A New Thing: The Restoration Writer’s Circle for Black Storytellers 🎉
A few weeks ago, my friend James (of One Quick Point) and I were feeling overwhelmed and a bit helpless as we watched our democracy fall apart around us. We felt like the world was burning. Our nervous systems on high alert, we asked ourselves a question: What can WE do with our unique mix of skills and interests in this moment?
As professional storytellers and aspiring memoirists, we spend a lot of time talking about personal essays, about the importance of documenting our lives, and about how joy can be both resistance and restoration. We’ve been threatening to do a podcast/book club centered on memoir (our favorite genre) and to encourage us both to produce more personal essays for YEARS.
This time, we wanted to do more than just talk.
So over brunch at Busboys and Poets Anacostia followed by matchas at Grounded, we brainstormed The Restoration Circle - a space for Black writers to gather, write in community, and center our stories during a time when those very stories and histories are being intentionally deleted.
We want to unmute ourselves and other storytellers to combat our collective erasure. So our plan is to show up to write, to share, and be in community with one another once a month.
Our first gathering happens this Black History Month, and if this message resonates with you, we’d love to have you there. Whether you’re already working on a memoir, warming up to that first Substack post, or just want a space to write with like-minded people, (we are Millennial comms pros and writers based in the DMV) we’d love for you to join us.
Our first session will be Sunday February 23rd at 7pm ET. Zoom link provided after registration.
Fill out the form to join us - [Register to Join]🌿