Drexel Writing Festival 2018

Wednesday, May 23, 2018

12:00 AM-12:00 AM

Drexel Writing Festival 2018: Day Three: May 23rd

 

12 - 1:30 p.m.

Play it Forward: Exercises in Powerful Communication

This highly interactive, playful workshop involves encourages participants to better understand how they communicate both in real-time and on social media platforms. The facilitator utilizes free writing, music, and Theatre of the Oppressed exercises as tools to surface beliefs, attitudes, and biases that shape and seed effective communication.

Archivist and editor Steven Fullwood joins us from New York City to lead this dynamic workshop.

2 - 4 p.m.

Yolanda Wisher: a reading and workshop

Poet Yolanda Wisher will perform her unique verse, followed by a workshop where participants will develop new work. Yolanda Wisher is the author of Monk Eats an Afro (Hanging Loose, 2014) and co-editor of the anthology Peace is a Haiku Song (Philadelphia Mural Arts, 2013). A Pew Fellow, Cave Canem Fellow, and Hedgebrook Writer-in-Residence, she is currently the 2017-2018 CPCW Fellow in Poetics and Poetic Practice at the University of Pennsylvania. She lives in Germantown.

This event is co-sponsored by the Africana Studies Department.

4 p.m.

When Pigs Fly: The CHOP-Drexel Animation Collaborative

The story of how four incredible kids at CHOP taught Drexel students and their professors a little something about life, imagination, and how to tell a good story. Join us for the on-campus premier of four original animated shorts written and directed by CHOP patients working closely with Drexel students from Westphal and CoAS, followed by a Q&A.

Novelist and Drexel Professor Nomi Eve, and Drexel Professor and animator Nicholas Jushchyshyn will host.

5 p.m.

Songwriter’s Slam: The Essence of Writing a Song

Heard of a Poetry Slam? Well, get prepared for a Songwriters Slam. Experience the essence of what it takes to compose the lyrics and music to produce that 4 minute gem.

Young aspiring artists will perform live in an intimate setting, and also be part of a short Q&A on the process of Songwriting.

Marc Offenbach, professor in Drexel’s Music Industry Department, will host.

6 p.m.

The Spectrum of Communication: Supporting Communication with those on the Autism Spectrum Using Play-Like Techniques

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are challenged in the areas of communication, social skills, and repetitive behaviors. Many different strategies are used to help those with ASD overcome these challenges. Students from Drexel’s ABA program will walk participants through some of these play-like strategies while teaching more about the diagnosis of ASD.

Bridget Blakely, Drexel Professor of Education, will host.

Contact Information

Henry Israeli
hpi22@drexel.edu