Historic Huguenot Street, in partnership with The Slave Dwelling Project, invited TMI Project to participate in an overnight stay in one of the site’s historic slave cellars on June 17, 2017. TMI Project writers will share the stories and monologues they crafted following this transformative experience at a performance titled “Reclaiming Our Time” on Saturday, September 16.

Terry James, living historian and Board Member of The Slave Dwelling Project, spent the night in a Huguenot Street cellar with writers from TMI Project, an organization which seeks to raise awareness of and inspire people to take action around social justice issues through true storytelling. This was The Slave Dwelling Project’s second overnight at Historic Huguenot Street, which is one of only two New York State dwellings the organization has visited, and the only one in the Hudson Valley.

TMI Project focuses the spotlight on stories told by people from marginalized populations, humanizing issues that are often overlooked by mainstream media. Beginning on June 16, six participating writers began a series of 10 workshops, the first of which included an introduction to Historic Huguenot Street and a discussion of expectations for the overnight. Writers also participated in workshops with Mr. James both before and immediately following the experience to explore the significance and purpose of the overnight visit.

Through TMI Project’s workshops, participants are offered specific guidance for creating compelling stories, guided writing prompts, brainstorming sessions, feedback during monologue development, and editing of their final works. Their groundbreaking stories will be performed at the Reformed Church of New Paltz at 92 Historic Huguenot Street on Saturday, September 16, at 7:30 pm. General admission is $10, and registration is available at huguenotstreet.org/tmi.

Sponsored by a Humanities New York Action Grant, the DuBois Family Association, the Reformed Church of New Paltz, and SUNY New Paltz.