We have been paying close attention to the Derek Chauvin trial, and the witness testimony has been painful to hear. Columnist Eugene Robinson’s opinion essay, “Kneeling on George Floyd’s Neck,” which appeared in the Washington Post and many other papers, reminded us, particularly those of us who are not African American, how traumatic all of this has been—and still is. The police murder of yet another unarmed Black man—Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center—has increased our commitment to do something, to promote the changes necessary to prevent this from ever happening again.
At ESFL we have been privileged to collaborate with our neighbors to try to address some of this trauma, particularly through art. Rebecca Nichloson’s “The Kaleidoscope Project” promotes empathy and solidarity through writing. Its most recent iteration brought African American and indigenous writers together for a “Poetic Reflection on Solidarity.” There will be more workshops and readings this summer, as we will be collaborating with the Minnesota Humanities Center to expand the audience—and impact—of this work.
This past month ESFL hosted two powerful conversations exploring trauma and healing. Carolyn Holbrook brought her new book, Tell Me Your Names and I Will Testify, into a conversation with Zenzele Isoke, Marquita Stephens, and Najah Davis and Mary Moore Easter read and discussed her new poetry chapbook, Free Papers: Inspired by the Testimony of Eliza Winston, a Mississippi Slave Escaped to Freedom in Minnesota in 1860. Siddeqah Shabazz and Alison Easter joined Mary to bring multiple voices into the presentation of one of the poems. The tenor of the readings and the frankness of the conversations were emotionally difficult, but participants, from the authors and their collaborators to ESFL staff and audience members, made connections and took steps towards building community.
ESFL will continue work in this vein in the weeks ahead. Please look over the list of great programs and events we have scheduled. We want to highlight our collaboration with the Irreducible Grace Foundation around the launch of From Hurt to Healing: An Intergenerational Activity Book. Built through an intergenerational oral history project which was itself healing for both interviewees and interviewers, this beautiful book is full of stories, images, and activities for young and old alike. Join us on Friday, April 23 at 6:30pm to learn from creators and users of this book.
We also want to take this opportunity to announce an exciting collaboration and project. ESFL is working with the Public Allies Twin Cities (PATC) program of AmeriCorps to launch an East Side Freedom Youth Council. PATC and ESFL will work together to create and maintain a relationship with youth in the East Side of St. Paul through a collaborative youth council. We will also incorporate educational opportunities offered through the East Side Freedom Library to enhance the conversations surrounding housing justice, equity, and the arts as a part of our service to the community. We intend to have an 8-12 member Youth Council in place by June, which will function over the summer (and beyond) to:
- Strengthen the work of the East Side Freedom Library by building a platform that elevates and centers youth voice
- Further the goals of the East Side Freedom Library of community engagement, storytelling, issue advocacy, and learning the history of Eastside St. Paul
- Create a sustainable group of 8-12 youth who are empowered to organize, curate and direct programming and inform the work at the ESFL.
Please spread the word—to your families, to your neighbors—that we are eager for young people to get involved and take leadership in this Youth Council. Encourage them to sign up at bit.ly/ESFLYC or reach out to us at [email protected].
Love and Solidarity,
Beth Cleary and Peter Rachleff