Find Your Way: LEI’s Fifth Creative Community Challenge
Lake Erie Ink’s fifth Creative Community Challenge has begun! We are thrilled to continue this project that brings together creative work from across our community. The month-long call for submissions culminates in a display or work in a local storefront and a printed anthology. Submissions are open to all ages and any genre of written or artistic work (up to 500 words) on the theme “Find Your Way.” How do you find your way? What do you carry with you?
The submission deadline is July 10. For more information and a list of prompts visit https://lakeerieink.org/creative-community-challenge/.
Write Your Story: College Essays
Get a head start on next year with Lake Erie Ink’s College Essay Workshops for teens! Writing essays for college admissions can be a daunting task. Lake Erie Ink’s workshops help students build confidence as they explore personal narratives. College Essay Workshops will be hosted virtually in June and July. Join us for writing exercises that will help you tell your unique story!
Visit https://lakeerieink.org/summer/ for more information and registration.
Growing Fresh Ink This Summer
Lake Erie Ink’s young professionals board is gearing up for summer! Fresh Ink members promote Lake Erie Ink’s mission and events, organize fundraisers, and volunteer throughout the organization. It’s a great way to support Lake Erie Ink and get experience with nonprofits. Fresh Ink will have an open meeting on June 8 from 5:30-7 at Lake Erie Ink’s site for those interested in joining. Come help us plan our next fun event!
Contact astar@lakeerieink.org for more information.
Inclusion and Embracing our Community
Lake Erie Ink would be nothing without our Cleveland Heights community. Here are a couple ways we stay involved and continue to be inclusive!
- Creative Community Challenges – Lake Erie Ink has been working for 10 years to build a creative youth community. In the summer of 2020, we came up with a way to inspire the community using a common theme. We call this our Creative Community Challenge. Our sixth challenge will be announced later in June! Learn more about Creative Community Challenges here!
- In an effort to create safe creative spaces for LGBTQIA+ youth and allies, Lake Erie Ink has launched two summer opportunities. Inside Out, a writing group for queer folk and allies, meets virtually Monday nights from 6:30 – 8 PM. Pride OUTside is a program in which teens will spread pride in the Cleveland Area through community art installations, meaningful conversations and creative writing workshops. Each participant will receive a $50 dollar stipend in completion of the 6 day series to assist in personal projects that will continue to create space for pride awareness and community conversations. Learn more about both Inside out and Pride OUTside here!
- Looking to explore literacy from the comfort of your own home? Lake Erie Ink has a video series all about exciting books by BIPOC authors and poets with guest poets popping in! Check out Playing with a Purpose! Learn more about Playing with a Purpose here!
Creative Expression Opportunities for Teens
Lake Erie Ink’s teen programs offer youth in 6th-12th grade the opportunity to come together to write and share their work in a variety of ways. Here are a couple of the opportunities available this summer!
- What’s Your Story? Discover Your Voice College Essay Workshops – What’s Your Story? will help youth learn how to express themselves creatively. Through writing exercises and creative activities participants will get used to writing about themselves! join us Wednesday, 6/15, 6/29 , 7/13, 7/27 from 6-7:30 PM. Learn more here!
- Teen Book Project/Teen Editorial Board – Lake Erie Ink’s teen editorial board is a group of high school students who gather submissions of original teen writing and compile them into a professional publication. Editorial board members have the chance to learn first hand about the editing process and publishing industry while giving voice to youth from across the region. The editorial board then meets regularly to choose a theme, collect submissions and organize and publish the book, which is released in the spring. In June, we will be launching our newest publication of teen work, Blur!
- Art Express – Explore Cleveland’s vibrant art scene, reflecting through digital and literary mediums in this Summer Camp for youth grades 8-12. The group will meet regularly Monday, July 18, through Thursday, August 5, 1-4 PM Monday through Thursdays. Learn more and register here!
Lake Erie Ink Works with Community Organizations
Lake Erie Ink is engaging with the community this summer. Check out two programs built on partnerships!
