Story Quilts engages participants to share their truths from the patchwork of their lives, weaving stories creating a tapestry of reconciliation and resilience. Story Quilts provides a platform for LTA’s Arts Over ACEs Center (Adverse Childhood Experiences), to bring visual, craft and performance art together as a foundation to guide honest and open community conversations about systemic racism and social justice – leading to truth-telling and finding reconciliation in hopes of building more resilient people and communities.
The project's creator, Kathy Wade, feels that, “Like so many cities in America, Cincinnati needs to come together to have a collective conversation about race and racism that can help us confront our difficult truths and find a way forward – to chart a future that is defined by truth, justice, and healing.
Story Quilt Community Conversations provide the opportunity for citizens and neighbors here in Cincinnati and beyond to join in a facilitated discussion to share their truths on systemic racism and solutions that we must all seek for reconciliation. During the event, you will also create a quilt square – with materials we provide – to visually capture your story and become a piece of the community patchwork quilts for resilience.
Xavier University, Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, in partnership with Learning Through Art, Inc., invites community participants to join them in exploring Truth and Reconciliation through the lens of South Africa in an inspirational session led by Professor Fayth A. Ruffin, JD, PhD, of the College of Law and Management Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal and the School of Government Studies, Northwest University, both in the Republic of South Africa.
On Wednesday, September 20, 2023, from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., you are invited to bring your whole self to our host location in Arrupe Overlook, First Floor, Gallagher Student Center (GSC), 3815 Saint Francis Xavier Way, Cincinnati Ohio 45207, as Dr. Ruffin gives a keynote address, laying the foundation for small-group sessions where community participants will tell their truths in an environment that promotes healing and restoration.
During truth-telling, participants use various tools to create unique designs on quilt squares that will later be joined into an inspired community quilt, and upon the quilt's completion, it will be donated to the host institution to encourage continued conversations around Truth & Reconciliation in our community.
We have a seat at the table for you!
