The Townies, Inc.

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The Townies, Inc.

The Townies, Inc. connects people one story at a time. At The Townies, Inc., we believe in the transformative power of the written and spoken word.

“When I’m writing I’m trying to find out who I am, who we are, what we’re capable of, how we lose and stand up, and go on from darkness into darkness.”
- Maya Angelou

Our mission is to cultivate a more compassionate, creative and just community by nurturing artistic expression and connecting people to one another and themselves through brave storytelling, writing and performance. We strive to adv

ance justice by honoring oral traditions that speak to a people’s history, by creating equitable pathways for personal growth and connection, and by building powerful communities that advance social change. Our teachings are grounded in radical love and compassion for the human experience, in all its beautiful and complicated forms.

08/01/2024

This past week and a half in the Ojai Playwrights Conference Youth Workshop has been a blast and a whirlwind of laughter, inspiring Q&A’s and beautiful, beautiful words. It all culminates tonight for IN CELEBRATION, an evening of original work by the OPC Youth Workshop, the Interns and the Writers In Residence!
Join us tonight at 7:30pm at Thacher School — tickets are Pay What You Can! Get yours HERE: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=ojai

04/05/2024

Calling all Word Nerds!!!
Posted • High school students, come eat tacos and write with us! Taco Tuesday Write Nights are OPC’s new monthly hangout for high school students this spring in Ojai. It’s Pay What You Can to join. Only 10 spots for each date and first-come-first-serve, so claim your spot!

Express yourself.
Learn from professional artists.
Write what you want!

WHEN:
Third Tuesdays: April 16, May 21 & June 18
5:30 - 6:00PM Tacos
6:00 - 9:00PM Write Night & OPC Artist Q&As
WHERE:
KIM MAXWELL STUDIO 226 W. Ojai Avenue, #102 Ojai, CA 93023

Drop in for one, or come to all three. For more info and to RSVP, email [email protected]

12/20/2023

BIG NEWS!! You can now purchase The Townies Ink: An Anthology of Resilience at !!!
What a dream come true to be included on the shelves of the iconic outdoor bookstore that we’ve loved and patronized for years. *swoon*
You can now support two local businesses for the price of one and, might I just say — shopping at our local landmark of an open air bookstore in the rain might be the most romantic shopping opportunity of the year… go get em’ Townies!

12/09/2023

Oh my goodness — as of just a few minutes ago — we have officially sold out of our first batch of The Townies Ink: An Anthology of Resilience… THANK YOU!!!
If you were hoping to get a copy for a loved one for the holidays — we have put in another order with our printer and we’re hoping those are done in time but if not, we have created these handy-dandy little gift certificates to serve as placeholders until that next batch is ready.
If you purchased a journal prior to 10:30am on 12/9 (today), your copy is here at the studio waiting for you — come on by during our Trunk Sale hours to get yours!

12/04/2023

With the holidays just around the corner — we will be having several "trunk sale" dates at the studio (226 West Ojai Avenue #102, Ojai CA) where, in addition to the journal, we will be selling heavily discounted Townies merch including totes, commemorative pins, mugs, shirts and more!

If I do say so myself — The Townies Ink: An Anthology of Resilience is going to make a pretty amazing holiday gift... Soooo come on by on any of the following dates to get your copy plus some amazing soon-to-be discontinued merch!

Tuesday, December 5th from 3PM - 6PM
Saturday, December 9th from 10AM - 1PM
Saturday, December 16th from 10AM - 1PM

PS. We are running low on our anthologies (more are coming!) but if you want to be sure to secure yours, they are for sale on our Square site for both pickup (free) and delivery (flat rate of $5)!
📖

11/30/2023

What a magical, joyful, spectacular, incredible night we had last Saturday, celebrating the launch of The Townies Ink anthology and the upcoming hibernation of the nonprofit… we had a completely full house, but we managed to squeeze in every single person on the waitlist. Together we filled the space with our stories and laughter and compassion.
Thank you to everyone who came, bought a book or sent their love from afar. We’ll remember this celebration forever!
The journal is still available for purchase at the link below if you want one — and is soon to be in bookstores! More info coming soon…
https://the-townies-inc.square.site/

