Every second Sunday of the month since I cut the ribbon at The Avenue Blackbox Theatre on June 7, 2018 at 780 Joseph Avenue we have celebrated literacy. community and childlike curiosity in one of Rochester's arts deserts. I believe deeply in literacy and the power of storytelling to build community and common ground. BUT, I believe it should be FUN -- first and foremost. So I started off with STORY PARADE, interactive storytime that included an African drumming workshop, stories from a master storyteller, content-themed art project, healthy snack and book giveaway, sidewalk chalk art and the highlight -- a parade in costume down Joseph Avenue led by our Master Drummer and chanting POSITIVITY to reinforce the power of the SPOKEN WORD.

Alas, the Rochester snow pushed us back inside to regroup and I got together with a 7 year old author friend of mine to come up with a new idea. We decided to return in January with a STORY CARNIVAL! We will transform the theater into a literary TENT TOWN, show up in our favorite costumes or snuggy pajamas to read or be read to, eat healthy snack, listen to a story from our featured master storyteller, do our content-themed art project, play carnival games and get prizes!

Our community engagement piece in lieu of the snowed-out parade will be huge, colorful window drawing installations about our story outlined by our resident visual artists and colored in by all participants for our neighbors passing by!