Milwaukee has experienced turbulence lately, and it’s time for the people of this city to take matters into their own hands and address the racial and economic inequality that plagues the lives of fellow Milwaukeeans.
One way to do that is to tell and hear one another's experiences, which is exactly what Ex Fabula was founded on: the idea of sharing stories and opening dialogues with others. And now, they are seeking applications from individuals eager to help continue that mission as a part of its second Fellowship.
Last year, the Milwaukee storytelling series created the Fellowship, a diverse group of community members who meet for six Wednesdays in October and November, preparing personal stories about privilege, oppression and race with the help of Ex Fabula storytelling coaches. Then, the Fellows share their stories at interactive outreach performances – complete with a dialogue component in the hopes of engaging the city in a community-led conversation about these often difficult and complicated issues.
"Ex Fabula strengthens community bonds through the art of storytelling, so we felt the need to address the systematic inequality that divides and disconnects us," said Ex Fabula Executive Director Megan McGee in a press release. "Fortunately, personal stories can create the conditions for empathy and connection."
Information, applications, and stories from the first Fellowship are available here. Applications are due Sept. 12. To find out more, visit Ex Fabula's website.
In addition, Ex Fabula is hosting a public workshop for Milwaukeeans from 6 until 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 25 at Artists Working in Education, 4315 W. Vliet St. Tickets for the event cost $30 for the general public before midnight on Aug. 22 and $45 after midnight.
Zoe Benjamin, currently a senior at UW-Milwaukee, was raised in the South suburbs of Chicago. She is a foodie, an avid traveler and music junkie, with just the right amount of nerdiness to top it all off.
Growing up in a large Jamaican family exposed her to a lifestyle full of food, laughter and pride. Zoe’s appreciation for her family’s eclectic nature led her to celebrate the differences in others. She just so happens to especially enjoy the study of food, seeing that eating is her favorite pastime.
Ever since she was able to get on a plane by herself, Zoe has taken the liberty of traveling to every place within her reach -- whether that be the next state over, or across the seas. Her wanderlust has taken her to 10 different countries, with France being her favorite. Nothing excites her more than French food and wine. Zoe hopes to absorb and share as much culture as she can so that the world may become that much more accepting of all the bountiful diversity in the world.
