Tellus Zine 2020
Tellus Zine is a digital publication and a creative offshoot of Kennedy Heights Arts Center’s program Teen Artists for Change. It aims to provide a diverse space for young people to express themselves creatively through writing and art. Young adults aged 13-21 are invited and encouraged to send in their writing and artwork in various forms, including creative writing, non-fiction writing, drawing, painting, photography, video, animation, music, etc. to be considered for the semi-annual online zine. The Tellus Zine Editorial Board is run by 16 high school students from across the Greater Cincinnati area, committed to serving Tellus’ mission and producing high-quality art.
Tellus’s 2020-21 Editorial Board is full of enthusiastic and talented artists who are ready to make Issue II the best yet. The team’s first meeting on October 28th bonded the artists as they shared meaningful discussions on topics ranging from current events to decision-making methods. It has been decided that Tellus is a safe space for all members of the Zine. The board vows to speak up when necessary, to always listen, and to be compassionate and empathetic towards their peers. The structured, bi-weekly zoom meetings each follow a similar structure. The board meeting begins with a calming breathing exercise, which helps us destress and focus as we tackle the tasks at hand. In only the past three meetings, the team has taken a group photo, outlined our decision-making process, established a set of collaborative agreements, and begun brainstorming themes for our second issue and an inaugural open mic/open screen event. Thanks to the work of Bethany and Brandon, we are extremely organized in our approach. The team has been divided into committees, including social media, traditional media, web design, and community engagement.
The Tellus board makes it a priority to keep up-to-date on current political and social issues, and these conversations carry into Tellus 2020-21 theme. We all know that 2020 has been a tumultuous year. From the unjust murders of Black Americans, a presidential impeachment, and the spread of Covid-19, the board knows that their theme must reflect some of this chaos and entropy. As young people in a rapidly changing country, members of the Editorial Board know that they have the power to make influential changes for a better, brighter, and more inclusive future. Some of the themes that members have discussed are identity, culture, and a board favorite, revolution. The board is very excited to further brainstorm and come up with a topic that reflects their mindsets this year.