Let's Talk: Black Mountain Institute with Colette LaBouff, Executive Director of Black Mountain Institute

 If you're an aspiring writer or simply a fan of a good story, you don't want to miss this week's #LetsTalkUNLV episode. 

Featuring special guest Colette LaBouff, the Executive Director of Black Mountain Institute, Let's Talk's latest episode focuses on the gift of story and how writers at UNLV can get support from BMI to pursue their passion. 

Listen to hear from Colette LaBouff about what it takes to become a writer, the important work the BMI does, and how students can get involved! 

About Black Mountain Institute: 

Black Mountain Institute at UNLV champions writers and storytellers through programs, fellowships and community engagement. We make space for meaningful collaborations and conversations; we understand service as vital. We ask questions about access, the environment, and labor. We find our home in Las Vegas–a place of hospitality in the middle of a desert. Between the manufactured and natural, urban and wide expanse, built and rebuilt, bounty and scarcity, we live within narratives of destruction and preservation. From the brightest spot on the planet, Black Mountain Institute amplifies writing and artistic expression to connect us to each other in the Las Vegas Valley, the Southwest, and beyond.

What is Let's Talk UNLV?

Rebels, tune in to 'Let's Talk UNLV' with Dr. Sammie Scales. Your express pass to everything UNLV — campus highlights, programs, and the latest buzz. Join us weekly as we chat with student leaders, administrators, and faculty, diving into the core of what makes us Rebels.

The program brings guests from different areas of UNLV every week to discuss campus highlights, programs and services, research interests that are essential to being a Rebel. Let’s Talk UNLV places its emphasis on connecting with student leaders who represent the voice of students on our campus. Guests also include administrators, faculty and staff responsible for upholding the mission of the university, which is teaching, research and scholarship.

Short, sweet, and Rebel strong – subscribe now for the inside scoop!

Unknown Speaker 0:00
You're listening to locally produced programming created in KU NV studios on public radio K, u and v 91.5. The

Unknown Speaker 0:11
content of this program does not reflect the views or opinions of 91.5 Jazz and more the University of Nevada Las Vegas or the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education.

Unknown Speaker 0:27
Welcome to another episode of Let's Talk UNLV

Unknown Speaker 0:30
K und 91.5. You're here with Tanya and a Leisha and our wonderful fantastic Yes, Miss Colette, Lubbock, Lubbock, Lubbock. Thank you for that. What a wonderful name some French.

Unknown Speaker 0:45
Yes, but I'm not much French. Italian

Unknown Speaker 0:51
Oh, wow. Well, Colette is here from the Black Mountain Institute. But before we get kicking off about the Batman Institute, I would love for Colette to share her origin story with us. How did you get here in this role in this place in this state?

Unknown Speaker 1:06
Yeah. So I came to UNLV and to this position at Black Mountain Institute in June of 2022. And I came via New Mexico, where I lived for 10 years. And I was executive director of the Tao Center for the Arts in Taos, New Mexico. But I'm originally from Southern California.

Unknown Speaker 1:30
Ooh, Kelly, girl. Okay, yeah.

Unknown Speaker 1:33
That's the short version so far. Listen, that's

Unknown Speaker 1:35
fine. That's perfect. But for the for those who are listening, including myself, I've never heard about the black mounts Institute, which is acronym for BMI, right? Yes. So tell me a little bit about what that's all about here. UNLV. And what that incompetence?

Unknown Speaker 1:48
Absolutely. So it started in it began in 2006. It is a literary organization. And it lives in the College of Liberal Arts. So we're part of the college. But we are a literary organization that serves not only the college, but also the campus and wider community

Unknown Speaker 2:08
was amazing. So, you know, when I was perusing the website, actually, I'm familiar with you from the previous year, I feel like I was on your mailing list for a while,

Unknown Speaker 2:17
we'll get get you back on.

Unknown Speaker 2:20
You know, I think you have a point. Now that I think about it. But you know, as I was thinking about it, I saw these wonderful stories, I saw these wonderful artists, I saw these wonderful writers. And I was wondering if you could talk about what is on the Black Mountain Institute and where these different genres these different people come from, and how you come to have these all these wonderful people featured on your page? Sure,

Unknown Speaker 2:41
yes. So there's a few things going on with us at a Black Mountain Institute. Part of it is we do public programs. So we bring in writers and artists to come and talk or share their work. But we also have fellowships. So we have residential fellowships that to fellowships one is called the sharing fellowship. And that fellowship is for kind of emerging writers, writers who have published at least one book with a literary or trade press, and they apply. And we look at their applications each year, and they come in, they live in Las Vegas for a semester, their housing is taken care of, we give them a place to live. And then, in turn, what they do is they give a public reading, they talk to, you know, share their work from a recent book or an upcoming book. And they also have a service component. So they apply with a project of the reason I want to come to Las Vegas is I'd really like to work with this community, or I'd like to do that project. So they have to have a kind of reason to want to come to Las Vegas, besides just wanting to write here.

