People’s Media Fund presents Con Fuerza, from the Diaspora: Rituals and Reclaiming Our Stories

How can rituals ground us in reclaiming our stories when we're far from our roots? Many of us have been displaced from our home countries because of political and/or climate instability, queerness, gentrification, and corporate greed. Yet, con fuerza (with strength), we find a way to rebuild new homes and carve new pathways in foreign lands.

Join us for a special community screening featuring films by nine Greater Philadelphia filmmakers. Together, their works explore the rituals, traditions, relationships, and shared experiences that help shape identity, belonging, and community from both diasporic and Philadelphia-rooted perspectives.

In The Kenning Place: A Well of Wisdom from the Collective Memory, audiences are invited to explore the reservoir of human experience, where myth, memory, folklore, and reflection meet in story and connection.

Drawing on ancient tales from the oral tradition, Denise McCormack brings to light stories that resonate across time—carried through generations and alive with relevance and meaning for living in today’s world.

The Kenning Place is created and performed by storyteller, speaker, and researcher Denise McCormack, whose work explores the meeting place of myth, memory, folklore, and personal narrative. She is president of Patchwork: A Storytelling Guild and has appeared at regional and national storytelling events throughout the Mid-Atlantic and beyond.

Denise McCormack is a storyteller, speaker, and researcher of oral tradition, ancient texts, and the cultures that preserved them. She has performed and curated programming at regional and national venues, including storytelling festivals, community programs, and educational settings.

*The Kenning Place* is presented in association with Patchwork: A Storytelling Guild.Recommended for audiences 18 and up. 

Admission is FREE/pay-what-you-can. Advance registration is recommended HERE.

Ginsburg’s Howl, as read by James Dalton with the Ginsburg Beat Connection

In celebration of Ginsburg’s 100th birthday, come experience a fresh new take on Allen Ginsburg’s iconic poem “Howl” featuring performer and raconteur James Dalton. 

Join them as they explore sonic territories in jazz, blues and noise with highly emotional interpretations of the text.

Ginsberg Beat Connection Is a revolutionary ensemble featuring a revolving membership of Philadelphia, New Jersey, and New York international musicians that have been on the cutting edge of the most creative music of our times playing, producing or recording with some of the most innovative and influential artists in the music industry.

Members include: Jair-Rohm Parker Wells (Machine Gun, Thomas Chapin, John Sinclair, Bob Bolden), Robert Musso (Tom Waits, Stevie Wonder, Machine Gun, John Zorn), Abe Speller (Sonny Sharrock, need more here) James Dalton ( Edinburgh Fringe, Gothenburg Fringe, New York Fringe, Reykjavik Fringe, Brighton Fringe), David Dzubinski (Doug Wimbish, Calvin Weston, Gary US Bonds, Darlene Love)”

$10 students & seniors/$15 general. Ticket link and updated poster coming soon.