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spaceorphan18 · 7 years ago

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Chris’s Tour - Naperville, IL 7-18-17

(Otherwise known as my birthday present :))

I see @wowbright - is posting her photos today (yay)! I didn’t have photos, sorry guys. But hopefully I’ll have a decent account.

So @multsicorn came to visit me for a few days, which was absolutely delightful. We had a nice drive to Chicago listening to Glee music, because of course. (We also had a splendid chat on the way home). We met up with the lovely @notthatbea (at a Barnes and Noble where my old store manager works now apparently - small world). And delivered in a lovely box was one of @snarkyhag‘s many gifts - a bingo card for the tour. It’s funny - except for a few spaces - there were all pretty much filled during the event.

So - we went out to this lunch where we had bison burgers and they gave us these pickled cucumbers -- they were too vinegar-y to be cucumbers but not pickled enough to be pickles. It was interesting. And then we went to an icecream place that sold raw cookie dough and it was amazing. Afterwards we met up with @leydhawk and @wowbright, who are both amazing and kind, and we had a nice chat while we stood in line for two hours.

The event - Chris came out, all relaxed and happy (and looking good - he looks better every year I see him - and Snarky untucked I mean c’mon). His opening speech was a little more scripted than it was the previous year (or practiced as I’m sure he says the same lines at ever event) but he was still funny and charming, and of course it’s all new to the majority of the audience. He then read a part of his book - and was more animated, getting into the voices more, than when he read last year. He was have a great time acting out all the parts of his story.

Oh also! He takes a selfie as he always did. But first, he took a photo of the crowd. He held his camera up - and bam - Notthatbea and I are probably, like, upfront and close in that photo. Cause we were sitting four rows back, but he held it up a little (so not to get the first row in the shot) and we’re pretty sure our faces are front and center. Also - in Alla’s shot of the crowd, you can totally make out the five of us who were there!

I believe the trivia stuff was next. The one thing about this that I remember is that there’s a portion where the kids could try to stump Chris. There was one little boy who pointed out a continuity error (The Pied Piper is named one thing in book 2 (?) and something else in book 6 - and the kid asked why that was.) Chris just stood there hilariously dumbfounded and speechless (in a good way), and claimed that he needed to reread his books more. It was a fun little moment. Also - as notthatbea reported - during this section we learned that the original title for book 6 was Happily Forever After.

The costume contest was next. A sweet girl in a Cinderella costume won. There was also an amazing Cyborg Queen costume (that came in second imo) and Morina - who’s horns kept falling off (poor girl - she had a great costume though. Chris, as usual, delighted at everyone, as I’m sure this is one of his favorite portions. We had two rows of kids go up there - and most of them were really awesome costumes.

Now - okay - there was one really awkward moment, though, during this. The people from the news site that shall not be named were there and in the front row (I know it was them because they took video over everything, claimed it was their own stuff, and posted it on their site - even though Chris’s people explicitly told us not to take video). Two of the posse got up for the costume contest. One of them was wearing a ‘likes boys’ tshirt, and was obviously supposed to be Kurt. The other one was dressed as kind of a hipster - I have no idea what they were going for - I don’t think it was anyone in TLoS. Anyway - omg - second hand embarrassment. Chris - amazing that he is - ignored them completely. (This is also why he pretty much ignored the entire front row the entire night despite them throwing comments out to him throughout the night.) I don’t know what they were trying to do pulling that - but c’mon. But what can I expect from people deliberately ignoring his wishes.

Anyway -- then we got the Q and A session, which was much, much longer than last year - it was nearly twenty minutes long. And, cause my memory is perfect, here’s what came up:

A girl asked that if he wasn’t doing a movie, would he consider doing a musical. He deadpanned a no, but then said it would have been a possibility. He also mentioned that he was ‘in talks about something but then they stopped talking’. I don’t know if this was TLoS related or not though.

He was asked if he would appear in the movies (like Stan Lee!) and he said maybe as a troll or something, but he doesn’t want to play a major role.

Someone asked how many publisher rejections he got for Wishing Spell. (And his face was like, dayum, okay...) But he mentioned that being on TV helped with that, so he got zero. But he did have to convince the publisher that he could write.

His movie is going to be live action with real people (though he joked that ‘real people’ is a matter of opinion as well)

The acting v writing question again - and he said his standard I love them both answer, though he did remark that people keep wanting him to choose one but he really can’t.

