Writer, Educator, and Storyteller
March 13th is a double KJ day.
In addition to our first No, YOU Tell It! student matinee in the afternoon, I’m reading from my memoir-in-progress, After After Prom, that evening at the Italian American Writers Association. Don’t let the “Fitzsimmons” fool you; I’m half Italian.
The open mic starts at 6 p.m. Join us!
Next month, I’m producing our first No, YOU Tell It! student matinee on March 13 at Symphony Space.
This special show is for the junior class at Global Learning Collaborative and features all NYTI alum storytellers.
I’ve been working with the students on their college essays and can’t wait for them to experience the power of personal storytelling on stage. Follow No, YOU Tell It! on Bluesky for more news and behind-the-scenes looks at the show!
I am proud to be working with researchers from Brown University as a storytelling coach on a video series highlighting the personal stories of people 55 and older who have found healthy ways to live with chronic pain. Please share the call for stories!
More information on the project and how to get involved at:
https://www.butler.org/studies/reclaim-your-day-study
I’d love your help spreading the word to anyone 55 and older in the U.S. interested in sharing their stories to benefit others living with chronic pain.
As noted in a recent NY TIMES article, as many as two billion people worldwide suffer from chronic pain. Yet, too many feel like they have to figure things out alone.
The aim here is what storytelling does best: help people with chronic pain connect with and learn from people like them.
Connect with me on BLUESKY for updates on this project and other KJ writerly news. I’m happy to answer questions!
Looking back on an incredible year of No, YOU Tell It! Watch these 2024 highlights.
2025 news soon! Please keep us in mind for your end-of-year giving. DONATE HERE.
Did you happen to hear me on WNYC’s Food Memoirs series?
Mine was one of several recently aired stories recorded on 34th Ave Open Streets as part of Queens Memory‘s Open House New York Weekend program.
This series asks New Yorkers to share stories behind favorite family recipes. Listen here.
Listen to my story here!
A definite 2024 highlight was designing and co-leading the “Art Heart: Storytelling and Portrait Trading” workshop for our No, YOU Tell It! “Left My Heart” show.
For the first time, our four NYTI storytellers participated in this Queens community event about a month before the show. All the participants generated and shared personal stories inspired by the life and music of Astoria legend Tony Bennett from the Greater Astoria Historical Society archives.
Watch these highlights and contact kjfitzsimmons@gmail.com if you want a unique team-building event for your school, company, or organization in 2025.
I’d love to design one for you!
My best advice for high school seniors who have entered PANIC SEASON is this:
Start with the left-corner brick.
Read the rest on College Essay KJ and share my Substack with the student, guardian, or educator in your life!
What an unforgettable No, YOU Tell It! “Hell Gate” show!! Thank you to everyone for such an amazing evening of Hell Gate Bridge history, storytelling, art, poetry, and music.
Visit the show program here. Photo credit: Yui Kitamura
Podcast episodes featuring the live story swaps coming in October!
Follow @noyoutellit and subscribe to the No, YOU Tell It! podcast on your preferred platform.
Special thank you to:
~Our storytellers, Alicia, Jackie, Mia, and Ashley, for sharing such beautiful stories and giving incredible performances.
~Everyone who came out to see the show!
~Grove 34 for the space to have such a special evening.
~Ashley, for creating your Hell Gate-inspired art and music to inspire us all.
~Greater Astoria Historical Society for teaching us so much about the history of Hell Gate and our neighborhoods.
~Bob Singleton for his poetry and insights into the history of Astoria.
~Natalia ‘Saw Lady’ Paruz for her special, beautiful *birthday* performance.
~Brooklyn Book Festival for including us as a Bookend Event once again.
~Flushing Town Hall, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, New York Foundation for the Arts, and New York State Council on the Arts for making this possible.
~Our amazing creative team, Erika, Kelly Jean, Chenda, and Tim, for everything to make this possible.
Stay tuned for more photos and clips from the show and to hear what we’re up to next season.
In the meantime, check out the full list of #bkbf Bookend Events and the main festival this weekend!
Our No, YOU Tell It! “Hell Gate” show is next week at Grove 34 in Astoria!
Get your tickets here and join us as four fabulous Queens storytellers trade true tales inspired by the iconic Hell Gate Bridge.
Plus, a special presentation from the Greater Astoria Historical Society and story trivia for literary prizes!
***
THIS IS AN OFFICIAL 2024 BROOKLYN BOOK FESTIVAL BOOKEND EVENT
The Greater Astoria Historical Society is the place to learn and celebrate Long Island City and its neighborhoods. Learn more at astorialic.org.
This project is supported by funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, Statewide Community Regrants Program (formerly the Decentralization program) with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, and administered by Flushing Town Hall.
No, YOU Tell It! “Hell Gate” is made possible (in part) with public funds from the Queens Arts Fund, a re-grant program supported by New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and administered by New York Foundation for the Arts.
Last Friday, our four No, YOU Tell It! “Hell Gate” storytellers attended the sold out evening of writing, mingling, and drink-sipping with other Queens creatives at Sunnyside Arts.
Read more about the evening here.
Want to join us next month? Register here for the 10/4 Sip & Scribe or email kjfitzsimmons@gmail.com to be added to my weekly newsletter of upcoming writing fun.
This community event also helped the storytellers generate ideas for the true tales they will trade and perform at our upcoming 9/25 “Hell Gate” show at Grove 34.
Grab a ticket to come hear the stories the night inspired!