Unknown Speaker 3:53
Well, because I'm sure many people will be signing up when they see Las Vegas. Let me

Unknown Speaker 3:59
type in capital. Can I could I write for the Astra concert.

Unknown Speaker 4:05
It's so funny, though, because most of the people who come have never been here. Yeah. So it's not like they're coming because they have a plan. Oh, though, we did have a fellow last year who went to all the Cirque shows, and made it her job to do that. But a lot of them really don't know where they're, they're coming, you know, and that makes it sort of exciting. They've done research. They're interested in working with groups of people, not just students, but like, for instance, right now, one of our fellows, a sharing fellow Edgar Gomez, his sort of service engagement project idea was to do a bilingual book club. And he's doing that at the writer's block, and it's a lot next book club, and they're reading, I think, three books through the fall while he's here, and that's drawn a group of people who are connected to the university but also or not? And that's really awesome to see.

Unknown Speaker 5:03
It is. I'm excited to just to learn, if you could just share your thoughts about the importance of storytelling. Why is that important?

Unknown Speaker 5:12
Yeah, in my role as, as Executive Director, as a person, storytelling is amazingly important. I feel like, in so many ways, I think when people hear storytelling, they think maybe of writing. But think of illustration also, or history, or politics, or we think of just our personal story, you know, how do we tell the story of ourselves our own narrative? So what I like to think of as storytelling, the reason it's important is because it helps us make sense of who we are for ourselves, but also to others.

Unknown Speaker 5:52
Are you saying that you have a personal relationship with storytelling? So I'm just curious as to where and how did you discover your relationships with storytelling? And did that inform your decision to do this?

Unknown Speaker 6:04
Yeah, so I in college, I studied, I wanted to study psychology, oh, stories there. In stores, and I'll tell you, I'll just tell you what happened was, I was terrible at math. And when it got to the point where, you know, I had to take math classes for the psychology major, I said, I need to, I need a different plan. That's me. Yeah, I mean, a different plan. So I, I also really liked theology and English, and they ended up studying English. And then discovering creative writing, and poetry. And I had an amazing mentor, Gail, Ron ski, who still teaches at Loyola Marymount University, which is where I went to school, as an undergrad. And from there, I decided I wanted to write, so I went to graduate school and studied poetry, and then got a PhD in English studying poetry. And then I've been writing since I don't know, since since that,

Unknown Speaker 7:08
you know, I'm, you know, I'm not at all surprised that you would have been drawn to psychology because I feel like, one of the things that I enjoy about the field is the opportunity to hear stories, totally, you get to have an opportunity, it's a window into other people's worlds. And there's just such beauty in the stories, especially the stories of resilience. So has one lead into the other because I feel like they are very much related. And I think,

Unknown Speaker 7:36
also from what you're saying, like a curiosity about people, and a curiosity about the world is part of it. You know, how does the world affect people? And how do we also affect the world day to day?

Unknown Speaker 7:47
Yeah, definitely those pieces there, there's power in stories, I would agree with you. Yeah. So

Unknown Speaker 7:54
and then to become a writer. So some people may say, Well, I'm not really good at grammar, or may not be as creative. You have to have all these different things to become an author or to become a writer. But as an expert, what would you say? What does it take to actually become a writer?

Unknown Speaker 8:10
I think it depends on who you are. Okay. And I think it depends on what you want to write and what what writing means to you. You know, there's, there's slam poetry, there's producing a book that you make yourself, there's having a publisher creative for you. There's all different ways to be a writer. So I think, what does it take is like, for me, no matter what, what venue, what role, what how you want to be heard in the world is going to require practice. And I think that that goes for anything you want to do well, but practice? Yes, that's really good. So not grammar necessary. Exactly.

Unknown Speaker 8:48
But just practice, right.

Unknown Speaker 8:51
I've heard two wonderful quotes around writing. One was from a creative writing and structure. And she said that writing for publication is like standing naked in the world. Because it requires you to be able to reveal parts of yourself because writing, I don't know, it's always felt sort of deeply personal, in terms of certain level of vulnerability. But before publication, like if you're just gonna keep it in your journal, you're good. Right?

Unknown Speaker 9:17
Exactly, exactly. And that's so interesting. I think about that a lot. You know, I write, I write poems and essays myself, separate from my job. And I think a lot about that when I go to write about people that I know. And they're in the world and what does that mean for people to read, what you've written about them and to be sensitive to that.

