The TSAL Quarterly Remix (December 2022)

MORE SOUL FOOD THE QUARTERLY REMIX

ArtistCredit:AsiaAmour

ArtistCredit:AsiaAmour

READER SOUL CHECK

A FEW RESPONSES FROM THE TSAL TEAM

WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE FOR YOU TO COMMIT TO LOVE AS A LIBERATORY (COMMUNAL) PRACTICE?“

BILL

My liberated space is really a time It is a time at some point in the future where we have turned a corner as a society: A time when we no longer look at each other as potentialothers. A time when we have given up the need to feel superior in exchange for the chance to feel of service A time when our response to inequity is not to ignore it out of shame, but to end it out of duty. This vision is what refreshes me when it seems like forces are arrayed to bend the arc of the universeawayfromjustice

EVELYN

My liberated space is with my day ones (the Sinister, Losh + Jerry) laughing, smiling, crying and returning to a hood club in a neighborhood on the other side oftheworld.

DR. MARTHA

Myliberatedspaceiswhenmyheartisopen, and I have a sense of being interconnected toothersandtheenvironment.

BRITTANY

I have 2 Liberated Spaces The first is a real place I have a spot at the Ohio Erie Canal Reservation where I like to sit by the moving water surrounded by the trees on a breezy late Spring day (not too hot yet), with Golden Time of Day by Maze playing on repeat I also like to birdwatch at this location (NEO is one of the best spots for birdwatching in the country!) Connecting with nature helps me get super clear about major decisions thatIneedtomake.

My imagined Liberated Space is my futurehomestead where I'll grow food, raise chickens, goats, and cattle, keep bees, and reverse osmosis our water Sustainability and liberation go hand-in-hand to me, so I'm always looking for ways to create a more sustainable environment for my family A homestead is myultimateideaofsustainabilityandsufficiency.

DOMINIQUE

My liberated space is anywhere I am alone with my mind + spirit and engaging in my spiritual practice The solitude, lack of distractions, and focus provides a space to hone in on what is truly most important and release everything else. The tethers of the material world dissolve and I become free from tangible requirements created by the social structure we live in Though I know they exist, I recognize I am not bound by them and am reminded that I am here to serve and support others while on my journey.

I also envision a physical space designed to freely engage in various forms of artistry (painting, drawing, photography), space to dance, and a comfortable area to nestle in and read. It's a colorful room of blues, greens, and yellows with natural light and a viewofrichgreensoutthewindow Blankets and pillows are in abundance, ready to engulfmewhenneeded,perhapsforanap

SETH

To me, a liberated space is one where anyone regardless of race, class, gender identity or expression, orientation, country of origin, religion, physical + mental ability, language, age has the welcome + the power to be the target audience, the performer, the event organizer, or even to build out the space themselves I've been in lots of joyful spaces, but I'm not sure I've ever been in a truly liberated space. But we shoulddefinitelykeepworkingtogetthere!

engages

in a critical analysis of how racism disempowers Latino, Latina, Latinx people hindering both our personal well-being and our communities’ development. The workshop offers insights into the cultural backdrop of race and racism in Latin America that shapes our identity today regardless of our place of birth. We examine how people of Latin American origin, like people of all other ethnicities, have been racialized and racially situated in the US. We deconstruct how the US Census uses “Hispanic ethnicity” and “Race” as a political instrument to engineer racial demographics. Also, we highlight how our culture, identity and histories of struggle are vital sources of strength for Latinx individuals, families and communities. Throughout, we emphasize how racism divides Latinos and African Americans, undermining crossracial solidarity required to create racial equity and to strengthen our growing multi-racial, multi-cultural, multigenerational movement for social transformation.

DEEP ROOTS EXHIBITION

“Generations” is a show dedicated to the artist and their families. We invited artists to create works with their children, parents, nieces and so on that represented their collaborative efforts. So excited to engage the community and share what generations working together can produce.

