Spoken City Podcast

Spoken City Podcast is turning up the volume on everyday creatives in UCity. Spoken City is based out of Northeast Charlotte, where some of the best artists, writers, thinkers, and leaders in our city reside. Creatives who are speaking their unique version of goodness into the world. You will meet them and hear their stories. Their stories of creating, living, and making a difference in our community in a unique way. You will hear about their process, how where they live influences them, and how they do it all in the context of a very real life. Whether you are a creative or a leader that needs some inspiration or you are a person who desires to do something more, to see and hear something more, listen in. You might find that you already have access to more than enough to create and make a difference right where you are. You are Spoken City. Led by Producers Jamaal Cowan and Juanita B. Green, inspired by the work of UCity Collective, Spoken City Podcast is hosted by brilliant local spoken word artists “Bluz” Boris Rogers, Hannah Hasan, and Jay (Junius) Ward. Each month, the hosts will sit down with a different creative from University City to discuss a wide range of topics and themes, exploring what it means to be a creative, what creativity can look like on a day-to-day basis, and the role that University City’s rich culture plays in influencing visionaries and ideation. Meet the Hosts: Boris “Bluz” Rogers is an Emmy Award-winning and three-time National Poetry Slam Champion poet. Channeling human experience into words, Bluz poetry is universal, reaching into the hearts of all. Bluz is also an incredible Voice-over talent who has worked with the Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Hornets, The National Museum of African American Music, and ESPN. Bluz has shared the stage with many distinguished poets and artists ranging from Nikki Giovanni to Outkast and, most recently, Freestyle Love Supreme. Constantly looking for the next innovative idea and the next creative project, Bluz is always ready to lend his talent and share his passion for entertaining and inspiring the world. Find Bluz online by following @bluzbluzbluz on Instagram and TikTok. Junious “Jay” Ward is a poet living in Charlotte, NC, and the author of Sing Me a Lesser Wound (Bull City Press) and Composition (Button Poetry). Jay is a National Poetry Slam champion, Individual World Poetry Slam champion, and Charlotte’s inaugural Poet Laureate. His poems can be found in Four Way Review, DIAGRAM, Columbia Journal, The Amistad, Diode Poetry Journal, and elsewhere. Find Jay online at jwardpoetry.com or follow @charlotte_poet on Instagram. Hannah Hasan is an award-winning master storyteller, spoken word poet, author, playwright, and creative facilitator who believes that our stories will set us free. She’s built an impressive and impactful career centered around using the arts of the written and spoken word to inspire, inform, educate, and empower audiences in her home state of North Carolina and throughout the United States. Hannah’s work centers around themes of home, social justice, racial justice, women's rights, and more. Find Hannah online at hannahhasan.com or follow @iamhannahhasan on Instagram and TikTok and @hannahhasan on Facebook.

Season Recap 01/05/2024

State of the Arts 12/08/2023

Libraries are Community Hubs 10/30/2023

Story Telling 10/10/2023

Youth In UCity 09/30/2023

University City: A Land of Opportunity 07/31/2023

Ingredients of Healthy Communities: Cocreating and Culture 06/30/2023

Urban Explorers in the QC 06/07/2023

Urban Explorers in the QC In a city there are so many things, incremental changes and dynamic moments, it is impossible to see it all... there’s always more to discover. Discovery, for some, is an art. It is the willingness to try something new, choosing to make the uncomfortability of newness the norm. We will talk about exploring and discovering with Angelique Gaines and Tom Hanchet. Each has deep experience with exploring Charlotte, NC. Tom is responsible for hosting notorious food tours in East Charlotte and exploring the city’s history as well as authoring the book: Sorting Out the New South City. Angelique has been instrumental in the development of CIty Walks, an annual event in Charlotte and many other cities during May, where community members meet to explore different neighborhoods and spaces throughout the community. Why should I explore the city? What are the places and spaces in University City to explore? What has surprised you in your discovery of University CIty? Angelique Gaines Angelique Gaines is a Research Associate at the , where she directs and conducts program evaluations and social science research projects in the Charlotte region on topics ranging from to the . In her role, she engages with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community, plans for projects, collects and manages data, conducts statistical and qualitative analysis, creates data visualizations and prepares publications and reports and related communication products. In addition to her research, Angelique directed the Institute’s community engagement initiative, City Walks for 6 years. invites residents to experience new neighborhoods through free, resident-led walks and explores a variety of themes, from Charlotte’s changing development to art, culture, architecture, food and history. Tom Hanchett Dr. Tom Hanchett is a community historian in Charlotte, best known for his book about Charlotte history: Sorting out the New South City — just out in a new Second Edition from UNC Press. Educated at Cornell University, University of Chicago, and UNC Chapel Hill, he especially enjoys working with community groups on neighborhood histories, museum exhibitions and walking tours. Check out his website: /episode/index/show/94d4eadd-5ced-40fb-ba7b-e5540fc8f254/id/27076107