A 12yo girl asked what his favorite Glee performance was. This time he answered Lucky Star cause he got to fly around. Also - he and June Squibb are still besties. :)

A unique question - someone asked if he knew anything about the TLoS characters that weren’t in the book. It stumped him for a little bit, then said he had ideas for a prequel series, so he didn’t want to give much away. But apparently there was a lot of drama with the fairy council. Also - Mother Goose’s magic is not what it seems - and he hopes he lives long enough to eventually tell that story, lol.

Someone asked about casting - and Chris said they haven’t found anyone yet - but then he goes on to say that it’s strange when his job is looking at pictures of 10yos all day. (Out of context, the way he said it sounded really creepy, and made me laugh)

A little 9yo asked what inspired him to start writing TLoS - and mostly the standard answer about his mom reading fairy tales to him, and her getting fed up with all the questions so she told him to write them himself - but he directed the answer right to her, and spoke in a way relating to her, so it was sweet.

A girl asked about when he wrote while on Glee - and he gave his usual story about being on tour and writing a page and then running up to sing - though he made the story a little longer this time, and mentioned DSB, I Wanna Hold Your Hand, and then Single Ladies. (Usually he just mentions Single Ladies). (as an aside - he mentions that everyone else was just kind of going out and doing things as he stayed in and wrote - so huh)

Will there be multiple movies - he hopes so, but they’re going to focus on one at a time. He joked with the little girl asking, though, that it was her responsibility now to make sure the first movie does well so she needs to go out and spread the word - and if it fails, totally her fault, lol

Which book was his favorite to write - Stranger Than Fanfiction has been his absolute favorite (this surprised me), but then book 5 was his favorite in TLoS series because he got to use his own original stories he made up as a kid. The next question was kind of a follow up - where he was asked, which of those was his favorite. And he can’t really choose (3 way tie between the three he made up as a kid). Galaxy Queen is the one he created recently for book 5, but the rest were stories he made up when he was a kid.

How’d he get the names Alex and Conner - same kind of answer as usual, Alex was originally Amy after a cousin, but then there was a new cousin named Alex. Conner was from a character he played in community theater.

Will he write more books like Starbordia? - Maybe? It’s a possible spin off idea. (Side note - he didn’t sound that interested in the idea though)

Favorite books growing up - Harry Potter, of course, but Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan - and he mentions Eva Ibbotson, who I’m not familiar with - but who is a British author who writes a lot of young, young children books (I’d say stuff for 6-9yos)

Conner and Alex are both him, and the arguments they have are like arguments he has in his head.

Someone asked him to sing - of course he said no, and that if he did it for one, he’d have to do it for all of them, and that’s just too much pressure. Then, the front row yelled that he had a voice like an angel - to which he replied that his dog and cat don’t feel the same way cause they run out of the room when he starts singing. He did say, to the original person asking, and the audience in general, that he was happy that people enjoyed his voice.

Alright - so then this delightful 13yo girl, who was a bit Red-like, came up and basically pitched herself as an actress who’d be happy to be in his movie. It was hilarious. He asked if she’d be happy being a tree - and she said yes, and that her people will contact him. Her question, though, was about how Glee impacted his writing. And he joked that Glee made him so famous, that he couldn’t leave his house, so he had nothing better to do than write. But more so, he talked about how acting helped him hear the voices of his characters better. But also that writing helped with acting, so you can create backstory for your characters.

What is he most excited to do, regarding the movies? He’s super excited about walking out on sets and seeing these places he only imagined become real.

What songs does he listen to while writing? Film scores!! Including Danny Elfman and, my personal favorite which I totally listen to all the time to write, y’all know this, Hans Zimmer.

So yeah - that’s the Q and A. He was very sweet and engaged during the entire thing, which was awesome to see.

He wrapped up by doing another reading, this time from the Mother Goose diaries. The thing that stuck out to me about this was that he was reading an entry about Amelia Earheart - where she said she faked her own death and went away to an island because fame got too much for her, and she wanted to live peacefully away from everything for the rest of her days. (hmm - Chris....)

So that’s the event! It’s always a delight to see him - and I know he loves these events more than the signings - he’s just so thrilled to be there, and there’s a ton of excitement over the film.

