Westside Stories will once again spotlight the real-life narratives and personal accounts of West Side residents, both past and present, at the Front Porch Arts Center’s next monthly story-telling event on Aug. 27.

Westside Stories is a curated performance and open mic event that offers a unique opportunity to share experiences and build community connections on every fourth Thursday of the month from 6 to 8 p.m. at 5851 W. Madison St., Chicago.

Attendees are not required to be West Side residents. The event typically begins with an open mic segment where guests can sign up to share a five-to-seven-minute story on a topic of their choice while enjoying light refreshments

This is in addition to featured speakers, who this month will be Tara Stamps, a Cooks County commissioner, and Jessica LaShawn, an author.

“Both Tara and Jessica are masterful storytellers with roots in activism and it will be fascinating to hear about their experiences as second-generation activists on the West Side,” Front Porch Arts Center founder Keli Stewart said.

Stamps serves as the Cook County Commissioner for the 1st District and is actively involved in numerous committees, including those related to finance, criminal justice, and emergency management. She also holds roles on various Forest Preserve District Board committees, focusing on areas such as recreation and ecological restoration.

LaShawn is an author known for her works such as “Mogul Guide: Building a Branded Business Plan Workbook and Worksheets” and “The Perfect Website Workbook.” Operating her own consulting firm, Jessica LaShawn Consulting, she focuses on legacy, timelessness and networking to build successful brands and foster valuable business partnerships.

“Storytelling takes courage,” Stewart said. “Last month, one open mic participant shared a story about a bully, which inspired others to share their own experiences. Front Porch welcomes the diverse experiences of our community, whether they’re funny, dramatic, or otherwise. As the host, I find that storytelling requires a deep dive into the human condition.”

Front Porch Arts Center serves as the Austin neighborhood’s vital hub for arts, community and culture, celebrating the history of Chicago’s Westside. Through its initiatives, the center aims to showcase community voices, bridge connections with the broader creative community, support Westside artists and explore the area’s rich history.

Stewart notes that on the West Side, there are very few arts and cultural spaces in the neighborhood, and Westside Stories sprang from that idea.

“We wanted to create a West Side-centric storytelling platform that celebrates both past and present narratives of west siders,” Stewart said.

Stewart said that since 2019, Westside Stories has been highlighting the experiences of West Side residents through their narratives, offering positive recreational activities for the neighborhood, fostering community building, and helping to change the prevailing media narrative about the West Side, with a brief pause during the pandemic.

Front Porch Arts Center is working on collecting stories to build a database that will be available to the public once the organization receives more funding.

“We hope to create a digital database of stories and engage youth in learning methods to tell their own stories. We aim to have this database online by mid-next year and are looking for grants to support this,” Stewart said.

Stewart stresses that creating an environment where individuals feel heard and not judged is essential.

“Westside Stories, one of the longest-running storytelling platforms on the West Side, provides a space for people to share their raw, funny, and courageous stories,” Stewart said.

When asked about the primary goals of Westside Stories and its intended impact on participants and the community, Stewart said that storytelling is one of the oldest forms of human conversation that offers testimony, humor and a reflection of daily life.

“We find many similarities among the stories we tell, and stories connect us. This connection is the most important part for us. Front Porch Art Center is a multigenerational organization, and our work provides space for multigenerational narratives. It’s important to have conversations between elders and younger people, to map out where we’ve been and where we’re heading,” Stewart said.

Tickets are $10 a person and includes light refreshments and a chance to build community. To purchase tickets visit https://ow.ly/UsOW50SW3EA