Grants, garbage, gratitude 🦝

Beloved pencil-pushers,    I sent this cartoon to Taylor the second I saw it. I'm not typically a “wry New Yorker chuckle” kinda guy, but this one really got to me. It teeters right on the tender edge between funny and brutal. It's a bit like those Magic Eye images — the longer I look, the more the meaning changes. Did the cartoonist mean it to be pathetic, this satiated raccoon sprawled out on its mountain of refuse? Or is there something sweeter happening here?   I've been feeling like this lo mein-drunk trash panda for a minute now. Between rejected grant applications and the looming threat of HR 9495 (a.k.a. The “Nonprofit Killer” bill), it's easy to feel like I'm inches away from drowning in garbage. But the rest of the time — when opening approved grant applications (shout out to PECO and the William M. King Foundation!) or hearing kind words from students and teachers — I'm right back on top of the heap with a full belly, sunlight glinting off my greasy paws.    You are the reason I love this job. You are the reason we keep hammering away at grant applications, sponsorship requests, and partnership proposals. You are the reason we are finally learning how to use Jira. Blue Stoop is more than just Taylor and I. Blue Stoop is all of you — the people reading these words, signing up for classes, and volunteering their time. Without you, Blue Stoop is just a couple nerds playing with spreadsheets. Which is why we need your help.   We are collecting audio/video testimonials from community members — newsletter readers, students and teachers (past and present), and event attendees — about the impact Blue Stoop has had on your life. We'll use these stories to fundraise this winter and beyond. If you'd like to lend a hand, please click the button below and send us a 30-90 second audio or video recording by 11/29 at the latest. Thank you for considering!   SHARE YOUR TESTIMONIAL ON THE STOOP Wednesday, 11/20, 3:30-5:30pm: Creative Coworking, on Zoom. Stop by for a few minutes or stay for the whole session — it’s totally up to you. You can use this time to write, edit, read, daydream, or whatever best serves your literary life. This is a virtual and free event, donations welcome. Thursday, 11/21, 4:00-5:00pm: "What's Next?" with Penguin Random House. This final installment of a 3-part series on navigating publication will focus on promoting your published book. If you missed the first two sessions, you can catch up on our YouTube channel. Free and virtual! Our typical community-led Thursdays on the Stoop sessions will resume in December, FYI. Saturday, 12/7, 2:00-4:00pm: Novels in Progress presents… Thorns & Roses: A Stem by Lauren Holguin and STOPPING by Nikki Volpicelli. Join Blue Stoop and Molly's Books & Records for a salon-style conversation and reading with the authors of two in-progress novels. In-person at the Parkway Central Library; donations and RSVPs requested, but not required. THE LAST CLASS Creative Strategies for Writing the Self Tuesday, 12/10, 6:00–9:00 pm ET | Single session | Zoom   How can writing about the self explicitly challenge and deconstruct hierarchies of power and domination? In this 3-hour class inspired by Audre Lorde’s "Zami: A New Spelling of My Name" and Christina Sharpe’s "Ordinary Notes," students will learn about autofiction, autotheory, and the autoethnographic. Through discussion and generative writing exercises, students will explore new ways to write about themselves and their place within oppressive systems.   Instructors:    Maurice Rippel (he/him) is a writer, educator and filmmaker committed to using ethnography and documentary for social change. He teaches at Bryn Mawr College and the Community College of Philadelphia, and is completing his PhD in Anthropology and African American studies at Yale University. His Medium is @maurice.rippel and his Instagram is @mauricerippel.   Luke McGowan-Arnold (he/him) is a writer and musician based in Philadelphia. He writes novels about social movements. His substack is @irregularnotes and his Instagram is @hueythecosmonaut. In solidarity,   Julian Shendelman Co-Director   P.S. Looking for more local literary connections? Check out our community calendar and resource pages. SUPPORT BLUE STOOP CLASSIFIEDS The Friends of the Chestnut Hill Library is seeking new Board Members!   Organization The Friends of the Chestnut Hill Library is dedicated to supporting the needs of the Chestnut Hill Library and to promoting literacy, encouraging lifelong learning, and inspiring curiosity. A 501c3, “The Friends” manages Hilltop Books, a used bookstore in Chestnut Hill.   Qualifications We are looking for individuals with experience in advocacy/organizing work, media and promotions, volunteer management, community-based fundraising, event planning, DEI work, real estate management, and nonprofit governance and budgeting. We encourage you to apply even if you do not have experience with all these areas of expertise. In your letter of interest, please describe your experience in these areas, your capacity to contribute, and your working style. All candidates should show a familiarity and commitment to our mission and be active Library users.   To Apply Read our full Board Member Job description & submit a letter of interest to boardcandidate@chestnuthilllibraryfriends.org. Also include a resume or document that describes previous work and/or volunteer experiences.   Got an event, organization, business, or book to promote?  Blue Stoop offers affordable ad space here and on our website.  