Libraries Are Hubs for Citizening - Story 1
From How To Citizen with Baratunde by iHeartPodcasts
April 15, 2025 · 4 min
About this episode
The episode explores how libraries can serve as community hubs for storytelling and empowerment, featuring Ena Esco's work at Cossit Library in Memphis.
Watch this first video story from the Week of Citizening on Instagram or LinkedIn: https://newsletter.baratunde.com/p/1st-story-libraries-are-hubs-for?r=204q7 What if every library in the world was a hub for citizening—a space where people could come together, tell their own stories, and build new ones? It’s already happening. And Cossit Llibrary in downtown Memphis is leading the way. 🎙️ Meet Ena Esco — Innovator-in-Residence for podcast programming. In a city that’s majority Black and shaped by deep economic challenges, Ena is turning a traditional library into a platform for power. Inside this public library you’ll find: 📸 A podcast studio 🎥 A video + photo lab 🎭 A performance space All free. All open to the public. “We live in an era where a lot of people are being silenced. I’m proud to mentor folks and watch them realize: they can say what they truly want to say.” — Ena Esco This is what it looks like to practice power. To citizen. 🔗 Want more stories like this? Visit https:// stories.howtocitizen.com Story produced by Tess Novotnoy This is part of the Week Of Citizening stories jointly amplified by How To…
People in this episode
Host: Baratunde Thurston
Guest: Ena Esco
Topics covered
- libraries
- citizening
- community empowerment
- storytelling
- public spaces
Keywords
- libraries
- citizening
- Ena Esco
- community
- storytelling
- Memphis
- public library
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Cossit Library, How To Citizen, Jon Alexander, Baratunde Thurston
Places: Memphis, downtown Memphis
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