Unknown Speaker 9:41
I love that. I have a background, my Well, my background, my undergrad is in broadcast journalism. And I remember when I was deciding to become a journalist, part of what made me decide, because I didn't necessarily enjoy writing, but I love creative writing, and I've always been inquisitive about life and peace. Pull story. So all the things that you've mentioned. But I'm glad to hear you say that practice and then also just having a willing desire because those were some of the driving forces that made me decide, okay, this is the era that I want to go into. Also, because I was just like you, I didn't want to do the math. I did. I couldn't necessarily didn't want to do the math. I was intimidated. I was like, oh, no, I can't do that. So science is off the table. This is off the table, but journalism I can do, because I love getting engulfed into people's world. I just love the story and how we become and, and who we are becoming daily was always fascinating for me.

Unknown Speaker 10:34
Yes. I love that.

Unknown Speaker 10:36
How we engage with life? Yes, it's a very big part of it, you know, all those pieces that were not just individuals existing were individuals coexisting with the world and with each other. So, you know, I, when I was one page, I was noticing a term called literary art leader. What, what is the literary art?

Unknown Speaker 10:57
Yeah, I don't know. Let's see, um, you know, I feel like it's a leadership role in the arts, really, but also connected to the literary world. So, you know, I would say that someone in my role could be considered a, you know, a leader in the literary arts, what do we do, we support writers. So, in my work, everything I try to do, and this goes for the people, I work with my staff, but also the people who we give fellowships to, or the students we work with, really trying to see how can I elevate or amplify voices of writing? So again, to go back to whatever that writing form that writing takes, if that's a graphic novel? Or if that's slam poetry? Or if that's journalism, I'm making sure that I can support writers in how are they heard? How are they seen? How are they participating in the world and try to make those connections for them as an administrator. So what does that mean? Making sure that there's funding for them, making sure that I'm collaborating with people that could help them, making sure that I'm part of the wider university because we're at the university and giving them opportunities to, to have their work shared, wherever it wants to be shared?

Unknown Speaker 12:17
You know, you can, this is the thing that delights my soul. Every time I hear you say, graphic novels,

Unknown Speaker 12:24
or your graphic novel person I am and I'm a

Unknown Speaker 12:26
comic book, superhero graphic novel person. So I like that it's been elevated.

Unknown Speaker 12:33
Absolutely. This this important work.

Unknown Speaker 12:36
I have never heard of slam poetry. What does that actually mean?

Unknown Speaker 12:39
So you know, there's a lot of well, there's variation slam poem, there's a lot of slam and spoken word poetry in Las Vegas, a little bit different than maybe a published book, but more on the performance side of poetry. And it can vary. So you need to explore in Las Vegas to see what it looks like. And, you know, we have some amazing spoken word slam poets working in this city.

Unknown Speaker 13:06
I wonder that's wonderful. Now, with your department, do you all ever have any type of presentations or open mic nights or where people can come in and explore some of the work writing

Unknown Speaker 13:16
so we don't do anything like open mic, though, again, there's a lot of that happening in Las Vegas and in the valley. But what we do do is we invite writers in to share their work. And I can say that we support a series which is there is an MFA program in the English department, where writer and a PhD program where students are studying writing, creative writing, and they the MFA program has their own series. It's called neon lit. And it is the last Friday, generally speaking, depending on holidays of every month, and in fact, it's this Friday, so I guess I get to plug them. But it's, um, it is this Friday at the Beverly theater, the Segway, the second floor of the Beverly theater, I believe it's at seven, but it's a special Halloween, sort of version. And what they do is they have about six readers. And so those students who are studying here are able to share their works in progress. With the public and each other for encouragement, I would say, That's awesome.

Unknown Speaker 14:27
See, we learn something new every time. No matter how long we're sitting with, I mean, things that you just don't know, the best kept secrets of UNLV. So the reason for the show, let's talk UNLV Have you all come and share these things? I you know, it's impossible to know it all because we have such a big campus. These are gyms for me, you know? Well,

Unknown Speaker 14:46
exactly. And what I love about that is they tried to do their readings off campus at different locations, which I think encourages the people that you know, maybe they don't go to the university and maybe they're worried about parking here and maybe it's a little intimidate. Eating, like to come here. So they try to find places to do their readings elsewhere and it's free. Love it.

Unknown Speaker 15:07
You know, I really love so the part of it that speaks to me and that I really love is the scent the student piece and the burgeoning writer piece. Because a lot of times when you're finding your literary voice, you don't often know of places to support you don't know of ways to get connected. Everyone thinks that publishing Well, most people think the publishing is simply you write and then you submit to these big publishing houses. And then you cross your fingers and pray. But wait and wait. And wait and wait. Yeah, so this is almost like a program that helps to nurture new writers and help them to grow in their craft. So I love that that is something that you offer there.

