INTRODUCING: THE COMMUNITY CULTURE PROJECT

Unfeathered Ink is pleased to announce the Community Culture Project! With marketing kicking off this week, I wanted to take a moment to share with you, the link to the project details, a quick-reference flyer, and a poem that highlights why this project came to be. 

Community Culture Project (link)

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In the poem, To Boldly Go..., by fellow poet Joel Carroll, we are exposed to a point of view that shares a common experience of an uneasy existence in a world where despite being simply human like everyone else, it's easy to feel like an outcast of society based on the assumptions, stereotypes, and misinformation of others. Joel does so by exploring popular and beloved sci-fi references like Star Trek and Star Wars as a well suited carrier for this particular message. While loved across many cultures, these worlds also explore and experiment with the ability of the many to live as one. In the time I've known Joel, he has shown a remarkable talent for using popular culture and current events to bring awareness to the realm of social justice. Thank you, brother, for allowing me to share your work!

Let's work together to close social gaps and dissolve indifference, allowing all walks of life to feel welcome, cared for, included, and represented!    ​

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To Boldly Go...        -by Joel Carroll

I travel to Alien Locations everyday
To explain my world
          That has
                     A different culture
                                A different interpretation
                                           And even a different language.

Aliens surround me everywhere I go 
          In 
                    Supermarkets
                                 Parks
                                             and, of course,
                                                         the local Walmart
                                                                     which looks like 
                                                                                   the Star Wars Cantina.

I want to explain to the Aliens
             My world includes
                         Police Officers who can't be trusted
                                      Teachers who don't know my story
                                                  Politicians who give less than a damn.

I don't speak the language of 
             "Just work harder and Everything will be Just Fine"
               Sometimes working harder
                           in this Alien World 
                                         Has another name...
                                                    "Stupidity."

The Aliens don't know that I live
             In 
                         A World of
                                      Incorrect assumptions
                                                  Lack of empathy
                                                  And...
                                                                Extreme Hate.

I can't make the Aliens understand 
             What it's like to be on this planet
                           Where
                                       The Fear
                                                   And the Paranoia
                                                                Are...
                                                                            Inescapable.

Yet I must boldly go
              to Alien Locations
                           With the hope 
                                         Someone will understand.