TL;DR: A call for support and input from our new co-directors.
Friends, students, colleagues,
Spring is the season for change, and Blue Stoop is no exception. Since 2018, we’ve offered writing classes, literary events, and networking opportunities to the greater Philadelphia area. Our director of programs, Joseph Earl Thomas, joined the organization in 2022, providing a curatorial vision that centers BIPOC writers. Last month, Joseph exited Blue Stoop to pursue a Fulbright scholarship and a full time teaching job at Sarah Lawrence College. We congratulate him and are thankful for his contributions.
In the wake of his departure,
two staff members have stepped forward to co-lead. Taylor Townes, a spoken word poet, mixed media artist, and storyteller, has been with the org since 2022 and Julian Shendelman, a fiction writer, is a longstanding Blue Stoop community member, the co-founder of the Bay Area Trans Writers Workshop, and the founder of Collective Lit, a.k.a. Sit & Write. Both Taylor and Julian are passionate about inclusivity, equity, and accessibility, and look forward to building on the work of their predecessors.
Although these changes are exciting, they’re also accompanied by challenges — several factors, including shifts in the local funding landscape and a decrease in earned revenue, have led to a financial deficit that threatens Blue Stoop’s survival.
We owe it to our broad network of students, educators, and partners to patch the cracks in Blue Stoop’s foundation, ensuring the continuation of our free programs, affordable classes, professional opportunities, and welcoming community.
Our recovery strategy includes more free and affordable community programs, new opportunities to connect with other writers and deepen your craft, and stronger operational systems to ensure the lasting impact of Blue Stoop locally and beyond. Here’s an overview of the plan:
- Fundraising: We will be conducting multiple fundraisers in the coming months, including in-person parties and low-cost virtual masterclasses led by some of your favorite writers. We are also applying for grants, and welcome any connections to individual funders who share our values.
- Classes: In lieu of a typical summer semester, Julian and Taylor will focus on fundraising and improving Blue Stoop’s administrative systems. When fall classes launch, teachers will see a higher, more equitable pay rate and students will see a more seamless enrollment process with proportional pricing and standardized financial aid.
- Community: We’ll be pausing our free programs for the summer, with the intention of resuming Thursdays on the Stoop and a reading series in the fall. In the meantime, Taylor and Julian are exploring ways to help promote the other incredible literary events in our region. We invite you to share your upcoming readings and open mics, which may be featured in our new and improved newsletter and community calendar.
And then, there’s the most important part of our plan:
YOU. We need your help, now more than ever, to guarantee Blue Stoop’s survival. We need
donations and
volunteers. We need you to tell your friends about our
classes and
programs. We need you to sit on this stoop with us, to
share your stories — positive or otherwise — so that we can make things better going forward. And last but not least, we need your patience and support as we navigate this challenging time.
Uncertainty is hard, but generative. We are optimistic about the future of Blue Stoop, and are committed to making this work — for our team, for our community, and for our beloved city.
With gratitude,
BLUE STOOP
