Milwaukee’s Deaf community will gather to share stories during Deaf Awareness Week! Ex Fabula tellers use the theme ‘Labels’ to share stories about misconceptions, rejecting stigmas and identity. Ex Fabula is entering Season 11 with this noncompetitive curated StorySlam at Milwaukee Public Library Mitchell Street Branch located on Milwaukee’s Historic Mitchell Street on September 22nd; doors open at 1:00pm, stories begin at 2:00pm.
This curated StorySlam is presented as part of the Milwaukee Public Library’s Gathering Art, Stories and Place project. For Milwaukee’s first Deaf StorySlam, Deaf community members Mayra Castrejón-Hernandez and Jose Barraza were trained to become Ex Fabula Storytelling coaches, as well as take part in organizing the event.
The theme ‘Labels’ explores the many misconceptions and stigmas the Deaf community faces. “We are the Deaf and hard of hearing community of Milwaukee. We hide because no else recognizes us. We want to tell our stories at this StorySlam” says Mayra Castrejón-Hernandez. Professional interpretation from ASL into spoken English will allow the full community to enjoy this experience. *spoken Spanish interpretation available upon request.
Ex Fabula is a nonprofit that has been connecting Milwaukee through real stories since 2009. Please note this is an all ages event, highlighting a variety of stories. Because of the nature of StorySlams, with true personal stories shared in an open-mic format, we do not control the content of the stories that might be shared.
This event is free and open to the public but space is limited; please RSVP at https://www.exfabula.org/event/labels/.
*The Gathering Art, Stories and Place project empowers Historic Mitchell Street neighbors to create, share, and celebrate diversity through storytelling and multi-media art, specifically engaging youth in the process at the Milwaukee Public Library Mitchell Street Branch. Gathering Art, Stories and Place is a collaboration between multiple community partners, including Milwaukee Public Library, Listening to Mitchell artists Sonja Thomsen and Adam Carr, Ex Fabula, and Artists Working in Education, Inc. The project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment of the Arts, with additional support from the Milwaukee Public Library Foundation
*Upon reasonable notice, efforts will be made to accommodate the needs of individuals with disabilities. For additional information or to request services contact the Library Director’s Office at (414) 286-3021, 286-2794 (FAX), or mail to Central Library, 814 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53233 Attn: Accommodation Request. 2019