Activism in the technological age: Community Literacy Center's Instagram grows
submitted by intern Tanya Sopkin
In a world where everyone is now online, and at a time when books on paper are being erased, advocacy through social media is more important than ever due to its limitless potential of getting exposure.
Activism cannot exist without advocacy, as activism cannot take place when people are silenced. Advocacy is a large part of the mission of SpeakOut!, whose journals aim to amplify the voices of writers who are stigmatized and ignored in larger society, but SpeakOut! aims to break this stigma by spreading their voices. As all of the interns of the CLC have been encouraged to take on an activism project this semester, one thing I noticed is that beyond our journals, their words do not go far and the mission of the CLC was unknown by a majority of the community around us. Therefore, in the most Gen Z of fashions, I decided to expand our reach by utilizing the best form of communication in the twentieth century - Instagram.
In the modern age, mass communication must take place through social media, as there is no more efficient way to teach the public about issues, spread resources, and signal boost the voices of those who do not have a platform. SpeakOut! has had an account for the last two years, but the last post was made the year it was made, in 2021, with only 80 followers. So, harnessing the power of Canva and the “follow” button, I made our first post which included art created by the men at Community Corrections and created an album of photos explaining what the CLC is, what it does, and how it can be found. I pinned the post on our account, asked the CSU English department Instagram (@csu_english) to repost us, and began to follow their followers, in order to bring attention to our Insta resurgence.
Another intern, Mia, took over the English department's Instagram for a day where she posted stories showing a “day in the life” of a CLC intern, and with these combined efforts, we quickly began to grow from 80 followers to 100 to 150 to 200. This coincided with February, when we were doing various popups all over Fort Collins in collaboration with Poudre River Public Library District’s BookFest, and our growing following allowed us to publicize all of the amazing events and bring more attention to our attempts of spreading literacy.
Now that the CLC is more known in the local community, I hope to use our amplified voice further. While BookFest has ended, SpeakOut! can still continue to spread literacy throughout the community and even further - I have been posting a prompt every week to hopefully inspire some writing from our followers, and also posting the work published in our journals to further expand their exposure.
Recent legislation and news headlines have also shown a clear attack on literacy happening throughout our country, with book bans and censorship actively occurring throughout public schools and spaces, an attack against the very goal of the Community Literacy Center. With our growing podium, I will continue to amplify others by posting informational graphics about the importance of literacy, the consequences of censorship, and supporting the books that are being banned.
In a world where everyone is now online, and at a time when books on paper are being erased, advocacy through social media is more important than ever due to its limitless potential of getting exposure. There are a variety of texts and voices that deserve to be seen, heard, and spread, in order to foster a more inclusive and understanding society. Within the last 90 days, the CLC Instagram and its posts have reached 589 accounts, a majority of which had not been following us before, showing the ever-expanding power of harnessing social media for advocacy, a reach that spreads every day.
Being an ally vs a co-conspirator, by intern Mia Manfredi
One of the CLC’s main mission statements is to advocate for equity. ... we are truly co-conspiring with others to push against the lack of equity that our society presents.
The society we live within is submerged within a cluster of wicked problems. To navigate my role within these complex, social issues, I have come to grasp what it means to be an ally versus a co-conspirator to those who suffer from such injustice. Being an intern at the Community Literacy Center (CLC) and co-facilitating SpeakOut! Writing workshops at the Larimer County Community Corrections center has allowed me to step further into an activist' perspective. Here, I have been able to establish my role within the relationship I share with individuals who are often underrepresented and underserved.
The term “ally” is commonly used within conversations about activism. This word can be defined as an individual who puts in an effort to understand and recognize their privileged identity (whether that be of race, class, gender, sexuality, etc), and further participate in solidarity with oppressed communities within the struggle for justice. Oftentimes, these individuals will commit to strengthening their own awareness of injustice, and advocate for other privileged individuals to reduce their collusion in inequitable lifestyles.