After that, we all headed back home. Was a great time, and a great birthday. :)

#chris colfer #do I have a tag for the signings? I'll have to check that out

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momosmessages · 7 years ago

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Day of Language and other Miscommunications

As I mentioned in my previous post, I returned to the United States last week to attend a friend’s wedding. A few days beforehand, I wrote this post. I had issues with my house’s internet, and therefore, could not post it.

On this blog, I want to share all of my experiences here - both the good and bad. I want this blog, I want to be as real, authentic, and open as possible.

I want share my successes AND my frustrations. I feel that this post shares both.

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“Now I see the mystery of your loneliness .”

― William Shakespeare, All's Well That Ends Well

Today is Monday, April 23, the anniversary of William Shakespeare’s birth. Here in Barranquilla, it’s celebrated “Language Day.”

Apparently there is another holiday called “English Day”, but it’s in August.

I felt that the meaning behind the word “language” was both fitting and ironic for the events which took place.

Yesterday started off how the day would be - full of miscommunication.

On Monday mornings, Silvia doesn’t have class in the first period, but I do. I always forget this. I think this is a more recent thing though, because I vividly remember this wasn’t a problem when I first moved.

Normally Silvia makes my breakfast. But because she goes to school later, she slept in. When I came out of my room, ready to go to school, she was in the middle of getting ready. Roberto was awake because he will leave the house at the same time as Silvia and I for school. He realized this dilemma and tried to compensate.

He opened a new bag of milk and then attempted to open my new bag of cereal, “Zucaritas” (Frosted Flakes). I normally don’t eat that for breakfast; I only snack on it throughout the day. I felt bad that he already opened a new bag of milk, so I told him I’d just pour the cereal myself. I ate it with a yogurt drink I had bought the week before, knowing cereal alone would not satisfy my hunger.

When I was almost finished eating, Roberto informed me in broken English that he was leaving and his mom was going in later, because of her schedule. It seemed to me as if she was almost ready to leave, so I decided to wait for her and not walk with Roberto.

And of course, I assumed wrong.

After 10 extra minutes of waiting, I realized my mistake. I then saw no point in walking to school on my own. I was already late, and I knew that my students this period were working on a project. I waited another 5 minutes for her to be ready, and we left together.

By the time we got to school, there was only 15 minutes left of the first period.

This class was the 11th grade Advanced Level, and they were working on career-themed posters in English. The objective was to create a group presentation in English about their career of choice. They had to include what steps one must take to obtain that career, the pros and cons, the salary, etc.

I helped one student who wanted to be a lawyer. She asked me what qualifications she needed to study or work as a lawyer in the United States. I told her she’d first have to take an English level test to prove she’s proficient enough of the language. Then she’d have to take at least a bar examination. It made me remember my privilege as an American citizen.

Unknown to me, this would be my only class of the day. As I entered my second classroom, a group of 8th grade Beginner-Level, the my students just looked at me and all nodded their heads “No” in silence. Another teacher sat at the desk, unaware of my presence and busy taking attendance. And so I slowly retreated, wondering what this was all about.

I met Mentor outside of the teacher’s room. We shook hands.

Whenever I first see him in the morning, he will shake my hand.

After he shook my hand, he told me he was sick. Great.

I asked him what was going on, and if it had something to do with Language Day. He told me that there would be an event in the third period. However, the second period classes were switched with the third period classes.

This meant that I had this period free. So I reminded him of a meeting we had.

Back Story - Social Project or Hidden Imperialism?

As a mandatory element of the Colombia Bilingue program, English Teaching Fellows must create what is called the “Social Project”. It is a project that is meant to help better the community in some way. It can be themed around helping the environment, helping women and children, promoting literacy, etc.

At the beginning of our semesters, all fellows had to write a detailed proposal. We had to include the dates, teacher involvement, the budget, etc.

My proposal was due the day after my first day at my school. From the start I had mixed feelings about this project. I felt like it was a “White Man’s Burden” to come to a country you barely know, and start telling them what’s best for them, without knowing the community’s needs at all. And as a white person specifically, this made me uncomfortable.

But I did it anyway, because I had to.

I created an event centered around Earth day. I wrote that students would have booths with presentations about how to keep the Earth environmentally friendly. I pictured a student art contest, where students had to create art pieces out of recycled materials. I envisioned students singing songs, or reading poetry about the environment.

But every time I brought it up to Mentor, he would talk about my English Club, or brush it off.

My English club is supposed to be part of my “Cultural Hour” - another mandatory element of the program.

