June 15, 2021
Expose Not Exploit
Last Saturday, the documentary All These Sons premiered at Tribeca Film Festival, highlighting the power of the ConTextos’ Authors journey. And this Friday, June 18,…
February 16, 2021
Hard Histories
This piece was written during circle in our new program Into A Black Beyond. IABB is a digital reading & writing circle for Black Chicagoans…
November 25, 2020
A Letter of Gratitude
And yet, in both of these places ConTextos calls home where we work with those who are bearing the deepest wounds we find illuminating hope.…
November 17, 2020
Open Circle Author published in the Las Vegas Sun!
We are excited to share this piece written by Craig Hall, one of our most consistent Open Circle participants. Craig submitted this piece written during…
October 2, 2017
A PIECE OF EL SALVADOR IN CHICAGO
When I got ready to go into Cook County Jail in Chicago, I went through the same check-over I do for prisons in El Salvador. No…
October 2, 2017
A PIECE OF CHICAGO IN EL SALVADOR
Two days ago, I attended a Publication Celebration in Apanteos prison in El Salvador. Ten days ago, I attended a Publication Celebration at Division 10…
April 18, 2017
31 STORIES IN 10 WEEKS.
It’s like walking through a dark tunnel with your arms out,reaching for the closest object to hold on to so that you don’t fall. Like…
March 23, 2017
MS. MCCAMPBELL GOES TO JAIL
Yesterday, my high school English teacher came with me to Cook County Jail. “No one else can write what you do, if the story comes…
February 13, 2017
DONE GOOD. DONE BAD. BOTH SUCCESSFULLY.
I often talk about literature as a vehicle to develop empathy. And in class the other day, I really experienced it: the power of text-based-dialogue…
January 27, 2017
THE APPLICATION PROCESS
Forty-five detainees completed the Soy Autor application today at Cook County Jail. Forty five out of the 60 who have been invited to apply (we…
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