Prior to participating within these workshops, I considered myself an ally. As a cisgender, straight, white woman, I understand I am privileged. Throughout the majority of my life, I have worked to utilize my role to stand alongside marginalized communities in their fight against oppression. In doing so, I was pushing for justice through focusing on my awareness and knowledge of those who are oppressed, and then being an actively inclusive individual. Although I do thoroughly believe that being an ally is a crucial part of activism, I think that this perspective empowered a more theoretical commitment, rather than an active commitment.
Bettina Love, education professor and author of We Want to Do More Than Survive: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom (Beacon Press, 2019), introduced the word “co-conspirator” as being similar to an ally, though she defines this position as taking on an activist’ perspective one step further. Love describes a co-conspirator as someone who begins with recognizing the lack of social justice within the past, “the racist, sexist, xenophobic, homophobic, classist, and many other -ic or -ist practices that have kept science, marine science, and education access from being equitable”. For me, this step translated to a lot more educating. I had to come to terms with being only partially educated about the social injustice that took place (and is still taking place) within our society. This meant that a part of me had to relearn a lot of the history that I was taught within my K-12 education. Within the process of doing so, I was able to acknowledge how many stories were completely unheard and misremembered, most of which were all the histories of marginalized individuals.
After participating within this step, Love then describes a co-conspirator as working to push-against any “-ic” or “-ist” barriers that they have internally (and sometimes subconsciously) created. This meant taking a long look at myself, and debunking all of my own biases. This reflection took place as I entered my first workshop. Going into the Community Corrections Center, I had made a commitment to not having any preconceptions about the individuals I was going to be working with. However, by the time the hour had come to an end, I was drowning in feelings of shock and amazement. Subconsciously, I had created misconceptions about the men and women that I would be sharing the room with. Truthfully, I had fully imagined they’d respond differently to the idea of a writing workshop; I had expected them to feel anything but excited to be there. But, I was so wrong. All of the participants were engaged and committed to the environment we had created together. My preconceptions were all based upon the biased image I had of them formed within my privileged mind, and have since then been completely negated.
The third step for the role of a co-conspirator is to “make the field more equitable”, according to Love. This means, working alongside these communities in finding out how they might feel more involved. A co-conspirator does not just “involve them how [one] thinks they should be”. Within the SpeakOut! workshops, the environment that is created within that room, is not created by me. It is curated by all of us, together. This means going into the workshops with the intention of building the agenda (for lack of a better word) around the ideas that are coming directly from the men and the women of the Community Corrections Center. Their voices are being heard and empowered. They are writing about what they want to write about, and communicating about what they want to communicate about, rather than what I would assume they’d want to write about and communicate about. There is a fully equitable relationship to be shared amongst us. This partnership allows for them to lead, and their needs and desires to be advanced, fully.
One of the CLC’s main mission statements is to advocate for equity. Being a part of these workshops has allowed me to take my privilege forward and do just that. Bettina Love explains that as much as marginalized communities need allies, they need more co-conspirators. I believe that the type of activism we partake within is more than an allyship, rather we are truly co-conspiring with others to push against the lack of equity that our society presents.
"What is it like to be you?"
Connecting Fort Collins through stories
An engaging project led by intern Grace Dotson
"I challenge you to ask both yourself and those around you “What is it like to be you?” you may be surprised with the responses!"
This might seem like a difficult question to answer. How are we supposed to covey what it is to be us in words? We live it every day! Inspired by the Stranger’s Project out of New York City, I decided to create this project in our community because of the work we do in SpeakOut! writing workshops. The writing and dialogue produced at SpeakOut! informs the way I walk through our community and I wanted a way to bring that feeling of connection beyond the doors of the workshop. So far, the Community Literacy Center has brought this popup display to library events during Bookfest in February and at Colorado State University events. We have more plans in store to get the project up and in the community. The project features anonymous writing collected from a multitude of participants in the community including the writers we work with at AspenRidge Recovery Center, Catholic Charities, and Larimer County Community Corrections.