11/22/2023

THIS SATURDAY, November 25th at 7PM, it’s The Townies Ink Live: A Show, A Book Launch, A Curtain Call!
This event will combine a classic Townies live storytelling show with a book launch / book signing and a joyful curtain call for our non-profit which has brought countless people together through stories since its inception.
Performances will begin promptly at 7PM, highlighting a number of brand new pieces from within the anthology. After the show, a number of featured writers and photographers will be available to sign copies of the journal. Then, the community will be invited to raise a glass of bubbly in celebration of The Townies, Inc. as it prepares to head into hibernation.
Tickets are $10 and journals are $30 — both are available for purchase at the link in our bio!
(Both alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages will be available; the first glass will be provided, more will be available for purchase.)

11/19/2023

Happy birthday, Kim Maxwell!
There are no words that adequately capture all that you do, and for so many people but we’ll give it the good college try:
Whether you’re teaching, directing, giving advice, drafting new prompts, telling folks “what popped,” or producing events, individual stories, podcasts, anthologies (the list goes on) — you embody your well-earned nickname, Momma Kim, through the act of always showing up for your people. How lucky we are to be your people. The Townies may be in a transition but the immeasurable impact you’ve had on this community ain’t going anywhere.
Happy birthday, Kim! We love you!
Townies — come celebrate Momma Kim and all she’s done on Sat., Nov. 25th at 7pm for The Townies Ink Live: A Show, A Book Launch, A Curtain Call — we will listen to stories, laugh, cry and cheers to the end of an era. Link for tickets in comments.
(Photo taken by Lily this summer in Paris 🇫🇷)

11/17/2023

THE CREW!
This team right here is the reason that The Townies Ink exists. We are so grateful for each of these brilliant hands and hearts and everything they did to bring this book to life. We have a book, y’all. 🥹♥️
Molly Allison, Administrative Lead
Lily Brown, Editor-In-Chief & Dramaturg
Noah Lashly, Associate Copy Editor
Kim Maxwell, Editor-In-Chief & Dramaturg
Jeremy Rendina, Creative Editor & Printer
Ashley Sengstaken, Associate Typesetter
Emily Westmoreland, Editor
Samuel van den Nieuwenhof, Typesetter
All printed by Margins Imprint in Ojai, CA.
Preorder your copy now & get your tickets for our amazing launch party on Sat., Nov. 25th at 7pm - tickets available here: https://the-townies-inc.square.site/

11/15/2023

This photo was taken the day Kim signed the lease on our space 10 years ago for Kim Maxwell Studio — The Townies, Inc. wouldn’t officially be launched for another few years but the seed of the organization was there.
With all the excitement for the journal to come out (join us for the launch party on Nov. 25th!!!), it feels important to also acknowledge the grief we’re experiencing, as we prepare to put the organization on pause.
Since 2013, this studio has been a home for stories and all the generous, hilarious, weird, heartbroken, amazing people who have written, shared and heard them.
Thank you everyone that has visited our studio and brought your whole heart with you.
This is AN end, not THE end and the spirit of The Townies shall endure, if not maybe differently than we pictured.
Come celebrate our space, our org and our first ever print journal on Saturday, November 25th at 7PM — deets are on the poster in our pinned posts!
Tickets and journal preorders here: https://the-townies-inc.square.site/

11/09/2023

VOILA!!! Check out the back cover of The Townies Ink journal (photo by Lily Brown)!!! Showing the lighted path forward.
And in image number two: We are so excited to share this journal with — and none of it could have happened without our amazing Sponsor (Montecito Bank & Trust) and Co-Sponsors (Law Office of Vanessa Frank, Flourish Ojai, and The Townies’ very own Board of Directors). Please join us in offering a massive thank you and round of applause for these gracious champions of the arts!
Preorder your copy here: https://the-townies-inc.square.site
📝📖📚
Text description for first image: “From humor to reckoning, from introspection to battle cry, written by newbies and seasoned professionals, these pages contain 36 pieces crafted in The Townies’ storytelling workshops over the last few years. In chronicling a period that will long be defined by resilience, these works offer a reminder of a shared humanity.”

Address

226 W Ojai Avenue, # 102
Ojai, CA
93023

Website

https://thetowniesinc.org/donate

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