From May 7th to May 29th 2022, Thirdspace Action Lab hosted a series of artist talks with the creators.

Generations Artist Talk hosted by TSAL on June 25th, 2022

"What began as a focus group for our Chocolate City Cleveland project has become a monthly “reality check” for Team TSAL. We provide the lunch and our Community provides the Soul Food inspiration, advice, memories that unlock new insights into well-known historical events and/or figures. This year, we were able to bring in a few guest speakers + even had a surprise visit from Mayor Bibb! I’m excited to continue building on the momentum + deep engagement next year, and looking forward to creating more opportunities for us to learn together with our Elders.”

— MORDECAIL CARGILL, TSAL CO-FOUNDER AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR

WAKANDA FOREVER SCREENING

Our team at ThirdSpace Action Lab is honored to support the Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival (GCUFF) in their screening of Wakanda Forever to effect critical narrative change by showcasing the richness and multiplicity of Black stories.

RECAP

CLEVELAND KIDS CAN'T WAIT

ThirdSpace Action Lab is proud to be a partner in Mayor Justin Bibb's Community Listening Tour. ThirdSpace gathered feedback during focus group sessions with Cleveland families, students, and educators that represented all 17 wards in the City of Cleveland — engaging more than 250 community members. The final report will be used by City leadership in service to improving the education system for Cleveland Metropolitan School District families amid pandemic-impacted learning.

RUNTEENTH2022 RECAP

The goal of Runteenth is to get Black runners more comfortable with joining and interacting with the running groups in our area, which consist of predominantly non-Black runners. We also want the running groups in the area to be more welcoming to a diverse running community that may feel isolated. With that being said, we're going to continue with these positive steps forward on Juneteenth!

RECAP

CLEVELAND VOTES: GET OUT AND VOTE

As we know, historically and in the present day, there have been many oppositions put in place as a deterrence. These various acts of suppression and obstacles have identified the need for Civic Holidays such as National Voter Registration Day and Vote Early Day.

For years, organizing collaboratives have advocated for their communities to increase important factors such as voter turnout. This in conjunction with voter education, and engagement is the push we need to continue our growth in democracy.

READI ROOM

“Each of the spaces at TSA space, ” says ThirdSpace designer Celia Williamso design is consistent with of the co-founders and th your first space, work is y and you have to have an this is that space. We gather, relax, unwind, and

Space Reading Room began as repository of articles, videos, and other resources which how current-day racial equity is impacting industries, nd hot societal issues.

CPL WRITERS & READERS:

WRITERS AND READERS: ASHLEY C. FORD

PICTURE / GRAPHIC GOES HERE

ThirdSpace Action Lab hosted Ashley C. Ford as part of the Cleveland Public Library's Writers & Readers series!

Ashley C. Ford is a writer, host, and educator who lives in Indianapolis, Indiana. Her New York Times best-selling memoir, Somebody’s Daughter, was published by Flatiron Books in June 2021.

BOOK WEEK R

BY HARRY ATWELL, TSAL COMMUN

In true celebratory fashion and tradition, ThirdSpace kicked off its annual schedule of summer festivities during Juneteenth weekend. However, the 2022 summer kick off was truly an exciting and very special one indeed. After a nearly two year hiatus, we were able to relaunch our monthly Intergenerational Lunch and Freedom Friday community events within the space. Guests coming back for the first time were ushered into a brand new interior designed by close friend of ThirdSpace, Celia Williamson. Filled with light, color, warmth and texture, the sunny main room has been appointed with plush, comfortable seating areas to foster the exchange of ideas and enhance connections and conversations with one other over.

The transformation of this space was then completed with the grand opening of the ThirdSpace Reading Room bookstore; fully activating the first floor of The Madison building. The ThirdSpace Reading Room, currently the only bookstore in the Glenville neighborhood, offers a selection of both new and previously loved books in a wide array of genres for readers of all ages. Our doors have only been open for a short while but thanks to the kind and generous support of our community, we’ve been able to celebrate many milestones during our first six months of operation; some of which I’d like to share with you, now.

