By Kavon Cortez

I worked 6 hours as a MPS Paraprofessional. My second job as a Literary Arts Instructor was canceled because of low attendance. After a stop at the Riverwest Co-Op, I started my bus trek to Radio Milwaukee. Nostalgically, I reminisce about when I was the radio’s Storyteller-In-Residence three years ago. I am always happy to be in such a hip and cool space.

I waited in the 88.9 Discourse Coffee reading and journaling for the writing workshop with a fellow community member to begin. Eventually, I was whisked on the elevator to the workshop where I sat among aspiring, professional, and expert writers and poets from my past and present. Fruition MKE and Bronzeville Art Collective owner, Tiffany Miller facilitated. Ten of us sat around and wrote about what it means to express radical joy. What we wonder about with the aspects of our dreams and aspirations.

We wrote about a death in the family and a hunt for a new identity. I wondered where the raccoons and deer go when it snows heavily. A few tears were shed as the workshop came to an end. We made our way downstairs for ‘Ex Fabula’s AfterDark: For the Culture.’

Alea McHatten and Kim Shine, the fabulous and fine hosts with their charismatic chemistry begin the show. First up?

CK Ledesma, the first featured storyteller, a Puerto Rican visual artist with numerous accolades told us a story of his grandma teaching him how to cook as she used his body as a way to measure. I loved how he flipped back and forth from Spanish to English with bits of audience laughter.

Venice Williams, my September 26th birthday auntie, mother of Alice’s Garden stepped up, the second featured storyteller on stage. She gave an ode to her five uncles; Wade, Billy, Chris, Craig, and Dean who taught her what it means to love and be beloved.

The Ex Fabula hosts brought up a black fedora hat on stage and pulled names for the open mic session. Folks in the audience placed their names in, now to be randomly pulled.

Mikey recited a poem inspired by the artwork of hammered nails in a wooden house, but when you looked inside a teacup was safely inside at home. A man she once loved in a relationship was fused with fine China girls and purple anime.

Yvonne adventures as a Progressive Community Health nurse. How she calmed a screaming five-year-old boy for a new mother. The moral of the story was, “A woman’s heart plans, but the lord plans her steps.”

Host Kim’s poem rapped of a friend with benefits and said friend’s fingers in unorthodox places.

Lila, STITCH Milwaukee fellow said, “Our blood flows liquid gold. The magic of our ancestors runs deep within us..”

Nidia, a racially ambiguous mother, told the story of her brown child being called the ‘N’ word assuming by a White student. Later, it turns out it was a Black kid on the opposing team.

Christine explained to us in a family of high achievers with elite college degrees, “…I was a mixed kid who never learned to dance…”

Radya Ellis, the third feature, Ms. 4-1-4, 4waukee phenomenon told us she wants a statue, not a bust when she dies, 4waukee Shit. How she loves a city that does not love her back, she is just trying to change that.

Tiffany Miller, an ambassador of radical joy, Valentine’s Day Eve final feature spoke of rainbows through the voice of her ancestors, her mother’s December 19th, 2019 homecoming. How she used to make sweet pineapple barbeque on the stove. She brought that, “I look fly, I look good type of energy..”
“Forever, ever kind of love..”

How she cried a monsoon of tears for her mother out of control of her breath. Venice from the first row coached her to breathe in and breathe out. An abundance of joy manifests the best reality. How Milwaukee is a place you have to be creative and protect your job.

Everyone who attended, if they paid attention, left with the warmth of the community, made a few friendly connections, shed some tears, and left with a heartful of radical joy.