Last semester’s fellows did not have to create social project as elaborate ours. So the last fellow at my school, who I am often compared to, only did an English Club.

About a month ago, a little before Semana Santa, I reminded Mentor that I needed to begin preparing for my Social Project. He told me that Julio*, a science teacher, already had a project going on that was similar to mine. I felt more comfortable with the idea of working with an already ongoing project, so I told him I’d be happy to help. Mentor told me he’d set up a meeting with me and Julio, but never did.

At this time we were also trying to get the English Club started. Mentor needed to create a permission letter for parents, as well as select certain students for the club. Every time I mentioned English Club, he would say an excuse about how busy he was and would try to work on it the next day.

I first hand how difficult a teacher’s life can be, so I decided to remain patient.I figured I wouldn’t press too much about the Social Project, and let him work on one thing at a time.

But last week RC told me that I needed to start working on my project, pronto. Apparently, my Social Project Proposal was chosen as one of few out of Barranquilla. I even learned today that the Ministry liked my proposal so much, they want to put it in a book for next year’s fellows.

THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT WANT TO PUT ME IN A BOOK. I REPEAT - THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT WANTS TO PUT ME IN A BOOOOOOK!

This week I am traveling home to attend a close friend’s wedding. Therefore, RC told me she’d come to the school in order to convince my Mentor realize that this was serious. She said she had to observe me in a class anyway, so she’d kill two birds with one stone.

In fact, last week I had not one person but TWO pepole observing my class, at the same time. The other woman, Jinger*, came straight from the Ministry. Afterwards she asked me questions for a survey. Jinger also told me how much the Ministry liked my proposal. This made it feel so much more real!

After the class, RC talked my principal and Julio, stressing the situation. Julio said he was willing to work with me. They planned to have a meeting for Monday, April 23 at 9am.

Back to Earth

And of course, what we didn’t plan for, was the Language Day Event.

In yesterday’s “second” period, the 10th grade girls had created stands outside their auditorium, across from the gym. Every girl was assigned to create a poster featuring a famous artist. One of my favorite students, Jordan*, explained everything to me, because of course, I had no idea what was going on. Her English is amazing, she plays three different instruments, and if I were her age, I’d want to be friends with her.

One table had a box which said: “Classic” and “Modern”. Students were encouraged to vote for which type of literature they preferred.

A variety of books were laid out across tables. Never in my life had I seen so many Spanish books all at once. I’m just only used to seeing it as a teeny tiny section in a Barnes and Nobles.

Some students got really into it!

It was also super cool to see famous young adult novels in Spanish, such as John Green books, Harry Potter, and the Book Thief.

Student-made posters of famous authors

The gym was decorated with balloons of all colors of the rainbow. Small cut-out alphabet letters hung on string from both sides of the bleachers. Larger cut-out letters spelled “Dia de Idioma” over the Balloon gateway.

Here, students presented poetry, sang and played instruments, and even acted out poems.

Literature has such an immense affect on my own culture.

An 11th grade student performing a poem

It was cool to see for myself how it can have a similar affect on another community that’s so different than my own.

When RC came to the school, these presentations were still going on. At first I couldn’t find Mentor.

Students singing a song

Instead I found Julio, who told me in Spanish (I think) was that we couldn’t have the meeting because of the event. I explained that RC was physically here, and he told me to just talk to Mentor, who in that moment, seemed to come out of nowhere.

Students acting out a poem

I told him RC was here. He just said “No, we changed the meeting to next Friday.”

I just blinked at him with confusion.

“Did you already talk to RC?”

“No.”

“Um, okay. But she’s here?”

“Oh RC is here?”

*Inner face-palm*.

“Yes, she’s here in the principal’s office.”

Mentor then told me how the Ministry sent him an e-mail, saying they would visit next Friday. Even though I told him that morning and last Friday that we had a meeting with RC, he seemed to have fused her and the Ministry together.

So, we went to the principal’s office without Julio.

Now, this part is what makes me most frustrated. In this conversation, I felt like although RC tried to talk to Mentor about my proposal, he only talked about the ideas that HE had. Mentor and I had talked about his ideas the past Friday. I had explained that a lot of his ideas were very similar to my ideas in my proposal.

