A workshop from December 2024 that was organized by Creative Philadelphia and facilitated by Yolanda Wisher and Trapeta B. Mayson. (Photo: Steven CW Taylor)

Healing Verse Germantown: The Streets are Talking (HVG), supported by Creative Philadelphia and a grantee of the Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge, is presenting a diverse lineup of three gatherings from September to October for its Free Cultural Event Series.

It seeks to continue its mission of encouraging locals to create poetry and other art forms as a means of healing from gun violence trauma.

Since the official launch of the public art project in September 2024, 16 total events have been held throughout Germantown,  with 10 being HVG poetry workshops and six being a part of the current HVG Free Cultural Event Series.

As the project holder, Creative Philadelphia selects local community organizations as grant recipients to organize gatherings for the HVG Free Cultural Event Series. To close this year, three recipients will bring what’s left to Germantown.

Grants range from $1,500 to $3,000, allowing recipients to host their own events within the series – a slightly different approach from the workshops organized by Creative Philadelphia earlier in the year, which were facilitated by lead HVG artists Trapeta B. Mayson and Yolanda Wisher.

For those workshops, the HVG team ensured that newcomers to the poetry discipline were made comfortable enough to try the new mode of healing – a method that HVG Project Manager, Vanessa Chandler, said paid off.

“Towards the beginning of the workshops, people might be a bit more hesitant, but we found that by the end of the workshops, a majority of people were sharing the poetry they’ve written as they got more comfortable,” she shared.

Chandler said it was a “very intentional” process in crafting those workshops.

“And as we’re working with the grantees, it is our hope that they’ll take that level of intention and care into the events that they’re crafting as well,” she added.

Here’s what’s to come in the upcoming fall line-up.

September 18: Healing Verses Art Exhibit

From 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Belfield Recreation Center (2109 Chew Avenue), the Healing Verses Art Exhibit will kick off the fall line-up as grant recipient, Every Murder is Real (EMIR) Healing Center, is organizing and curating the event.

The night will feature an exhibit that consists of a variety of paintings, Mosaic art, 3D printed art, and written poetry from families and local students who have been directly affected by gun violence.

These are also folks with whom EMIR has worked closely through different programs and support services.

Similar to the mission of HVG, EMIR grants support and advocacy for local individuals and families who have been affected by homicide and violent crimes, steadily engaging with folks through trauma healing.

When referring to the upcoming workshop and the connection of their work with the mission of HVG, EMIR Program Director Sharon Patton-Thaxton gave her sentiments.

She said, “When we work with the young folk in schools with the programs that we have, we bring these types of activities to them, giving them the understanding of how to express themselves in a positive way around their feelings, trauma, and hurt.”

To register for the Healing Verses Art Exhibit, click here.

October 5: Poetry Friendship Trail on the Ave

This day-long community-wide Poetry Trail from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. will span across different locations throughout Germantown Avenue.

It will be hosted by the Germantown Espresso Bar, Stephanie Cole of Young American Hard Cider and Tasting Room, Karl Blau, and Khalisah Hameed.

The trail will be an interactive neighborhood walk that features curated poetry readings and activities throughout select locations, beginning at the Cliveden House and concluding at the Tree Lab at Greene Street Friends School.

“The intention is to activate these various locations on foot, some of which will be small businesses, while gathering people together and offering space for conversations and activities around the topic of collective healing,” Chandler said.

All spoken word performances by participants will also be recorded by G-Town Radio.

While the registration link hasn’t yet been released, stay up to date on event updates by visiting HVG’s Instagram.

October 19: Echoes & Healing: A Community Poetry Experience

Presented by Ubuntu Fine Art and the creative wellness company known as Forbidden Fruit, the concluding event of the Fall line-up will span from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Ubuntu Fine Art (5423 Germantown Avenue).

This will bring a fusion of poetry and wellness practices that will foster a unique approach to community healing.

The event will kick off with spoken word performances that revolve around three main pillars of topics: healing from gun violence, community resilience, and transformation and hope.

There will then be movement meditation that co-founder of Forbidden Fruit, Tyra ‘Crux’ Jones-Blain, said will “serve to integrate the messages, words, and energy that comes through from the poets, and embody it through our breath and our bodies.”

That will be accompanied by live musician, Yori, who will be playing transcendental music designed to complement the deep state of serenity and consciousness, alongside drumming from Indi Monet.

There will also be a space called the Echo Chamber, where people can have a time of silence if needed, and there will be a communal altar where people can also self-reflect, journal, meditate, and even offer up pictures or items of a loved one who has passed.

A therapist will also be present at the event and will be available to attendees if needed.

To register ahead, click here.