Seattle. This series is free and open to all young people.
The Story with Nikkita Oliver
Photo: Nate Gowdy
The Story with Nikkita Oliver
Friday, October 20, 2017 // 3:30-5pm // Youngstown Cultural Arts Center
Nikkita Oliver is an organizer, educator, teaching-artist, and attorney who has contributed to the vibrancy of our city through her art and advocacy. After graduating from Seattle Pacific University, she earned her Master’s of Education and Juris Doctorate concurrently from the University of Washington. She has spent the years since serving Seattleites as a teacher and pro-bono lawyer. And as a singer and poet, she's rocked many a stage. Whether it's inspiring our young in the classroom, partnering with educators and other working people, or fighting against unjust policies that hurt our residents, Nikkita has made it her life’s work to ensure Seattle leads our nation with progressive policies and transformative structures. Join us on October 20, 2017 for The Story with Nikkita Oliver. As always, it's all ages and free to the general public. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided.
Note: We should mention that The Story was, is, and always will be a conversation between our special guests and youth attendees. Grown ups are more than welcome to attend but we ask that you participate by supporting youth voice and observing in silence.