But again here today, he talked about the project as if these ideas were all new, and just repeated things that RC and I had been saying on repeat. For example, HE even told RC how we “really had to hash out the details of the project”, yet didn’t provide any solutions. And this was the entire reason why RC had come in the first place!!!!

In this conversation I just felt so frustrated. I felt like I couldn’t speak because he just kept talking, and he never asked me to contribute. The only time I spoke was at the end of the meeting, when RC asked me if I had questions.

I just felt so thwarted. Here I was, a 24 year old adult woman, feeling like I’m 12 years old parent was speaking to a teacher for me.

The Ministry had selected ME specifically for my own project, yet he completely overlooked this fact. I knew my RC was trying to politely stick to the facts and be solution oriented.

I hate saying this, but through his actions felt like he was just being a stereotypical man. In my experience in working with men, this happens so often. Also in the past, the men I’ve worked with won’t do something unless they think it’s their idea, which was totally happening now.

At the end of the conversation, I suggested to Mentor that the two of us should meet tomorrow and finalize the details. I said that at home after school, I would reorganize my proposal to fit for May, and he agreed. I said want to have something done before I leave on Thursday.

RC left, I talked with him a little more. I asked him at what time tomorrow he was free to talk more about the proposal. I said I was free tomorrow at fourth period.

But then he then told me at fourth period that the 10th grade would be presenting.

“Tomorrow they’re presenting? Not today?”

“No, today they are presenting.”

“Um okay so are you free tomorrow?”

“Oh no I am not.”

“Okay, so when are you free to go over the proposal once it’s reorganized?”

“Oh, can’t we do it at today’s meeting?”

Every Monday we have a meeting with the other English teachers. They normally speak in Spanish the whole time, but I was determined to have a say this time. I felt it was important to inform the other teachers about my project, since this did involve English. But since I didn’t have a revised proposal and we just talked about this, it didn’t make sense. I explained myself again.

I think after a few times he understood, and we settled on a time on Wednesday instead.

Normally that wouldn’t have made me impatient, but I felt so pissed off inside. We literally had just talked about this, and I felt like my head was spinning in circles.

The following period, the 10th grade really were presenting. I had noticed in the beginning of the morning that they had decorated the Auditorium in red and black. But I didn’t know the purpose of it!

When I returned for the second part of the morning, a red carpet was rolled out. The windows were covered with long strips of red paper.

About a dozen tables lined the inner perimeter, surrounded by students in uniform, and in red and black costumes. Cut-out decorations of spades, hearts, diamonds, and clovers covered the walls, and pop music blasted from the speakers.

I then bumped into one Spanish teacher. She informed me that this was supposed to be a “Casino”. The “games” were like card-games, but based off of literature. She then had one student take me by the arm and led me to a table. She wore a purple blazer over white button down shirt, and half of her face was full of white makeup.

At this table, students had a deck of cards and poker chips spread out. From what I understood, three people at a time were to pick and flip a card. Whoever had the lowest value card won a poker chip.

If you had a chip, you could use it to bet on other games.

I found one of my co-teachers, JF playing a game. The students had orally told a story, and contestants had to answer a series of written questions about it. JF was so excited about it.

“Here if you win, you win a free book!”

I thought that was pretty neat.

I had also seen the principal and other teachers there, participating in games.

As I walked around the auditorium, a sentimental yet melancholy feeling came over me. This event and it’s atmosphere reminded me of all the events me and my City Year team did. Almost every month we’d have some sort of event, including two huge events during the year for students and parents. We got so into decorating that we’d plan months in advance.

It made me reminisce on how much fun we had making it, especially because we made it on our own. We had a lot of freedom with our events, and though it was a lot of work, we truly enjoyed it.

A thought dawned on me - that even though I was an experienced, well-equipped and creative event planner, I wouldn’t have the freedom to make my Social Project as awesome as it deserved to be.

In the classroom I feel as though I don’t have much control, because the teachers rarely plan with me. I thought that maybe this would allow me to feel in charge of my time here. I had also thought this about the English Club. But since that isn’t happening either anytime soon.

And once again, I felt powerless. I feel like I have so much potential to help students here, but it’s not being used. And it’s unfair to me, to the students, and to the government.

I left the auditorium and walked to the audio visual room. One of my favorite students, Jessa* told me that she would be presenting there. These were the girls who put on the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade for me. And so, I tried to put on a happy mask over my true feelings.

