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Split This Rock's Fallow Season

Split This Rock’s red logo appears over a white background above bold black text with a yellow outline that says “Fallow Season July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022.” Under this text is an illustration of a yellow-orange sun rising from green fields under a light blue sky. Three yellow dots surround the illustration.

 

After 13 years of programming and publication, and actively surviving a global pandemic, Split This Rock entered a fallow season which began July 1, 2021. Originally, concluding on April 1, 2022, fallow season continued until June 30, 2022. Fallow land is cultivated land left unplanted for a growing season. To make land fallow is to recognize that soil needs time to rest and regenerate after harvesting abundance. Fallow seasons are about sustainability.

During Split This Rock’s fallow season, staff and board focused on expanding the organization’s capacity to be fertile and stable ground for working towards liberation, as well as defining more concretely what working towards liberation means at Split This Rock. This time offered space to tap into deeper wells of creativity so the organization could offer more impactful opportunities for cultivating poetry, building community, and sharpening tools for resistance. Board and staff used this space to more deeply align the organization’s mission with its systems, protocols, and practices. Though Split This Rock's usual schedule of programs and publication was on pause, we were eager to continue engaging with community through gatherings and consultations.

Learn more about the fallow season in this special message from Split This Rock's staff and board sharing the inspiration, projects, and goals behind fallow season.  We also invite you to read the fallow season continuation announcement and watch this short video from Split This Rock’s staff for an update on our progress. For information about Split This Rock’s programs, how you could have been involved in fallow season, contact information, and more, visit the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below.  

Image Description: Split This Rock’s red logo appears over a white background above bold black text with a yellow outline that says “Fallow Season July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022.” Under this text is an illustration of a yellow-orange sun rising from green fields under a light blue sky. Three yellow dots surround the illustration.

Updates

Frequently Asked Questions about Split This Rock's Fallow Season

Q: When does Split This Rock’s fallow season begin and what will happen when it starts?
A: The fallow season begins on July 1, 2021. To allow staff members time for rest, our virtual office will be closed from July 1 until July 16. Until staff members return on July 19, board members will be monitoring our general inbox (info@splitthisrock.org) and our social media accounts to be present for any urgent matters that may arise. During the fallow season, board and staff members will work collaboratively to implement changes to address the organization’s most urgent needs.

Virtual community gatherings will be held to invite people within Split This Rock’s community to provide input and expertise. Newsletters will be sent out periodically to update everyone on our progress. Be sure to sign up for our email list to stay up-to-date and complete this online form to be invited to community gatherings! If these forms are not accessible to you, feel free to submit your information by email using the instructions in this Word document formatted for screen readers. If you have trouble downloading the Word document directly, you can also access it via this link or feel free to email us at info@splitthisrock.org so we can email it to you. 

Q: When does Split This Rock’s fallow season end? 
A:  Fallow season continues until June 30, 2022. Sign up for our email list to stay tuned for updates on our progress and upcoming program offerings in support of this year’s Poetry Coalition theme, “'The future lives in our bodies': Poetry & Disability Justice.”  If the form is not accessible to you, feel free to email a request to be added to us at info@splitthisrock.org. 

Q: Are there any programs that will continue during Split This Rock’s fallow season? 
A: Except for 2022 Poetry Coalition themed offerings, all public facing programs will be paused from July 2021 until June 2022, including but not limited to the following:

  • Poem of the Week: Poems will be published each Friday up until June 25, 2021. The series will resume by July 2022.
  • Sonia Sanchez-Langston Hughes Poetry Contest: The contest will not be open during fallow season.
  • 2022 Split This Rock Poetry Festival: While there will not be a 2022 Festival, we expect to have news in 2022.
  • 2021 DC Youth Slam Team
  • In School and Afterschool Youth Programs
  • Hyper Bole Youth Poetry Slam Festival
  • Louder Than a Bomb Youth Poetry Slam Festival
  • Workshops, Readings, and Open Mics (for youth and general public)

Instead, Split This Rock will engage its community in a series of community gatherings to invite input and expertise as we work to more deeply align the organization’s mission with its systems, protocols, and practices.

