Community Through Social Media

Artist: tonywhlgn

Location: oldgoatgr
2434 Eastern Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507

Detroit artist Tony WHLGN crafted this incredible mural as part of the_diatribe’s 49507 Project.

The 49507 Project is a POC-LGBTQ and youth-led project, rooted in collaboration, that teaches art and event organizing, and commissions community art for and by people of color in the 49507 neighborhood.

About the Diatribe:
The Diatribe uses performing arts to empower young people to share their stories, raise awareness of social issues, and create change within their communities.

[Click the link in our bio to learn more about the Diatribe and the 49507 Project.] ...

This young man deserves a shout-out!
I have had the honor of working with tens of thousands of students, but this human right here is truly a rare breed.
Last week at one of our school assemblies with the_diatribe I started off by apologizing if I was off my game.
I was shaky, I had slept in a hospital bed beside by fiancé who just had a bilateral mastectomy (in April was diagnosed with stage 3B breast cancer), and I was running on barely 3 hours of sleep.
I shared a poem I had written about where I was at mentally, and the difficulty of juggling life while trying to be a present loved one for the person I care about most.
After this assembly a young man said “Can I talk with you?” I of course said “absolutely”. This young man’s name is Isiah.
Isiah: “Mr. Fable. Can I give you a gift?”
Me: “What is your name my friend? Also, you don’t have to give me anything.” Isiah: *Pulls out a metal band from his pocket* “I really appreciate you sharing your story, and I hope your fiancé gets better. I want to give you this bracelet. My grandma was like my mother and was diagnosed with cancer when I was really little. This bracelet kept me strong, and I want to give it to you so that you remember to be strong. I know she is going to beat this, but because you talk to a lot of people, I hope that when she does beat this and you meet someone else that needs strength - you will give this to them to remind other people to be strong too”
At this point I am crying my eyes out.
I told Isiah that I hope he knows that not many middle school students are as emotionally intelligent as him. That he is rare, but truly a dynamic, person with a heart that will take him further than he knows.
I promised Isiah that I would keep this close, and that I would absolutely use it to give me strength.
When I no longer need it, I will absolutely pass it to the next human who needs it along with Isiahs story.
#MyDiatribe #UniteThroughDiatribe ...

Happy #EarthDay!
For today's prompt, we're getting to the heart of why Earth Day became a national holiday. The first official Earth Day was in 1970 when 20 million people across the nation-primarily from colleges & high schools, as well as frontline communities- were all peacefully demonstrating the need for environmental reformation. They gave a voice to the growing concern of the population surrounding the state of our planet. We want you to channel the power of that moment as we celebrate today, on the 50th anniversary. Write about your own experience with climate change. How has it shaped your life?
Let's #UniteThroughDiatribe and find a #CureThroughCommunity ♡ ...

Take a look at what The Diatribe’s work looked like in 2018, compared to what we’re doing now. It’s taken elbow grease, but we’ve worked with schools throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to provide our programs online! We even created downloadable teaching content, “Poetry Empowered,” that has already been implemented in 35 schools and 6 states. Thank you to all our donors who have made providing this content possible! We’re slowly beginning to return to schools to provide our programming, as safely as we can. We hope to see you soon! #UniteThroughDiatribe
You can download “Poetry Empowered” in the link in our bio! ...

"I love it when students surprise me. Sometimes, especially with masks, it's hard to tell if the content we're teaching is connecting, if the prompts are resonating.

"So, when a student that maybe didn't seem that engaged throughout the sessions gets up and shares their poem at the final reading and it's so powerful and insightful, it's a beautiful reminder some things aren't always visible on the surface and that success looks different for each teacher, for each student.

"I love those reminders - those moments, discussions, poems that blow me away and give me hope for the future."

- @gleasonrising, Teaching Artist

Of course, you know we're going to remind y'all our #PoetryMonth celebrations are still going on! Take part in the writing prompts and tag #UniteThroughDiatribe here on Instagram or donate at the link in our bio for the chance to win prizes from local vendors and the headlining poet, @natashatmiller, of our upcoming Mask-erade Reading!

There's still time to RSVP, so get yourself over to the event on our Facebook page and go go go go go!

Image by @quinnkphoto ...

[ I just realized yesterday that I haven’t talked about my involvement with the_diatribe this year! Time for that to change 😤

I’ve been working as a communications assistant and contracted photographer with this wonderful org since February. Seeing the work these folks do both bolster kids to be authentically, powerfully themselves while fulfilling the teaching artists and everyone involved? It’s magical - especially since I used to be one of those kids.

There are layers here to experience, and I truly think this organization has become a powerhouse of its own design. Thank you to the people who #UniteThroughDiatribe with me and I’m excited to continue this work with all of you! ]

SOTD: Universe // teebs ft. DayDream Masi ...

Beans, greens, potatoes, tomatoes, you name it! We want you to write it! Today's prompt is to write about your favorite food! If you have trouble finding inspiration, try writing as if you're talking to someone who has NEVER had, or heard of, the dish that you're writing about!
Tag our page and use our hashtags to get a shout out in our IG story! Let's #UniteThroughDiatribe and find a #CureThroughCommunity ♡ ...

Today wrapped up our #WritingToRightWrongs programming at Godwin Heights High School!

