IGGAD

Communal Pen workshops are at the heart of what we do. Each workshop has a facilitator team and thoughtful prompts with the goal of creating community connection. Read more of our details below of this workshop.

No Registration Required.

Join us for a reflective writing workshop during the 6th annual International Gullah Geechee and African Diaspora Conference (IGGAD). This year’s theme is Class, Caste, and Colorism and the Effects on Gullah Geechee People and Communities within the African Diaspora. 

Together, along with the Atheneum Press and the Joyner Institute’s Cock Hunnah Yeez and Nyam up de Good Bittles, translated as Listen with Intention and Eat Good Food project, we’ll consider prompts with themes surrounding land, retention, abundance, memory, and economic entrepreneurship. This event offers a chance for all voices to honor, preserve, and celebrate the richness of Gullah Geechee culture as part of South Carolina’s shared heritage.

This workshop will be facilitated by Communal Pen Project Lead Shyanne Bellamy.

Lead Facilitator

Shyanne Bellamy (she/her) is a Grant Assistant with the Athenaeum Press, where she serves as a liaison between the Press’s Communal Pen and Foodways initiatives. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with a concentration in Interactive Journalism, a Master of Arts in Communications and a minor in Creative Writing.  She has had the opportunity to present her work with the Foodways initiative at the Indigenous Food Policy Summit in New York City, where she explored the intersections of Gullah Geechee culture, land displacement, heirs’ property, and the importance of seed preservation. Shyanne has also through her work with the Why We Gather Partnership and Communal Pen, has traveled nationally to collect and document stories from rural communities across the country. Her academic and professional work reflects her passion for storytelling and community engagement. 

Event Details

Date:
February 20, 2027 12:00 pm

Duration:
1 hour

How:
In Person

Location:
Horry County Museum

No Registration Required.

Stories from this Collection

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  • I enjoyed this experience very much. I enjoyed meeting people and other writers and being able to hear their stories. This is a great opportunity to cold write and get something done off the cuff and, in many ways, has helped me reconnect to writing.

    Rob McManus

  • I appreciate the freedom of expression, the community, the sharing, and the encouragement the Communal Pen offers. It goes beyond just the individual writing or putting things down on paper… it allows you to be inventive and to see things in a different way.

    Janice Johnson

  • The facilitators really cared about what everyone had to say. They really cared, and I feel like that was unique. They give everyone space to share their stories from our community. The black culture is so strong in tying stories together and handing things down over the generations, and I am excited that this workshop seems to share that goal. Connecting to a community that wants to listen to stories and share them like that is powerful.

    Patricia

  • I love folklore, and sharing stories of people’s families. The family stories that may or may not have been embellished over the years… it made me think back on my family stories. Hearing the stories of other attendees made me realize that we have such a rich history of folklore and stories in South Carolina. Listening to the stories gave you a wonderful front porch feeling. It was immediately so comfortable and welcoming.

    Eden

  • No matter what the topic is, the Communal Pen makes you go deeper and share the stories that inspire you. I loved going a little deeper with the other writers, then going deeper into what people see and think. There are no barriers to stop us from expressing ourselves. I learned how to relax and tell my stories to the people in my community.

    Sandy

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