“THE FUTURE DEPENDS ON YOUR JOY!” This quote inspired the 11 Days of Love Stories 2022 festival and fueled Love Now Media’s creation of community spaces centered on storytelling, the arts, and play across Philadelphia.
Each event enabled festival attendees of all ages to explore how their participation in activities can spark positive action around social justice, wellness, and equity. They engaged in workshops, panel discussions, community conversations, and creative competitions that encouraged listening, reflecting, and empathizing. The points of connection that helped to ignite joy included (but were not limited to): music, performance, film, poetry, food cultures, comic books, public access television, journalism, and technology.
View the daily festival highlights below and search the hashtag #11Days2022 on social media for more.
(Photos by Tezarah Wilkins)
Day 1: Love x Innovation – The 11 Days of Love Stories kickoff featured tech activations by Agora World and Jump Button, music by DJ G33k, and live performances by West Powelton Steppers & Drum Squad and Queen Jo.
Day 2: Poet’s Press Launch – In addition to a “Reclaiming the Headlines” storytelling workshop and poetry performances, the event featured a panel discussion with Black poets exploring how poetry intersects with journalism and a new initiative by Love Now Media.
Day 3: Film Screening – Just Love Stories – Featured short films by Iresha Picot, Rashid Zakat, Marie Hinson, Tezarah Wilkins and Jos Duncan Asé were followed by a panel discussion with directors and documentary subjects.
Day 4: Love Our City Youth Talent Show – Presented with the Beckett Life Center and North 5th Street Revitalization Project young people ages 21 and younger from across the tri-state area performed for the chance to win cash and gift card prizes totaling nearly $1,000. Community members enjoyed a diverse showcasing of talent by our youth.
Day 5: Paint Party for the People at Philadelphia Juneteenth Festival – Attendees created paintings inspired by Black love with the help of local artists from Mural Arts Philadelphia and The East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention (ECBACC) Painters. Grand prize winners of the Love Our City Youth Talent Show also performed at the Philadelphia Juneteenth Festival.
Day 6: Narrative Justice in the News – Love Now Media and the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists (PABJ) led a transparent panel discussion with storytellers and journalists about narrative harm in news and how to heal. Watch the panel discussion.
Day 7: Food, Play & Love – Atiya Ola of Atiya Ola’s Spirit Foods in West Philadelphia led a cooking demonstration and exploration of storytelling at the intersection of love, food, and wellness.
Day 8: Gift of the Griot – A recorded public access television broadcast at Philly Cam studios featured renowned storytellers Charlotte Blake Alston, Atiba Wilson, and Linda Humes. Tune in to the program on PhillyCAM TV (Xfinity 66/966, Fios TV 29/30, Roku, and Apple TV) at 5 pm (EST) every Saturday in August.
Day 9: Black Comics Storytelling Workshop – Festival goers gathered at Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse for an interactive presentation and historical reflection on the impact of Black comic book creators and stories.
Day 10: Day Party – Festival goers and the general public gathered at Love Park for dance sessions led by some of our area’s beloved movement leaders.
Day 11: Songs for the Soul – The festival finale featured an interactive music concert in partnership with Songs for the Soul and Sol Garden.
The 11 Days of Love Stories festival was made possible thanks to…
- Lead support: The William Penn Foundation
- Operational support: Independence Public Media Fund
- Additional support: Michael Jordan and the Jordan Brand, Philadelphia Cultural Fund
- Partners: The Philadelphia Film Society, Mural Arts Philadelphia, Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists, The East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention (ECBACC), Amalgam Comics, Beckett Life Center, North 5th Street Revitalization Project, PhillyCAM, Sol Garden and Songs for the Soul
- Sponsors: The Lenfest Institute, Jump Button Studios, The Leeway Foundation, Forum Philly, Rallie, TeleCaas, Black & Brown Founders, and WURD Radio
Be a positive spark in someone’s life today by passing the message along:
THE FUTURE DEPENDS ON YOUR JOY!
