Love for New York’s Waterways: Stories from the Stoop
Organized with Billion Oyster Project
June 15, 5:30-7pm
Nolan Park, Governors Island
Rain location: The Arts Center at Governors Island, Studio A4
FREE, Drop-In
Accessibility: All Governors Island ferries and the grounds of the island, are wheelchair accessible. Additional accessibility information is available on the Trust for Governors Island website.
Inspired by the often overlooked experiences of African-American maritime workers - Love for NY’s Waterways: Stories from the Stoop is a Moth-style storytelling and open mic event that celebrates the legacy of the African-American water stewards of New York.
The Stoop Stories event aimed to celebrate Juneteenth, while raising awareness about the Billion Oyster Project and highlighting the rich history of New York's waterfront. Stoop Stories revolved around the intertwining narratives of the New York waterfront, environmental activism, cultural heritage, and personal experiences. Through the diverse perspectives of our storytellers, we aimed to weave together a tapestry of stories that illuminated the past, present, and future of our city's maritime landscape, celebrating its resilience and diversity. The event was grounded in the experiences and perspectives of individuals of color and indigenous water stewards but welcomed everyone to share stories about their relationship to NY waterways.
Through the power of storytelling, we seek to encourage more people to explore the maritime industry and view New York Harbor as a shared recreational space, fostering a sense of community and connection to our 'commons.'
Presented in partnership with Billion Oyster Project.
Accessibility: Stories were interpreted in ASL by SignNexus, the official ASL sponsor of LMCC.
Billion Oyster Project is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to restore oyster reefs to New York Harbor through public education initiatives. Billion Oyster Project’s vision is of a future in which New York Harbor is the center of a rich, diverse, and abundant estuary. The communities that surround this complex ecosystem have helped construct it, and in return, benefit from it, with endless opportunities for work, education, and recreation. The harbor is a world-class public space, well used and well cared for—our Commons.