BOOK WEEK

RECAP

GREAT LAKES AFRICAN-AMERICANS WRITERS CONFERENCE

The Business of Black Books was a panel discussion attended by TSAL co-founder and creative director. The panel discussion was part of the 2022 Great Lakes African American Writer's Conference.

READINGROOMAUTHORTALKS

AUTHOR TALK: NADIA OWUSU

We joined TSAL + ThirdSpace Reading Room co-founder + CEO Evelyn Burnett for an evening in conversation with Nadia Owusu and a celebration of ioby (in our backyards). Guests had a chance to hear select passages from Nadia's NYT best-selling book Aftershocks to engage in conversation about the book, writing and creativity, women's activism and service.

THE WORK

LIVING CITIES CLOSING THE GAP CONVENING

Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor speaks to how the racial wealth gap was created, why it persists, and how institutions can leverage strategies to create racially equitable outcomes. Dr. Taylor encouraged the Living Cities cohort to account for the influence of systemic challenges on programmatic approaches to homeownership policy. TSAL has helped Living Cities' cohort to develop solutions with systems in mind, and looks forwardtocontinuingworkwithleadersacrossthecountry.

KEEANGA-YAMAHTTA TAYLOR SCHOLAR | AUTHOR | ACTIVIST

"The racial wealth gap is real. And its existence is further evident of the profound racism and inequality that contains to define our society."

TSAL

MIND

TheIntellectualWork

FROM OUR CONSULTANTS: THE WORK

OHIO ARTIST ACTIVISM STRATEGY EXPLORATION

ThirdSpace Action Lab (TSAL) assisted Ohio Transformation Fund (OTF) in defining the organization’s Artist Activism Strategy. TSAL collaborated with Shooting Without Bullets (SWOB) in an exploration into OTF’s existing and potential relationships with grassroots Artist Activists and culture bearers to understand how to catalyze movement building and policy change through the arts. Arts Activist/Activism creates pathways to fill gaps with art. The artist and their activism raises the political consciousness of their network and the public broadly.

ThirdSpace Action Lab (TSAL) joined the New Growth Innovation Network in Newark, NJ as a facilitator and thought-partner during their October Team Retreat. Over the course of a day, TSAL and NGIN built relationships and trust to begin to engage in meaningful dialogue about improving the economic prosperity of indigenous and Black communities, nationally.

CULTURAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT LEARNING PARTNERSHIP CONVENINGS

In partnership with the Kresge Foundation, ThirdSpace Action Lab invited members of the Cultural Community Development Learning Partnership cohorts to reflect on the successes, challenges and lessons learned about liberatory practice(s).

MOVING FORWARD: 2023RDSPACE

Our 4th year in operations was our busiest on record. We began our largest client engagement to date, working with a national foundation to develop an explicitly antiracist community development funding strategy. We co-designed + launched multiple Community of Praxis experiments to uncover new insights into the ways community + economic development practitioners across the country (and across sectors) are attempting to disrupt the racial wealth gap. We hosted a monthly rap session with our Elders throughout the summer to learn about “The Good Ole Days” and dream together about the bright days to come in Chocolate City Cleveland. And, as if we needed more things to keep us busy, we chose to celebrate Juneteenth by opening a bookstore!

The pages in this quarterly issue offer a small glimpse into some of the work our (growing) team of problem-solving leaders have been nurturing. There are many more exciting updates to share that will have to wait until we’re together again in our Liberated Space on 105. That said, we have a big idea coming in the days + weeks remaining in 2022 that will signal another milestone in TSAL’s community collaboration practice 2023rdSpace: a year–long Soul Working Celebration. Stay tuned!

Sending you Peace + Love + Soul Power this holiday season, and always,

MORDECAI CARGILL, TSAL CO-FOUNDER AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR

ArtistCredit:JacobLawrence

Artist Credit: Dayz Whun