The room was covered from top to bottom in constellations. Black, ripped garbage bags had been tapped onto the walls, and string Christmas lights were pinned at the top, and lit all around the room. Jessa and another girl, Joy* welcomed me in white lab coats. On their pockets were names of a Nobel Science winner. There were about a dozen students in the room, and everyone had a specific constellation or planet to explain. Jessa and Joy knew my spanish wasn’t enough to fully understand everyone, so they went around the room with me, translating what every presenter said.

Some girls connected the planets to literature. One talked about a fictional planet from the “I am Number Four” series.

I am always amazed by these girls. They work so hard and always put on incredible presentations.

My takeaway from the day is this:

I love how holidays are celebrated here. It reminds me and encourages me to celebrate every aspect of life. I wish we had a Language Day celebration like this in the United States!

But if having so many celebrations comes with a price, and causes so many mishaps, like schedule changes and missed time, I think I’d instead take a consistent schedule any day.

#language day #23 de abril #english teacher #frustrations #shakespeare #colombia #barranquilla #teaching fellow #social project

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tyleroakley-obsessed · 7 years ago

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Ed. Note: Contributor Wesley sits down with Shamichael Hallman to find out exactly what’s going on with the Cossitt Library in downtown Memphis. In the year CE 105, in what today is Leiyang, China, a guy named Cai Lun invented paper. Almost two millennia later, J.K. Rowling wrote the very first novel, and people went wild. They had to build book repositories all over the world just to hold the daunting amount of Harry Potter literature, which they called libraries. But then, a calamity named Amazon.com scared a great many people away, and caused the libraries to suffer a bit of an identity crisis. “But Wesley, are there any of these libraries left?” you’re probably asking me. Absolutely! In fact, right here in Memphis are 17 active public libraries, between which offer thousands of programs and services per year for the community. The 18th will be the re-imagined Cossitt Library, located on Front St. in downtown Memphis. It’s currently closed undergoing renovation. I went to Cossitt and met Shamichael Hallman, Branch Manager of Cossitt and Civic Engagement Coordinator at The Fourth Bluff (a joint project from the City of Memphis and the Riverfront Development Corporation designed to invigorate the riverfront area), to get a glimpse of Memphis’s newest community development project. We were supposed to take a walk around the building’s interior, but that was quickly shot down. “There’s a lot of asbestos that needs to be taken out,” Shamichael told me. I was disappointed I wasn’t going to get a sneak peek of the renovations, but I do like not having mesothelioma, so I let it go. He and I went to Cafe Keough, just a couple blocks away, for a little Q&A session, and to see some mockups of the library post-renovation. Shamichael Hallman, self-proclaimed “preacher-slash-programmer” and all-around great guy. Wesley: First off, thanks for meeting me on a Monday afternoon. Shamichael: No problem, man. Wesley: Can you give me a little background about yourself? Shamichael: I’m from a little town in Alabama called Margaret. It’s about 40 minutes northeast of Birmingham. Super small town, man. Like, couple years ago we got our first traffic light, it was a pretty big deal, man. [laugh] I went down to Montgomery for undergrad and then came back to Birmingham. I worked for a little bank called AmSouth in the internet banking department. Wesley: How did you make it to Memphis to work at Cossitt? Shamichael: I served at this church in Birmingham, and I had a chance meeting with someone who was from a church here, New Direction Christian Church. They asked me to come up, they kind of created a position for me. I was doing, like, three things. I came here in 2010, so I been here about eight years. Last year, I had a meeting with the director of the libraries, Keenon McCloy, and she told me about what she hoped to achieve with Cossitt, and I was in at that point. Wesley: What about this project made you so eager to be a part of it? Shamichael: It makes sense to me now, seeing as how divided we are as a country. The library is like neutral ground. I hope that as we go through this process and rebuild the place that we truly get it to a place where all Memphians can come. Wesley: So what’s Cossitt going to do that other libraries aren’t? Shamichael: The Memphis Library does something like 3000 programs a year between all 18 locations. From tax prep to cooking classes. Often times those are driven by library staff. What we want to do with this space is get to a place where that same stuff is happening, but it’s driven by community members, by professionals, by people saying hey, I’ll do this for an hour a month. I’ll come facilitate a workshop. Wesley: How did the renovation process start? Shamichael: We had to empty the place completely. The week between Christmas and New Years, the public was invited into Cossitt to help pack up. Box up the books, break down the shelves. Community members removed the books and placed