Sticks and Bricks - How University City Was Made 05/01/2023

Sticks and Bricks - How University City Was Made Because each city is a living artifact, every city is unique. All cities are evolving, living, have the capacity for self-repair, and are products of diverse input and influence. In other words, there is not just one artist. What makes UCity unique? University City, although well within the boundaries of Charlotte, is sometimes seen as a city within the city. It has its own set of characteristics, its own history, and its own potentiality. In Episode 04, we will explore the topic of University City - As a City. We will explore the past and future of University City with two of Charlotte’s experts on urban places, Tobe Holmes and Mary Newsome. Each has a history with University City as well as a deep knowledge of what elements make a great city and how places evolve over time. Some of the themes and questions they will explore include What makes a city? Why was Ucity built the way it was? What influences shaped University City? What does it mean that a city can make no fatal mistakes? And what does the future hold for this city unto itself? GUESTS Mary Newsom Mary Newsom is a journalist with decades of experience writing on urban issues, focusing primarily on growth in the Charlotte region and the Sun Belt. She was an award-winning editorial writer, associate editor, op-ed columnist, and member of the editorial board at the Pulitzer Prize-winning Charlotte (N.C.) Observer. She left the newspaper in 2011 to serve as Director of Urban Policy Initiatives at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Urban Institute, the oldest and most prestigious research center at UNC Charlotte. She left the institute in 2018 to pursue freelance writing. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of North Carolina, she was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University in 2007-08 and in 2005-06, she was a Knight Fellow in Community Planning at the University of Miami School of Architecture. A longtime blogger, she writes The Naked City Blog () and chairs the board of trustees of the Charlotte Museum of History from 2013 to 2016 on the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation's Community Leadership Council. She was a consulting editor for the founding of , which examined global urban innovations. Her writing has appeared in CityLab, Next City, and Grist, among other publications. Today, Mary lives in Charlotte, retired from work, still writing and exploring. She also serves as the Board Chair for Center for the Living City. Mary: Twitter: @MaryNewsom Tobe Holmes Tobe Holmes is an urban planning and development expert and has spent the past seven years at University City Partners working towards building an even better community. Before joining University City Partners in Charlotte, NC, he held the position of Director of Historic South End for Charlotte Center City Partners, where he managed economic, community, and transportation development. He has a master’s degree in Regional Planning from Clemson University, focused on economic development. He completed a fellowship with the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy, focused on preserving and enhancing community character through redevelopment and reinvestment. Tobe is not as cool as Mary but hopes to achieve her coolness as his career continues to progress. Tobe: Twitter: @Tobe_Holmes /episode/index/show/94d4eadd-5ced-40fb-ba7b-e5540fc8f254/id/26704647