During the final session of each program, students are encouraged to share their poetry. It always blows us away how talented these young people are.

Some are shy, some have to work through their preconceived notions of what #poetry is and isn't, some are hesitant to share what they've written... but they push through.

We're so grateful for our teaching artists for the work they put in, the students for following along, their parents and educators for supporting their work, and our #donors for making all of this possible.

We continue to #UniteThroughDiatribe in schools, virtually AND in person, thanks to you.

Images by @quinnkphoto ...

With all of the negativity dominating the world these days, it can be difficult to spot signs of progress. What makes you optimistic about the future?

Even here, even now - you are growing.

Progress needs to be less about how perfectly we paint the outward picture of what we think we’re supposed to be. Lately, I have been starting to care more about how I feel opposed to what other people think. I believe it is a sign of growth that you’re able to stop living by an invisible set of rules set forth by people who do not have to walk in your shoes.

What would it take for you to truly feel alive each day?

#the49507project #49507project #thediatribe #mydiatribe #unitethroughdiatribe #muralsofinstagram #muralsofgr #grandrapidsmurals #michiganmurals #algerheights #segrandrapids #grandrapidsmi #grmi #grandrapidsblogger #grandrapidsart #michiganbloggers #whlgn #toneytonytone #theoldgoat #grandrapidsartist #muralsofgrandrapids #welovestreetart #michiganmurals #grusa #iheartgr #growthstrategy #signsofthetimes #progressoverperfection #ohheymamas #connectingcreativecuties #contentcreatorlife ...

Help send Nigella to Spellman College! Link in bio✨ (Swipe to see the prompt of the day & the prizes involved in our challenge) At the heart of everything we do in this organization is our students! This dynamic youth reached out to ask if we could share her college fund, so OF COURSE, we are doing just that! A snippet from the GoFundMe page: “My goal is to earn my bachelor's degree and utilize it to acquire a career that involves helping people and changing the world in order for every minority to have better access to their rights. I never thought I would get accepted into a historically black college/university. So, my acceptance to Spelman came as a surprise. If I could actually attend, it would be better than a dream come true!” Help send this brilliant young black woman to college, y’all! Over the years we have worked with her, we have watched her grow into such a force to be reckoned with. We hope you’ll support her in anyway you can! Link to her fund in our bio. #UniteThroughDiatribe to #CureThroughCommunity 🙏🏽✨ ...

#AboutLastNight 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥Woohoo!!! We did it!! Thank you to everyone who was sharing space with us, virtually & in person! Thank you to @newhollandbrew for hosting us! Huge thanks to everyone who donated, our organization wouldn’t be here without you! Those of you who might have missed things, head to our Facebook page to check out the recording, so you can get rid of your FOMO- check the last slide for our prompt of the day & #UniteThroughDiatribe to find a #CureThroughCommunity ...

These 3 are the gracious hosts of West Michigan’s most super exclusive event happening on April 23rd!! (Swipe for the prompt of the day!) We got Poets on Poets on Poets (Ft. @natashatmiller ), hosted by @fableistruth @gleasonrising & the poet laureate of Grand Rapids: @kydsaidit and we couldn’t be more excited if we tried!! Since we pride ourselves on being majorly inclusive as an organization, you know we couldn’t stop at giving our valued guests the benefit of a private poetry performance- so we’re bringing it to you LIVE! From our Facebook page as well as @newhollandbrew on April 23rd you can catch the reading of a lifetime!! If you are bummed you aren’t invited to the exclusive event, why not cheer yourself up by entering to win some dope prizes??!! Tag us in a post of you reading a poem inspired by any of our prompts this month & you might just #stayhome with a W! Don’t feel like writing? Got weak wrists?? Tap the link in our bio to donate to our organization any day this month & you can still enter to win! #UniteThroughDiatribe to #CureThroughCommunity ✨ ...

TONIGHT!! 🎉🎉🎉 Event link & donate link in our bio.
We are having our annual April Fun'raiser this evening, where we'll have Poets, on Poets, on Poets & our feature is @natashatmiller ! While we have been posting about how excited we are for that event, we want to zoom our focus as to why: our STUDENTS! When we ask for donations, this is why. At the heart of everything we do is our youth- those who will go forward to change tomorrow. We are not just looking for more funding to help our organization grow, we are asking for more funding so we can increase our reach to those who might not even know they are poets yet. This Fun'raiser event happens every April so we can fund our Summer Programming & ensure our students are able to attend FOR FREE! Help us reach more extraordinary youth today- donate to our organization (link in bio) #unitethroughdiatribe to find a #CureThroughCommunity 🔥 ...

THE WE ARE WATER WORKSHOP WAS A SUCCESS!!!!

This workshop taught students all about how to use poetry to deepen their understanding and connection with their local waterways and nature as a whole.

Of course, many thank-you's are due.

Thank you to everyone who came out to support the students; providing rides and being present means so much.

Thank you to Blandford Nature Center for working with us and for allowing us to use your beautiful spaces.

Thank you to the Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds - LGROW for partnering with us for this workshop.

Thank you to the donors for providing the funds to make this possible.

And thank you to the students for being such a passionate, dedicated bunch. We look forward to seeing you again!

#WeAreWater #UniteThroughDiatribe
Images by @quinnkphoto ...