BABS’LAB in Partnership with NEFIRA and YAYA Productions
present the SEPTEMBER STORY SLAM

Sponsored by North East Florida Immigration Resource Alliance,
an organization dedicated to supporting immigrants on their journey towards
informed, stable, and civically engaged lives.

Exciting news! We're teaming up with NEFIRA to bring you a special September Story Slam on Saturday, Sept 30th at BABS’LAB.. Join us in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with the theme Crossings - Immigrant Stories. This month-long celebration, from September 15 to October 15, 2023, honors the incredible contributions of Latino and Hispanic communities to American society.

And that's not all! As part of the festivities, an inspiring art exhibit produced by YAYA Productions and curated by Deborah Reid featuring talented Hispanic artists will be showcased on the HEARTBEAT GALLERY walls.

Together, let's amplify voices, share experiences, and build bridges of understanding.

THEME: CROSSINGS ~ Immigrant Stories ( All nationalities are invited to shares their crossing stories)

WHEN: Saturday, September 30

RECEPTION: 6:30 PM ART + FOOD + LIBATIONS

PERFORMANCE: 8 PM

TICKETS: $16.00

barbaracolaciello.com/register/babslabseptstoryslam-2023

WHAT'S A STORY SLAM?

A story slam is a live storytelling friendly competition similar to poetry slams. Storytellers have 5 to 7 minutes each to tell a TRUE personal story based on a THEME chosen for the event without the use of notes.

HOW IT WORKS

•Every story slam event has a THEME.

•Audience members can prepare a story and enter their name in a hat or decide to sit back and listen.

•8 - 10 people's names are picked from the hat.

•At the end of the evening the audience votes for their favorite storyteller.

• The winner receives a $25.00 gift certificate.

STORY SLAM RULES

•Five minute stories are required. If you go over there will be a 2 minute grace period. It would be a shame if we didn’t hear the ending.

•Tell us a story that has a conflict with a resolution or lesson.

•Pick a story where the stakes are high and you were emotionally invested.

•No ranting, or sermonizing.

•No notes. You won’t need them. It’s your story. Speak from your heart and Invest in what you say.

•No props. Just you.

ABOUT NEFIRA
The Northeast Florida Immigrant Resource Alliance (NEFIRA) provides informational resources and assistance to immigrant individuals and families in need of community services. Partnering with community leaders, local professionals, organizations and government agencies NEFIRA co-creates with immigrant individuals and families a pathway to be fully informed and live self-sufficient lives. NEFIRA supports immigrants on their pathway to stability so that they may then invest time and resources back in their own community, engage civically and vote.

ABOUT YAYA PRODUCTIONS
Yaya Productions is a Jacksonville, Florida-based Events and Promotions company with a strong community focus. They specialize in creating educational and family-friendly events that bring the community together. Some of their well-known events include Viva La Fiesta, Jacksonville's only Hispanic festival, and Art In The Park, which has been voted as the best art festival in the area. Additionally, Yaya Productions actively supports and promotes small, minority-owned businesses in Jacksonville, demonstrating their dedication to community engagement and entrepreneurship. They serve as a go-to resource for all event-related needs in the region.

ABOUT BABS’LAB
BABS'LAB is a place for experimentation, training, and performance, a place where the community comes together to witness work that uplifts, breaks barriers, and crosses lines. Founder and Artistic Director Barbara Colaciello began her career as the Advertising Director of Andy Warhol's Interview Magazine at The Factory in New York City. For over two decades, Barbara has written, directed, produced, and performed socially engaged theater that contributes to vital conversations in the Jacksonville community. Through the practice of storytelling, she engages performers and audiences in examining complex themes in much more nuanced ways than our local and national discourses often allow.

Questions: babslab@barbaracolaciello.com