Unknown Speaker 15:46
Totally. And, and I would say, Black Mountain Institute is really in a supporting role in that way, in that we offer fellowships and scholarships to those students who are in a program, we're not actually teaching them. But one thing that's really exciting about what we do with those students is kind of to fill in that piece that you're talking about, which is, yeah, they work with their creative writing teachers, right in their learning craft. But they also have an opportunity as graduate student assistants to come and work at BMI. And with us at BMI, they learn things like, what is the director do? What does the communications and marketing person do in the literary organization? What does a development person do? So they get a sense of like, if they wanted to go support other writers in their role, because we all need to work, you know. And if you want to be on the side of also elevating people in your community that way from the administrative side, finding out it's not so boring, I think is fun for them. It's not just paperwork. It's it's exciting. And it's really cool to see their eyes open to that, I would say,

Unknown Speaker 16:53
Yeah, I appreciate all of that I, I'm curious about this thing that I read about called the city of a city asylum.

Unknown Speaker 17:02
So that's also another fellowship. And city of asylum, is a fellowship designed for writers who have been persecuted in some way for their work in their country that they come from the place that they come from. And unfortunately, that's a lot of places in the world. And BMI welcomes those writers sort of through a network of recommendation. It's, I would say it's an informal network. There are other cities of asylum in the country. There is cities of city of asylum in Pittsburgh, there is one in Detroit, there is one in Ithaca. And so Las Vegas has one fellowship currently. And what that means is we bring in someone who has needs a safe place to be, and to do their work. And so we currently have a fellow, she recently arrived two and a half months ago from Iran. And we're thrilled to have her here. So part of that fellowship is funding to do your work for a year. And also they are provided housing, and really the stability they need that they haven't encountered, in the place that they came from, whether because of government restrictions or criticism of their work, or what they're writing about the content, often it's journalism. And so it's a really unique fellowship.

Unknown Speaker 18:35
Sounds like gives them more liberty and liberation here being a part of the program as well, because some of those countries as journalists, you don't really have every country that's free speech and first amendment rights and things of that nature. So

Unknown Speaker 18:46
absolutely not. And yeah, so it's, I think it's an incredible, it's incredible opportunity. And what I love about it is seeing those fellows participate also in, in the community too. So they come in, they want to be involved. They'll give talks, and they'll work with other writers, too.

Unknown Speaker 19:05
It's so funny, as you talk about this, my mind immediately thinks about the ways in which we're sort of closing in on what's allowed to be journalism, what's allowed to be written word, what's allowed to be shared, commonly. So I'm really glad that there are opportunities for people from different communities where their work has value and power, but they're not allowed to have that same voice that feels like you're giving them a voice and giving them back their voice.

Unknown Speaker 19:35
And yeah, and the space to do it. And you know, I think they come here. And, you know, we see all of the band books, things going on now, also. So I think it's interesting for them right now, to be coming and to be safe. And then to see that these are these these questions are questions everywhere. Here. It's completely different than what they've experienced and the danger they've had. Experienced, but it's, um, it's still back to the same question about can I say what I want to say? And what needs to be said?

Unknown Speaker 20:07
Yeah, I think that's gonna be the defining question of our time. Is is, are we given voice to the things that should be given the voice? Or Are we closing doors to that, because I think books are exceptionally important in the life of a child. They're exceptionally important, obviously, in the life of academia. And I love the idea that individuals who normally would not be able to share, or we have access to that, yeah, we have opportunities for that. And they have the ability to do that in a safe space. Yeah. So we have a few minutes left. Yeah. So what is the best way for people to get connected with you?

Unknown Speaker 20:51
Yes. Well, first of all, we have if you're on campus, people should just come over and say, Hello, yeah, we're in the Rogers literature and Law Building, and we're on the first floor. And you're welcome to just stop by and say, Hello, we have a website, Black Mountain institute.org. And really, that's the best way to kind of see what's happening. We have so many events, everything is free and open to the public. And I would say sign up for the newsletter, if that's something that you'd like to do, or stop by, and we would love to talk to you.

Unknown Speaker 21:26
That sounds wonderful. Um, one final thing that crossed my mind, as you were talking is I feel like storytelling is part of our DNA. Like we are story people. We have always been story people. So I am glad that there's a space and a place where stories can live. Stories can be shared stories are encouraged, and voices are given an opportunity to tell their story.

Unknown Speaker 21:49
Yeah, absolutely. And I think that that's, that's exactly why I wanted to come to this job is to be a part of that, you know?

Unknown Speaker 22:00
Well, we're so grateful. I think we should do it definitely apart to come back and visit us anytime. I mean, I've learned a lot things that I did not know, prior to you sitting down to interview with us. So thank you so much for your time. Thank you

Unknown Speaker 22:14
so much.

Dr. Renee Watson 22:18
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Transcribed by https://otter.ai