Scholars Work With Urban Appalachian Coalition Writers, Artists and Musicians

Charitable Words Scholars will work on a storytelling and awareness project to spread the word about The Urban Appalachian Coalition’s work in Greater Cincinnati,

Charitable Words is excited to welcome two new Charitable Words Scholars — Niara Jones, a freshman biology major at Xavier University, and Maddie Greenwood, a University of Cincinnati freshman who plans to major in anthropology or environmental science. The two have teamed up with Literary Lydia’s — a weekly initiative that aims to showcase the works of emerging writers, artists and musicians in the Greater Cincinnati community.

The pairing is a perfect fit for Niara and Maddie, both of whom are passionate about literacy and the arts.

Niara Jones, Xavier University

Maddie says it was her grandmother who prompted her interest in literature, as she taught her the importance of reading and writing, while it was Niara’s father who was responsible for triggering her passion. He regularly read her Shel Silverstein’s Where the Sidewalk Ends, and by the time Niara hit seventh grade, she says she began writing her own poetry.

Maddie Greenwood University of Cincinnati

“My love for poetry is unexplainable,” Jones says. “I am beyond excited to be able to share my love and passion with people who share a similar interest.” Niara hopes to host Middle Mic! — an open mic night on the second and third Thursdays of each month — in which Literary Lydia’s opens the floor of Clifton’s Om Eco Café at 329 Ludlow Avenue to any and all individuals who want a platform in which to showcase their work.

Hosting an open mic night will enable Niara to not only present her own work, but it will allow her to gather a crowd of her peers — college students — together to further promote Literary Lydia’s. And that’s one of Literary Lydia’s goals — extending the reach of its weekly happenings with marketing and communications-based assistance from Charitable Words Scholars.

According the group’s creator, Kelly Thomas, “Literary Lydia’s focuses on giving people an outlet for self expression, community outreach and celebrating creative expression.”

It’s not just through open mic nights, however, through which Literay Lydia’s reaches the community, as it features Headliners on the fourth Thursday of each month and has teamed up with the Urban Appalachian Community Coalition (UACC) for a Literary Salon on the first Thursday of each month. The UACC, which was founded in 1974 works to promote quality of life for Appalachian migrants and their descendants in the Greater Cincinnati community, while also highlighting positive images of Urban Appalachian people and their heritage.

During the April 7 Literary Salon, Literary Lydia’s will host Michael Maloney, a leader within the UACC, who will present A New God for our Time — a reading and conversation detailing his own spiritual journey. And on May 5, an Urban Appalachian Singer/Songwriter Night is scheduled. Musicians, listeners, and lovers of all genres are encouraged to join the fun and can even participate in a jam session if they so choose. For more information about Literary Lydia’s and events scheduled for Thursday evenings, check out the group’s Facebook page.

Charitable Words has connected more than 30 nonprofits with 70 students and recent graduates and hundreds of hours of pro bono engagement by our network of volunteer advisors. Their impact has been evident. Yet to be measured: The lifelong impact of purposeful scholarship, internship and special assignment experiences on their personal growth, and how much they will give back to their communities over time.

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The Charitable Words Scholars Fund

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