Everyone suffers in an environment of systemic racism and bias. The work of eliminating barriers and achieving equity for all Missouri students is best accomplished working in concert with our partners.
Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective – has created a series of media productions including podcasts, poetry, music, theatre, books, and dance – generated by artists working collaboratively with 16-24-year-old African American and BIPOC youth whose lives have been touched by violence. The organization uses the arts, experience in nature, and community service in creative youth development. https://storystitchers.org/
Saint Louis Story Stitchers is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Videos posted online are free-use to public school and university educators, with permission. Creative work may not be edited in any way including used in compilations, or given to students as material to edit. Please email storystitchers@gmail.com to gain permission.
ANTI is an anti-bullying song by and featuring Stitchers Youth Council members Emeara, Toniio, and Branden. Performance recorded at the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis' Urban Expo at the America's Center in St. Louis. ANTI was written and recorded in the Stitchers Storefront Studio in 2017. © Copyright Saint Louis Story Stitchers, 2017. https://vimeo.com/424944116
Good For Your Health (4:46 minutes) A lively hip-hop song produced by Saint Louis Story Stitchers about making healthy choices with food. Music video was filmed at Winslow’s Farm in Augusta, MO. In Back Story VII Good For Your Health, Story Stitchers youth discuss the creative process and underlying issues of social justice which affect health choices faced by urban residents in underserved areas. https://vimeo.com/434225044 (33 minutes) In-school performances available. https://vimeo.com/382674797 Song lyric paperback book available ($15 plus S+H)
#KickCovid – 1-minute challenge video out to encourage mask wearing (tag #KickCovid and @storystitchers when you post) – How do you #KickCovid?
The WHY of MY City, captures and documents pieces of black history through written word and art while training the next generation to become active, engaged citizens. In Back Story I: WADE, youth share the creative process and meaning behind the lyrics from WADE, one of the songs on the album. (19:52 minutes). Publications in 2021 include The WHY of MY City album and StitchCast Studio Special Edition: The WHY of MY City, a series of podcasts exploring St. Louis neighborhoods and Black culture.
StitchCast Studio - StitchCast Studio is a youth-led podcast program that focuses on the streets, gun violence, and finding solutions to issues that are coming at our youth hard. The project goal is to gain greater understanding of the needs and desires of the youth served and to give them an amplified voice to create needed changes in society, to support youth in a successful transition to adulthood, and to reduce youth crime in St. Louis. 16-24-year-old youth living in the St. Louis region may apply to be a participant. (Missouri: St. Louis City and County, St. Charles, Jefferson and Franklin and in Illinois: St. Clair County) StitchCast Studio is free on Spotify, Apple podcast, Google podcasts, and Podbean. Trailer (2:57 minutes)
Peace in the Prairie - an original presentation exploring the concepts of peace and violence, juxtaposing urban life as experienced by African American people living in the city of St. Louis, Missouri and the state’s endangered prairie lands.
Is the path towards peace through Missouri’s native prairies? Multiple songs including To The Prairie Song lyric paperback book available ($15 plus S+H), Prairie Therapy, America, and Missouri Waltz, accompany the work. Please contact us if you are interested in holding a screening and discussion in your community. storystitchers@gmail.com
Who’s Ready? - (4:01 minutes) Music video of original song produced by Saint Louis Story Stitchers in which youth ask their community to join them in putting guns down and building a movement for peace. Live performance (5:40 minutes) In Back Story III Who’s Ready? Stitchers youth discuss the creation of the song. https://vimeo.com/422766904 (33:24 minutes) Social Change through Music (2:07 minutes)
Not Another One! A Discussion on Gun Violence – Transcribed youth-led discussion about gun violence and police brutality recorded during the Ferguson protests. Available on Amazon and through Lulu. Book with Foreword by Jason Q. Purnell, Ph.D., MPH, $39.95 on Amazon
Not Another One! A Play for Peace – Original script produced and staged for high schools by Saint Louis Story Stitchers. Digital copies of the script and curriculum packet available ($100 first copy, script may be reproduced for your classroom.) Performance Video (52:09 minutes)
Based on this discussion video. School Assembly Teaser. Student Teaser.
Speak Peace: Word of Wisdom, Work, and Wonder – by Lynette Ford and Sherry Norfolk with a chapter on Saint Louis Story Stitchers by Susan Colangelo. Available on Amazon ($15)
