How to Build a Community When You Can't Find It
A newsletter about writing, art and living more creatively
This might sound cliché, but Instagram is a great place to find other creative people. It's easy and totally free. The platform has its problems, of course, but I like to remind myself that there is at least one positive: connecting with others.
I got to chat with Nia Lee, founder of Stormé Supper Club, a radical supper club for Black queer women, for this newsletter. (You're getting it exclusively! Just for subscribers 🎉) Keep reading to learn more about what she does.
This interview has been condensed for length and clarity.
On the origins of Stormé Supper Club
I was really used to the East Coast and the overlap that comes from living in a tiny city... it was really easy to bump into other Black queer folks, other POC folks and build that community ad hoc. When I moved to LA about four years ago, I was overwhelmed by how spread out the city is ... I would go to a lot of these queer events and would oftentimes be the only Black person there, a lot of times would be the only fat person there.
I felt like it was a scene-y sort of "L Word" queer white-centering, white feminist space. I was really disappointed and really lonely. I was sure there were more people out there like me wandering around Los Angeles like "where we at?" I was like, let me just plan something myself. it started as a brunch in my living room. I expected a couple of people to come and it blossomed into like 30 people. Everyone was just cramped into my living room.
On the history behind the name Stormé
Stormé DeLarverie was a lesbian woman who used "he" pronouns. He was one of the first drag kings during the Harlem Rennaissance and was a part of this amazing traveling queer cabaret called the Jewel Box Revue. He was this amazing, handsome, badass woman who was performing in the scene and then as he got older he became one of the security guards for the Cubby Hole and he was known to walk around with a pistol on his hip and protect the space from folks who intended to harm those who were inside of it. He played a huge role in Stonewall — a lot of folks say that he was actually one of the first people to throw one of the first punches.
On the growing Stormé community
At the last supper that we had before everything shut down, I didn't know anyone who was there. I was like "how did you all hear about this?" I maybe knew two people. One woman was like "I just went on a Google spiral looking for spaces like this and I came across your page."
It's important to start the thing. That idiom of "if you build it, folks will come" is real. And if you build it with intentionality and authenticity, folks will also come.
On what she's cooking during quarantine
I cook such ridiculous things on a daily basis. Last week I made pastry dough from scratch and then made homemade hand pies. That was pretty good. I live in Thai Town so I've gotten really into going into Thai supermarkets and figuring out how to make a bunch of things. I've been making a lot of Pad Thai, the authentic way... I've also been getting into authentic Mexican food so figuring out how to make the tortillas from scratch and really being intentional about what goes in those tortillas.
Just two days ago, I made pasta from scratch... I made fettucine from scratch with shrimp scampi and then I did a salad with homemade sourdough garlic bread. Just experimenting with some things while I have the time. I just feel like whenever I go to a restaurant I'm like "how can I make this?"
Thank you for your time, Nia! Stormé is working on an upcoming event called A Brunch of Black Queer Joy, a digital event featuring performance, food, meditation and conversation. Keep up on Instagram.
✏️ In my own work, I recently wrote about the LA art world in light of COVID, the work of Emilia Cruz as seen on "Gentefied" and my family's annual tradition of making tamales.
Your favorite small but feisty writer,
Eva
Banner design by Ludi Leiva ✨
What I'm Reading
I'll Never Be Able to Cook the Bad News Anyway. But I Try Anyway (Roxane Gay on Bon Appetit, yes please)
A Black Bourbon Writer Reflects On Representation in the Whiskey Industry
Creativerly newsletter: I have a high amount of respect for graphic designers and general tech whiz folks. Creativerly is a weekly newsletter about tools and resources which boost your creativity and productivity, combined with useful insight, articles, and learnings from the fields of design and tech. You can sign up here.
Books:
I Don't Want to Die Poor (non-fiction) // Read this is you can relate to student loan debt.
How We Fight For Our Lives (non-fiction) // A poetically written memoir about growing up Black and gay in the South.
*I receive a small affiliate commission if you buy through these links via Bookshop, which donates 10% of sales to participating indie bookstores.
Opportunities of the Month
Afro-Latinx Fellowship
(for doctoral students and assistant professors)
Latinx Project at NYU
Applications due July 25
More info here
Digital Artist Residency
Womanly Mag
Submissions due July 31
More info here
Black Creative Endeavors Grant
Applications due July 31
More info here
WNDB Emergency Fund for Diverse Creatives
in Children's Publishing
Rolling deadline
More info here
Fund for Environmental Journalism
Rolling deadline
More info here
Nickelodeon Writing Program
Applications due Aug 1
More info here
Raise Your Voice 2020 Playwright Competition
Submissions due August 7
More info here
Quote of the Month
“Here’s how you can show up. Knowledge plus empathy plus action. If you take any one away, you’re performing.”
— Rachel Cargle
Want to treat me to a ☕️ or 🍷 to help fuel this newsletter?
Venmo: @Eva-Recinos or Cash App: $EvaRecinos
Thank you to Dorothy for your contribution!
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