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About Sparrow's Fortune

The Sparrow’s Fortune is a 501(c)(3) arts nonprofit in Cleveland dedicated to inspiring and empowering the community through storytelling, writing, and performance. Our three major programs include free community writing workshops, public performances and events, and youth arts education initiatives.

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About

Our Non-profit

​Since January 2022, we’ve hosted more than 140 workshops and welcomed over 3,000 participants into our spaces. What started as a poetry collective has grown into a community-driven resource. Through writing and performance, we help people process emotions, build connections, strengthen literacy, and uncover their own creative voices.

In 2023, The Sparrow's Fortune furthered our reach from Cleveland, OH to work with schools, libraries, and wellness-based organizations in Toledo, Columbus, Dayton, and Lorain.

Through all of our changes, our mission has stayed consistent: to inspire, educate, and encourage our community through arts, entertainment, and creative writing workshops.

About

Our Director Calil Cage

Calil “Just C.O.S.” Cage founded The Sparrow’s Fortune in early 2022, driven by a belief in the transformative power of spoken word and community storytelling. As Executive Director, he leads the Cleveland-based nonprofit in offering creative writing workshops, performances, and initiatives like Project R.O.O.T., which foster emotional resilience and artistic growth across the region.

He holds a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies from Kent State University. He has written poetry for over ten years and has performed spoken word for the last six. Born in Chicago, IL, and raised in Columbus, OH, he currently resides in Cleveland, OH. At the start of 2023, Calil became a Room in the House Fellow of Karamu House, the oldest African-American Theater in the United States. 

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About

Our Programming Director

Siaara Freeman

She is a 2023 Room in the House fellow with Karamu Theater, a 2022 Catapult fellow with Cleveland Public Theater. In 2021 Siaara filmed a commercial for the Cleveland Museum of Art She is a 2021 Premier Playwright fellow recipient with Cleveland Public theater. She is a 2020 WateringHole Manuscript fellow, 2018 Poetry Foundation incubator fellow and a four time nominee for the pushcart prize. Her work appears in The Journal, Josephine Quarterly, Cleveland Magazine and elsewhere. She has had multiple poems go viral and has toured both nationally and internationally..Her first full length manuscript Urbanshee is available with Button Poetry and is a 2023 finalist for the Audre Lorde Award with The Publishing Triangle as well as a 2023 Silver award winner for the Benjamin Franklin IPBA award for Poetry. When she is not working she is likely by a lake, thinking of Toni Morrison & talking to ghosts. She is growing her Afro so tall, God uses it as a microphone and speaks through her.

Meet The Sparrows The Heart of Sparrow's Fortune

A “Sparrow” at Sparrow’s Fortune is a performer who carries the mission of the collective: using creative voice to heal, connect, and empower. Each Sparrow is a guiding force—through workshops, performance, mentorship. Together they help the community take flight;

and each are available to perform. 

Workshops and Offerings

The Sparrow’s Fortune is a 501(c)(3) arts nonprofit in Cleveland dedicated to inspiring and empowering the community through storytelling, writing, and performance. Our three major programs include free community writing workshops, public performances and events and youth arts education initiatives.

Offer #1
Xpressions Writing Workshops & Retreats

Through Xpressions, we offer free monthly workshops within our Cleveland community. We bring our mission to fruition by inspiring creativity and engagement. Our work centers on artistic conversion while also fostering artistic growth and development.

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Offer #2
Spoken Word
Performances

We produce Spoken Word Showcases each year, and offer curated performances per client ask. Each performing artist on our team has a significant  background in poetry, while a few also double as Teaching Artists for our Xpressions programming. 

Offer #3
Project R.O.O.T

Our Project R.O.O.T. programs are specifically designed to invite youth and adults to enjoy the process of learning. while using evidence based Social Emotional Learning competencies, State-Standard English Language Arts and Fine Arts Standards, We establish a transformational blend of education and creation.
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ADDRESS

Midtown Tech Hive

6815 Euclid Ave

Cleveland, Ohio, USA

CONTACT

Calil Cage – Executive Director

(About Shows & Retreats)

440-409-7608

calilcage@thesparrowsfortune.org 

​​

Siarra Freeman – Programming Director (About Workshops & Project R.O.O.T)
sfreeman@thesparrowsfortune.com​

© Designed by Caira Lee for The Sparrow's Fortune

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