them in storage, where they await the day they return to the shelves. Pictured below is the emptied second floor. Wesley: What’s this new Cossitt Library going to look like? Shamichael: There’s a real focus on creating a space and an experience that draws lots of different people. You gotta have something that can serve as a good foundation. The first thing to go will be the fence around the property. We’ve always felt like it’s a barrier between us and the public. Kind of like, “you’re not welcome here.” We want to add a set of stairs, and more doors that will lead into the cafe area. This is what is imagined for the front entrance of Cossitt. Notice the diverse cast of characters! Wesley: Cafe area? Shamichael: Right, it can also serve as a sort of cafe incubator, a space where food trucks who are trying to move to a physical space can test out the concept. Wesley: This sounds more like a community center than a library. Shamichael: It’s a community hub. We still got books, the technology will still be there, but it really becomes a central gathering place. One of the things we’re gonna try is to have a different person or a different group curate a list of books each month for sections. So we have a rotation of books. One month it may be an artsy thing, one much it’ll be a design thing, one month an African American history thing. The bookshelves will be on casters, so they’ll be easily changeable. Wesley: I see some meeting spaces and workshop areas here. How’s that going to work? Is it free? Shamichael: It’ll be a registry. Everything that we do has to be free. In that, the message we convey is that this is a community space, and all of us should take ownership of this space in some kind of way. Instead of paying 50 bucks a month, would you commit to facilitating three workshops? Or spend a couple hours over the course of this month picking up trash around the building? That’s a way to help people think, this is my library, but this is also your library. I don’t want to come here and just consume, but to give back. Above are more mockups of the inside of Cossitt. I love how it looks like Barnes & Noble went to art school. Wesley: What’s going on on the second floor? Shamichael: The second floor is where more of an active program is happening. We’ll have a performing arts stage with an acoustic curtain stretching wall to wall. What we imagine for this space is a diverse mix of dance, music, acting, and film, open to the community. This space would ideally be used by smaller productions who need a space to perform. We’ll also have studio spaces for people to record video, do podcasts, something along those lines. There will be a music section, with a curated vinyl selection and listening stations. Wesley: Kind of like the Cloud901 program at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library? Shamichael: Yeah, it’s magical. We want to bring that feel downtown to this library, but make it for adults. A digital playground for grown folks. Wesley: I like everything I’ve seen so far. But I have to say — public libraries are historically a safe space for the homeless and destitute. What’s your take on that? Shamichael: There’s a stigma, like they’re lazy, they want to panhandle and don’t want to work. Before we closed, a good segment of our customers were homeless. By us being a public space, and being one of the few public places downtown, it was a place homeless people could come in the day time. They’re coming for shelter, for information, finding out how to get ID, how to find jobs. As a former minister, I know we have to deal justly with the poor. We can’t toss them to the side. We can’t just say, y’all get out, this is our library. What I’m trying to drill into my staff right now is this — day one, when we open up, we have to be very mindful to let people know this is a place for everyone. Because it’s a place for everyone, it’s gonna mean you’re gonna come in contact with people you’ve never come in contact with before. We have to let down our walls in terms of who we think belongs here. In an effort to beautify the space, Shamichael and the rest of the Cossitt team asked community members what they were thankful for, and hung the answers on the Cossitt gate. I, too, am thankful for Crazy Noodle. Wesley: Man. Directing a public space seems like a challenge. Shamichael: Any time you do something like this, you’re gonna have problems. You’re gonna have challenges. What I would hope is that the greater Memphis community sees what we’re trying to do and says, hey, I can help out. Wesley: Can you give me a date when Cossitt will reopen? Shamichael: I can’t give you an exact date, but we feel really good about fall or winter of this year. Wesley: Any parting words of wisdom? Shamichael: If you don’t have a library card, you should have one. Wesley: Couldn’t have said it better myself. About The Author Wesley Morgan Paraham loves the 901 so much that his cat is named Belvedere. If playing RPGs were a full time job, he’d be a rich man. He’s a graduate of the University of Memphis, and a freelance writer and graphic designer. Are you a home owner in Memphis, with a broken garage door? Call ASAP garage door today at 901-461-0385 or checkout http://ift.tt/1B5z3Pc

http://ilovememphisblog.com/2018/02/memphian-to-meet-shamichael-hallman-and-the-library-of-tomorrow/

#I Love Memphis

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