When I first brought up the project to the writers at AspenRidge, they were hesitant and seemed daunted by the task to write to this prompt on a tiny sheet of note paper and with a limited amount of time. I felt the same way when I tried the exercise for the first time. However, I emphasized that there is no right way to respond, this reminder helped me too. I gave everyone only a quick 7 minutes to write their entry-- enough time to produce something, but not enough time to overthink what they were writing. The writers each produced a submission for the display and tucked it into a folder that was passed around the room so that their work would remain anonymous. Their submissions were added to the plethora of others community had already produced. These submissions are so abundant that they can no longer all fit on the display and are rotated each time we put it up! The hope is that as contributors writing for the display and as observers reading the pre-existing entries, we will feel more seen and connected as community members. I find that every time I walk through the display and read the rotating entries, I am moved. I smile, hurt, and laugh at the stories people leave behind. I hope that those of you who read this article will get a chance to do the same and I challenge you to ask both yourself and those around you “What is it like to be you?” You may be surprised with the responses!
Sensory approach to creativity, by Tanya Sopkin
"who would expect that touching a bag of rocks could create a work of art?"
Throughout my experience as a facilitator of SpeakOut! workshops, I got used to doing a similar routine every week. We would always bring in 2-3 pieces of writing, either poetry or short excerpts of stories, which followed a certain theme: nature, humor, memory, horror. We would read the piece of writing, discuss it, and then write to a prompt related to the work. I always thought that this was the simplest and easiest way to create a workshop, because what is the best way to get inspiration aside from reading? How does one find guidance without direction? However, this semester I decided to see how we can find inspiration from what is right in front of us.
This week, we did a lesson plan inspired by senses, an idea I got from Grace, another volunteer at the CLC. We started out by free writing for 5 minutes each to different noises, first the sounds of walking on gravel, then birds chirping, and then rain falling. At first, I was worried it wouldn’t work out, as I myself felt unsure of what to write, and I noticed other writers feeling lost, too. I thought this lack of form would be too loose for us to create something, but when we began to share, it proved to be just the opposite.
Despite us listening to the same exact sounds, what came out of it was completely different for everyone. One writer wrote a fictional story, another wrote a hopeful piece about enslaved people finding freedom, I wrote about making my own path, and my friend who volunteered with me wrote a humorous poem about missing the bus. The air of hesitation in the workshop immediately disappeared and changed to one of comfort, as we all saw how we were connected to each other through writing. Although our interpretations were completely different, they were all beautiful, making us embrace our uniqueness.
The next activity was to write according to different smells, and with the gates of creativity opened from the previous activity, the writers immediately switched it up and took it in a new, bright direction. They decided to collaborate instead, smelling the same spice and combining their different associations with the dried basil into a descriptive piece about Italian food that was simultaneously appreciative of life’s existence. We then did an exercise based on touch, where writers put their hands blindly into bags filled with tinsel, yarn, rocks, or rice. Once again, the results were beautiful, creative, and completely different.
I was really hesitant about following such a lesson plan that was more hands-on and less structured, but it turned out to be one of the best workshops I had so far. The results were unpredictable and created an air of excitement as we all were excited to hear what the others had written. It was also a journey to see what you thought of yourself, as who would expect that touching a bag of rocks could create a work of art? This workshop reminded me that writing is full of momentum, and there is so much for us to find within ourselves when we least expect it.
SpeakOut! writer profile: Jedi
(submitted by intern Mia Manfredi)
He wanted people to know who he truly was, to acknowledge his mistakes as well as his endeavors. When he finished sharing, the entire group shared a resonation with what he had written. Though, truthfully, I felt more than just resonance, I felt so much respect for Jedi.
For my first workshop this semester, I asked the co-facilitators who would be joining me at the Community Corrections Center if they’d like to come up with any prompts. One of the volunteers happily agreed, and wrote in the prompt, “How do you want to be remembered?” on our first agenda.
Entering the space, I think that the volunteers and I had some anxious feelings. Within our workshops that took place during the Fall 2022 semester we had trouble reaching attendees. We usually only had 2-3 women show up each session, those of whom were hardly ever second or third-time participants. Occasionally, our small room of writers was filled with creative work and lively discussions, though there were times in which the space was quieter and more reserved due to the lack of repeating individuals we had show up. There were times in which the space felt really comfortable, and times in which it all felt new! Nonetheless, I am so thankful for every writer that did participate within our first round of workshops, but going into this semester, I was unsure of what to expect!