Q: Does Split This Rock have plans to engage the community during its fallow season?
A: Yes, we can’t do this work effectively without continued connection with you! Community gatherings will be held to invite people within Split This Rock’s community to ask questions and provide input and expertise. To let us know you’re interested in participating, complete this online form. If the online form is not accessible to you, feel free to submit your information by email using the instructions in this Word document formatted for screen readers. If you have trouble downloading the Word document directly, you can also access it via this link or feel free to email us at info@splitthisrock.org so we can email it to you. 

Q: Will Split This Rock be nominating poems for Best of the Net and Pushcart Prize in 2021? 
A: Yes, we are thrilled to select and nominate poems that have fed, soothed, educated, and empowered us! Check out the poems we nominated on the Best of the Net nominations web page and the Pushcart Prize nominations web page.

Q: I have an idea for a collaborative program/event that would take place during Split This Rock’s fallow season. Is Split This Rock taking on collaborative projects during the fallow season? 
A: No. Split This Rock’s focus will be on strengthening its internal systems, protocols, and practices. We will collaborate with consultants, funders, partners, and community members to do this vital work. We will not have capacity to co-sponsor events or programmatic efforts until after we return from fallow season.

Q: How can I be involved?
A: Though programs will not be hosted during the fallow season, we’re eager to engage with you. We welcome you to fill out this online form or use this Word document formatted for screen readers to let us know if you’d like to be part of community gatherings we will host to invite your expertise and feedback. If you have trouble downloading the Word document directly, you can also access it via this link or feel free to email us at info@splitthisrock.org so we can email it to you. 

Some of the areas we aim to focus on are included in the staff letter sent out in December 2020, describing our aspirations for the organization’s future. We encourage you to visit this webpage and sign up for our newsletter for updates on the fallow season.

You can also join our journey toward greater sustainability by making a donation. Become a monthly donor at $5 or more per month, encourage 5 friends to get involved — or do both. If the online portal is not accessible to you, we welcome you to mail your gift by sending a check payable to "Split This Rock" to Split This Rock, 1301 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 600, Washington DC 20036.

Q: Will Split This Rock be shutting down during the fallow season?
A: No. Split This Rock staff and board members will be working to:

  • Build strategic plans for Split This Rock’s programming, publications, communications, and other endeavors
  • Maintain communication with stakeholders and community members to access valuable input and expertise to help shape Split This Rock’s future offerings
  • Strengthen the organization’s infrastructure, including significant upgrades to our website, email platform, and donor database
  • Engage in consulting processes to guide us in tending to Split This Rock’s internal culture, staffing structure, and leadership model so they more deeply align with the organization’s mission and values
  • Refine protocols and practices to offer greater support to staff
  • Formalize procedures to respond to community needs and current events
  • Host virtual community gatherings to remain tuned in to the needs of those we serve
  • Continue fundraising and grant writing efforts to sustain the organization

Q: Is Split This Rock going fallow due to financial difficulties?
A: No. Thanks to the generosity of community members and grants that have been acquired, Split This Rock is financially stable currently. As is true for any non-profit organization, it remains necessary for us to continue to raise funds so the organization remains stable throughout the fallow season and into the future.

If you find the poetry and resources Split This Rock shares nourishing, please consider becoming a monthly sustaining donor for as little as $5 per month, telling 5 friends about our work — or both! A monthly donation at any level increases stability and support for the work of fallow season. One-time gifts are also always welcome! You can make an online donation through Split This Rock’s donation portal. If the online portal is not accessible to you, we welcome you to mail your gift by sending a check payable to "Split This Rock" to Split This Rock, 1301 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 600, Washington DC 20036.

Q: Is Split This Rock closing down?
A: No. We are entering a fallow season to ensure the organization remains strong and stable for the long haul.

Q: Who do I contact at Split This Rock if I have a question during its fallow season?
A: During fallow season, board and staff will be responding to email less frequently. We thank you in advance for your patience and understanding. For urgent inquiries, please contact us at info@splitthisrock.org. While staff members are out of the virtual office July 1-19, 2021, board members will be monitoring this inbox.
 

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