- Word Gardeners
- 6/13 – 6/24 | 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Grades 1-3 | Free
- Explore the garden through words, movement and color. This camp is paid in part by a grant provided by Future Heights!
- Creative Trailblazers
- 7/25 – 8/5 | 10 AM – 12:30 PM | Grades 3-8 Free | @ the DCC Cultural Arts Center in Cleveland Heights
- Find your way through an art and writing expedition in this partnership program held at Disciples Church
Summer Ink, Registration Open – Fun with Words and Images!
This summer, Lake Erie Ink is ready to dive into creative expression!
We’ve worked hard to create programs that will meet youth needs at all grade levels while accommodating a variety of schedules and safety concerns.
Lake Erie Ink Creative Expression Camps run from June 13 – August 5. All camps will be held at the Coventry Peace Campus, 2843 Washington Blvd., Cleveland Heights, Ohio, 44118 unless otherwise noted. All camps run Mondays through Fridays during the selected dates unless otherwise noted.
For Kids
Word Gardeners
6/13 – 6/24 | 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Grades 1-3
Explore the garden through words, movement and color.
Comics for Kids
6/13 – 6/24 | 1 PM – 4 PM | Grades 1-3
Discover the basic elements of comics. Design and create your own comics.
Creature Creations
7/18 – 7/29 | 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Grades 1-3
Make Creatures and share their stories merging art and writing.
Young Novelists
7/25 – 8/5 | 1-4 PM | Grades 3-8
Write your novel from start to finish. Learn about literary styles and writing.
Creative Trailblazers
7/25 – 8/5 | 10 AM – 12:30 PM | Grades 3-8 Free | @ the DCC Cultural Arts Center in Cleveland Heights
Find your way through an art and writing expedition.
For Teens
Comics ‘N’ Zines
7/18 – 7/29 | 1-4 PM | Grades 6-12
Design + create comics and personal zines.
Stage and Screen
7/5 – 7/15 | 1-4 PM | Grades 6-12
Dive into the art of script.
Art Express
7/18 – 8/5 | 1-4 PM | Grades 8-12
Explore Cleveland’s vibrant art scene, reflecting through digital and literary mediums.
Pride Outside
6/15 – 7/27 | Wednesdays | 6:30 – 8 PM | Grades 6-12 | Free
Spread Pride in the Cleveland area through creative and community based projects.
Inside Out: Writers Group for LGBTQIA+ Teens & Allies
6/13 – 7/25 | Mondays | 6:30 – 8 PM | Grades 6-12 | Free | Virtual
Build community and write with other LGBTQ+ teens and allies.
COST
The registration fee for each in person camp is $180. Exceptions are noted.
Scholarships and discounts are available. You will get a $10 discount per sibling or $10 off your second camp.
Questions
Contact Charisse Bailey, Program Director at 216-320-4757 or cbailey@lakeerieink.org
Go Bananas With Lake Erie Ink!
Get ready to GO BANANAS! Join us for Go Bananas Weekend! on April 29 and 30th and play Bananagrams in honor of Lake Erie Ink! We have a limited number of slots to play GIANT BANANAGRAMS live with your friends and family on April 30. Tickets are $150 for a 1.5 hour timeslot and a referee will be provided!
Learn more and donate today by clicking here!
Lake Erie Ink at the Movies!
We are proud to share that we are a Community Partner for the 46th Cleveland International Film Festival. We are a community sponsor for MARVELOUS AND THE BLACK HOLE, available in person at CIFF46 at Playhouse Square April 1 & 2.
Tickets will go on sale to the public at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 18. Use discount code INK for $1 off each ticket purchase for Marvelous and the Black Hole at that time!
Poems in Print with Arthouse and Spaces!
Join us for a FREE poetry and printmaking session with Spaces Gallery and Arthouse! The event will be at Spaces on April 9 & April 23 from 10:30 – 12, open to all ages! Participants will write poems and print them in this one-of-a-kind workshop! Sign up today for one of both of the sessions! Learn more: https://www.arthouseinc.