However almost immediately, all of these uneasy feelings were immediately relieved as we entered the writing space. As soon as we walked through the door, we were met with 12 new faces, one of whom was Jedi.
As we made our way through the warmup of the session (a free-write), Jedi was one of the first voices that we got to hear. From what I remember, he shared his work from the free-write, as well as his writing from one or two other prompts. When others shared, he was encouraging and lively with his responses, and when the room felt quiet for a moment, Jedi filled the space with energetic jokes. By the time we got to the last prompt (the one that one of the volunteers wrote in), I was anticipating his response.
When taking the time to respond to the prompt myself, I remember writing about how I wanted people to remember the good qualities about me… the love I had, the kindness I shared, the creativity that flowed from within me. I was proud of what I had created within such a short span of time and decided to share my work with the group. I was happy to hear encouragement and validation from the other writers; everyone seemed to feel comfortable with contributing feedback and discussion. After I had shared, Jedi volunteered to read his work aloud as well.
As he began to read, I immediately noticed how different our works were. Whereas I wrote about how I wanted people to remember the positive qualities about myself, Jedi wrote about how he wanted people to remember him for all that he was... the good and the bad. He wanted people to know who he truly was, to acknowledge his mistakes as well as his endeavors. When he finished sharing, the entire group shared a resonation with what he had written. Though, truthfully, I felt more than just resonance, I felt so much respect for Jedi.
Since this initial workshop, Jedi has continued to show up with the same lively energy. Though aside from this, I feel as if his sharing that one piece, I know him far beyond his humor and friendliness. He is someone I respect and admire, someone I consider an honest and redeemable writer. To this day, the relationship I share with Jedi feels so interpersonal, and a part of me owes it to that prompt, for the vulnerability it brought out, and the authenticity it turned into.
clc offers WATER CURRICULUM through website
Thanks to CSU's Colorado Water Center Water Education and Engagement Projects Grant, and the 2021-2022 intern team, the CLC website now features shareable water curriculum lesson plans -- with videos! Check some out!
Water and Gratitude -- Water and Nourishment -- Modeling Water Systems -- Water and Memory -- Writing Floods -- Human/Water Connection -- Energy and Water -- Water and Transformation -- Water and the Body
For more on the importance of water to all Coloradoans, see Governor Polis' initiative at water22.org
CSU Engaged Humanities Grant extends "Fort Collins Story Project" to themes around water, engaging in English and Spanish with residents of all ages through pop-up displays with partner Poudre River Public Library District at their Old Town and Harmony branches.
Stay tuned for a collection of water-based reflections coming in June!
Many thanks to our community partners at:
Larimer County Community Corrections and Work Release
Aspen Ridge Recovery
Harvest Farms
FOCO Mission
Catholic Charities
AND
The Dean's Office at the CSU College of Liberal Arts
The CSU English Department
the Pharos Fund of the Bohemian Foundation
The rotary club of fort collins
Fountainhead Press/Top Hat
Poudre River public Library district
CSU Engaged Humanities
Do you want to volunteer to lead workshops?
Let us know at clc@colostate.edu and we're happy to talk to you! Or find one of our interns in the CLC office in Eddy 346A -- they'll be happy to tell you all about the challenges, the highs, and the lows (not too many of them!)
We will train new volunteers at the beginning of fall semester -- be sure to contact us as soon as possible!
And take several copies of our journals to read, and then get them out into your world!
Please consider supporting our work!
The CLC creates alternative literacy opportunities to educate and empower underserved populations, and sponsors university-community literacy collaborations. Through our workshops, we confront stereotypes of at-risk youth, men and women who are incarcerated, and other young writers dealing with confinement. We circulate the stories and creative work of community writers through print and multi-media publications. We believe that such dynamic literacy activities are key to individual success, cultural awareness, and a more socially just world.
If you would like to become a volunteer in one of our programs, please let us know at clc@colostate.edu. We are always looking to add thoughtful volunteers to our team. We will begin a new semester toward the end of January -- let us know before then if you would like to join. We train!