Newark Stories in Bloom
From poetry and film to youth-led storytelling, this month has been about planting seeds, and we’re watching them grow.
April was filled with powerful moments: new programs were launched, voices were uplifted, and communities were connected through art and media. Here’s what we’ve been up to:
Newark Seeds: A Poetry Film Experience
On Earth Day, we hosted an intimate screening of Newark Seeds at Express Newark, a poetry film created by Community Media Fellow Brittany Barker.
With stunning drone visuals by Tehsuan Glover of The Newark Times, live poetry from Craig Bradley and Paul Latore, and a heartfelt conversation on Newark’s environment and quality of life, the evening reminded us how art can move people to action.
Attendees filled our interactive board with reflections, shared resources, and visions for a healthier Newark.
Brick City Voices: Community Interview Day
On April 13, we hosted our Brick City Voices Community Interview Day with success!
Residents, elders, artists, youth, and longtime community members came together to speak on the past, present, and future of housing in Newark. The day featured curated interview stations, youth facilitators, and storytelling prompts focused on memory, resilience, and what home means in our city.
These powerful stories will inform future episodes, public art projects, and our collective narrative archive centering Newark voices from the ground up.
Youth Voting Stories with Youth Media Symposium
We partnered with Youth Media Symposium to document powerful first-time voting experiences during Newark’s school board elections.
Our youth media team conducted interviews with students about why they're voting, how they’re learning about education justice, and why school board elections matter to families and neighbors across the city.
These videos will be part of an ongoing series lifting youth and community civic engagement through storytelling.
South Ward Stories Youth Program Launch
We are launching our 7-week media and journalism program in partnership with Complex Vision Newark, targeting youth ages 14–18 from the South Ward and Clinton Hill neighborhoods.
Participants will produce a photo exhibition, a mini-documentary, and a resource guide for Newark youth, all rooted in community storytelling and movement journalism.
Please share this opportunity with your networks!
Spring Community Media Cohort Is Underway!
In partnership with the Newark LGBTQ+ Community Center, our 10-week media fellowship launched in mid-April.
Community Media alumni Glenn leading audio narrative workshop for our new community media cohort @ Equal Space - Newark LGBTQ Community Center
Participants are exploring community media, storytelling, and journalism through a lens of identity, resistance, and joy. Projects will be shared in a special June showcase.
Youth Podcasting & Visual Storytelling in Schools
We brought high school students from Newark Tech this month, helping them develop ideas for youth-led shows and media campaigns. A big thank you to Newark Youth Career Pathways and the Abbott Leadership Institute for making this possible!
These sessions mark the beginning of our growing citywide media literacy and youth content pipeline, training the next generation of storytellers.
Coming Up in May…
- Community reporting intensives
- More audio storytelling from our fellows
- Behind-the-scenes looks at youth-created content
- New public health & housing resources on NewarkStories.com
Thank You for Building with Us
Every event, every story, every connection is powered by people like you. Whether you attended, supported, or shared, thank you for being part of the Newark News & Story Collaborative and Five Wards Media community.
Let’s keep growing.
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