BEYOND THE STOOP   Here's a quick excerpt from our community calendar. Adding an event is quick, easy, and free! ~~~~~~~~~   Event title Live Poetry: Anisha Bhat, Jiordan Castle, & Alison Lubar   Start time 11/20/2024 7:00pm    Location Fergie's Pub, 1214 Sansom Street, Philadelphia (HYBRID)   Description Live Poetry with Anisha Bhat, Jiordan Castle, & Alison Lubar Wednesday November 20, 2024 – 7:00pm   Anisha Bhat, originally from Chicago, Illinois, is a writer and staff member at Temple University where she directs research and creative programs for undergraduates. She has an MPhil in World History from the University of Cambridge and an MA in History from Northwestern University. In her free time she can be found buying too many books at used book stores, eating at the same five restaurants in South Philly, or working on her first poetry chapbook.   Jiordan Castle is the author of Disappearing Act, a memoir in verse. Her writing has appeared in The New Yorker, The Rumpus, The Millions, and elsewhere. Her poetry and nonfiction are forthcoming in the anthologies Best New Poets (2024) and What My Father and I Don’t Talk About (2025). She received her MFA in poetry from Hunter College and currently lives in Philadelphia with her husband and their dog.   Alison Lubar teaches high school English by day and yoga by night. They are a queer, nonbinary, mixed-race femme whose life work (aside from wordsmithing) has evolved into bringing mindfulness practices, and sometimes even poetry, to young people. Their work has been nominated for both the Pushcart & Best of the Net, and they’re the author four chapbooks: Philosophers Know Nothing About Love (Thirty West Publishing House, 2022), queer feast (Bottlecap Press, 2022), sweet euphemism (CLASH!, Spring 2023), and it skips a generation (Stanchion, Fall 2023). You can find out more at http://www.alisonlubar.com/ or on Twitter @theoriginalison.   Sean Hanrahan, Host – Open Reading Follows   Live at Fergie’s Pub, 1214 Sansom Street Philadelphia And on Zoom: Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0lduGsrjgrHNCcGHTb5NF348kiwGXgbFsk   Link https://moonstoneartscenter.com/event/live-poetry-anisha-bhat-jiordan-castle-alison-lubar/    Contact info 215-735-9600   Cost Free   ~~~~~~~~~   Event title Words & Sounds Series: Third Thursdays with M3    Start time 11/21/2024 6:00pm    Location Asian Arts Initiative 1219 Vine Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 215-557-0455 https://asianartsinitiative.org/   Description Asian Arts Initiative (AAI) is thrilled to partner with Mutual Mentorship for Musicians (M³), co-founded by musicians Jen Shyu and Sara Serpa, to present the "Words & Sounds Series: 3rd Thursdays with M³." This unique interdisciplinary series will explore the creative connections between music and spoken word, featuring live performances and readings by talented M³ artists, followed by an engaging guided writing activity and Q&A discussion led by moderators.   November 21, 2024 artist info:    Maia, is an internationally renowned vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, author, wordsmith, composer, bandleader, SAG-AFTRA Actor, vocal coach, music lecturer/teacher & visionary who has gained notoriety as a longtime member of the AACM Chicago & Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra (LA), birth worker, mother, grandmother and tennis player.    Naomi Nakanishi is paving a way in through the contemporary music scene as a dynamic pianist, improviser, and composer. Their background in classical and folk repertoire deeply influence their sound today through ethereal and groove oriented compositions. As a bandleader Naomi recently released their debut E.P,. Hear Me Speak.Maia recently joined the celebrated NEW BLUE SUN Ensemble with Andrè 3000 during their tour at Hollywood Forever in LA.   Link https://asianartsinitiative.org/programs/words-and-sounds-series-third-thursdays-with-m3-or-maia-and-naomi-nakanishi   Contact info Asian Arts Initiative 1219 Vine Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 215-557-0455 https://asianartsinitiative.org/   Cost Sliding scale   ~~~~~~~~~   Event title Colin Hamilton | The Discarded    Start time 11/21/2024 7:30pm   Location Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103   Description A dazzling array of metafictions, Colin Hamilton’s The Discarded focuses on the lonely work of a solitary librarian assigned to the discard room. This hidden basement space is piled high with books purged from the stacks above. Many have been damaged, defaced, or made irrelevant by time. With Borgesian panache, The Discarded interweaves stories about imaginary books with reflections on libraries, both real and dreamt. Hamilton’s nuanced collection asks a seemingly simple question: in an age of decreasing literacy, disposable content, and banned books, what do we preserve and what do we discard?   Link https://libwww.freelibrary.org/programs/authorevents/?id=143278   Contact info https://libwww.freelibrary.org/contact/   Cost $25   ~~~~~~~~~   Event title Scribes on South // November 2024   Start time 11/24/2024 6:00pm    Location Tattooed Mom, 530 South Street, Philadelphia   Description Featured Poet: Leila Elmanfaa   SCRIBES ON SOUTH seeks to create community through poetry. Show out, share, and meet some new friends by sharing your work! Read poems. Kick ass.   SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24TH DOORS @ 6PM + SHOW @ 7PM NO COVER // FREE FUN   Link https://www.tattooedmomphilly.com/event/scribes-on-south-november-2024/   Contact info tattooedmomphilly@gmail.com   Cost Free   ~~~~~~~~~ VIEW MORE EVENTS 1315 Walnut Street, Suite 300 Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States Unsubscribe or Manage Preferences