Women Creatives In UCity 03/31/2023

Women Creatives In UCity This month, we are turning up the volume on women creatives making place in UCity. Many people, moments, and events make UCity what it is. Episode 03 explores how women creatives cause UCity to be what it is and imagine together what it will be. The hosts and guests explore the intersection of art, creativity, and place-making. They raise powerful questions like "What is the responsibility of the city to the artist? And Of the artist to the city?" and "What is the difference between Place-knowing vs. Place-making?" They discuss UCity's public art scene and pull the veil back on what they think is next for UCity. You do not want to miss this episode. Tune in today! “Artists are capable of advancing the human condition. That’s different, perhaps, from what a scientist does, which is about finding new knowledge and sharing it in different ways. If we are trying to advance the human condition, it has to be about a sense of place. A very specific relationship to a group of people, their story, and what’s trying to be told in that way.” -Rachel Dickey Guest Speakers Rachel Dickey is an Associate Professor in the School of Architecture and founder of Studio Dickey, a Charlotte-based art and design practice. The practice uniquely consists of students and professionals collaboratively working on the design and production of creative works. Dickey’s academic research and professional practice involve projects of varied scales, from furniture to urban design. Her work is characterized by the synthesis of architecture, digital art, and design appropriated towards innovative material interfaces for the built environment. Dickey received a Masters of Design Studies from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture, and Masters of Architecture from Georgia Institute of Technology. Dickey has previously taught as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Cornell University and at Ball State University as the Design Innovation Fellow. Read More about Rachel & See her work here: and Janeva Tyree is an artist residing in Charlotte, NC. Born in Washington D.C. with a paint brush in her hand, Janeva has a BFA in Illustration from Savannah College of Art and Design. She has developed storyboards, designed graphic logos, curated set designs, published children's illustrations, created three-dimensional art installations, painted murals, and taught arts and culture workshops. Noted works of Janeva include murals advocating for women's and civil rights in Charleston, Columbia, and Florence, South Carolina, storyboards used for educational tools at Harvard University, becoming a 2023 TEDx Speaker on the importance of art in public spaces, as well as projects giving back through art in the community. Janeva's mission is to create timeless art that documents history, breaks conventional chains, and starts conversations leading toward action. "Art that Sparks: Conversation. Connection. Creativity. Community." Read about Janeva and her work here: Find her on Instagram @ Georgie Nakima is a self-taught multidisciplinary artist based in Charlotte, NC. She attended Winston-Salem State University, where she studied life sciences. Her inspiration is drawn from ranging sources from contemporary art to street art and animation. Today, she uses art to visualize the interconnectedness of communities and their environment on a micro and macro level. Her work builds an ecosystem of visual landscapes that explores the healing nature of color theory and geometric motifs. The thesis of this work is rooted in Afrofuturism as an offering to encourage uplifting and resilient representation across the Diaspora. This work is created to remind us of the intersectionality of our shared world, one that requires balance between all life forms to thrive as vibrantly as her painted fields. As a public artist, her personal goal is to create murals and sculptures on every continent in a language that expresses the social narrative of history while inspiring a sustainable future. Read about Georgie and her work here: Find her on Instagram @gardenofjourney /episode/index/show/94d4eadd-5ced-40fb-ba7b-e5540fc8f254/id/26371662

UCity Business Creatives 02/28/2023

UCity Business Creatives This episode is dripping with gold gems from UCity local and Charlotte Fit Owner Taylor Calamese. Taylor, along with Hosts Jay Ward and Hannah Hasan, turns up the volume on business owners as creatives in the UCity area. Often, people see being a creative as relegated to painting, poetry, and the like. However, the part of us as humans that creates --that ever-present creative faculty that exists in each of us --is also at work when we build businesses, serve our fellow man, and create change in the world. What does it mean to be creative in the world of business-making and fitness? This is what we will explore in this month's episode! "You build a business, but at a certain point, it's not yours anymore. It takes on its own life. It takes on its own energy, its own identity. Charlotte Fit is a space that I enjoy coming to. It's a space where I glean motivation, hope, support, and community. To experience that... it's something you can never get by just reading the website." -Taylor Calamese, Owner of Charlotte Fit Guest Speaker Taylor Calamese is a Charlotte native and the owner of Charlotte FIT-a boutique fitness company catering to individuals who desire a personal approach and customized workout experience. With a Master's Degree in Kinesiology, formerly known as Exercise Sport Science, Taylor implements motivational techniques to promote healthy lifestyle practices among various populations. She is a dedicated professional in the health and fitness industry and holds certifications as an Exercise Physiologist, Weight Management Specialist, and Fitness Nutrition Specialist. Her specific areas of focus are weight management, muscular development, toning, and sculpting. Taylor is widely known for her innovative workouts that promote fat loss and help clients effectively reach their health goals. In addition to personal training, Taylor is a Professor at Central Piedmont Community College, where she teaches Health and Physical Education courses. She also instructs and certifies future health professionals to become Personal Fitness Trainers for World Instructor Training Schools (WITS). Taylor's ultimate goal is to improve the health of communities on a global scale and push the standard of care and knowledge in the health and fitness industry. Find Taylor online at: and on Instagram: @prettyfit_trainer, @charlottefitsouth, @charlottefitnorth Spoken City Hosts Hannah Hasan: | IG and Tiktok : @iamhannahhasan | Junious "Jay" Ward: IG @charlotte_poet Boris "Bluz" Rogers: IG/TikTok @bluzbluzbluz Thank you to our producers, and , and our sponsor, University City Partners, for making this episode possible. /episode/index/show/94d4eadd-5ced-40fb-ba7b-e5540fc8f254/id/26083803

Let's Get It Started 01/28/2023

Spoken City Podcast

TOPICS