A Letter from Tribes' New Executive Director,
Chavisa Woods

Tribes’ founder and Executive Director of nearly 30 years, Steve Cannon, passed away in the summer of 2019. His loss has been deeply felt throughout the expansive community of artists, writers and activists he brought together through A Gathering of the Tribes.

As of May 1st, 2020, I, Chavisa Woods, Steve Cannon’s mentee and longtime friend, will be stepping into the position of Executive Director of A Gathering of the Tribes.

I know that I can never fill the hole left by Steve’s absence, nor would I ever dare to try. I do know that Steve Cannon wanted his one-of-a-kind organization to continue on. My goal over the coming year is to reestablish some of Tribes’ most impactful programs (which will happen primarily via Tribes’ website until social isolation orders are lifted). This will include redesigning and reinvigorating Tribes’ website and resuming publications through Tribes’ Online Literary Magazine, as well as hosting readings and events (including virtual events) keeping Tribes’ beloved artist community connected.

Most importantly, Tribes will work to ensure Steve Cannon’s life and legacy is properly memorialized, and Steve continues to receive the public recognition and honor he deserves. This will be done through online and physical archiving as well as by leveraging opportunities to celebrate and educate the public about the rich history of Tribes, in partnership with local and national arts institutions.  We’ve already begun. Currently, Tribes’ materials and publications are being archived at the NYU Fales Library and Special Collections archives. Steve Cannon’s iconic piano is on permanent display at the Schomburg Center.

I have been involved with Tribes in numerous capacities for the last 18 years. I began, working for Tribes under the direct supervision of Steve Cannon in 2003; first as an office and editorial assistant, then as the Grants Manager and Literary Events Coordinator. I spent nearly eight years as a Tribes employee, and after my time as an employee ended, I continued volunteering for Tribes, including organizing Tribes’ Annual Charlie Parker Festival for ten consecutive years, until Tribes was evicted from its space on East 3rd Street. Tribes was my home, and then, my home away from home for nearly two decades.

Steve Cannon created a truly multi-cultural, multidisciplinary arts space, that served as a hub and launch-pad for countless artists for nearly thirty years. I truly believe I would not be the writer I am today without the support, mentorship and invaluable opportunities and connections I was able to access through Tribes and its programs, and without the unflinching love and encouragement of Steve Cannon. I also cannot count the number of artists and writers I know who can say the same. Steve Cannon’s magnanimous nature informed every aspect of Tribes, and created an expansive community of artists unlike any other.

I cannot thank everyone enough for the love and support that has poured out for Steve Cannon and Tribes since his passing last July. I hope that you will remain part of Tribes’ community as we continue to support artists and writers of diversity and excellence for years to come.

Tribes lives!

-Chavisa Woods