CHICAGO — Singer songwriter Jess Godwin has crafted an avenue for students to build essential communication skills by way of the creative arts. Her collaborative music workshop SHAMELESS offers young people an opportunity to confront, express, and transform their experiences of shame. Godwin guides groups in structured songwriting activities. These poetry and music exercises engage and challenge students to find their own voice. Her goal is to build confidence and resilience in young people by inviting them to creatively speak to their own feelings of shame, jealousy, comparison and perfection. Throughout each one-hour workshop, Godwin leads students through a series of free writes, and discussions that ultimately lead to writing and performing an original song as a class.
Take an inside look at SHAMELESS in the classroom in this short documentary: youtu.be/Khq4XAvkxQU .
For inquiries to bring Jess Godwin’s unique workshop SHAMELESS to your community, please write to: shamelessworkshop@gmail.com .
Godwin is the recent recipient of two generous grants from Chicago’s 3Arts (www.3arts.org). From 3Arts: “The 3Arts Awards offer applause and deserved recognition to exceptional Chicago-based women artists, artists of color, and artists with disabilities. Every year, ten artists from the six-county Chicago metropolitan area who are working in the performing, teaching, and visual arts receive 3Arts Awards of $25,000, with no strings attached.” The launch of Godwin’s SHAMELESS project is a direct result of these grants.
Jess Godwin is a nationally touring recording artist and “DIY Pop” pioneer. Her catalogue of original pop music releases are available on iTunes. Godwin’s single “Fool Me Once” boasts over one million YouTube hits and was featured on Lifetime’s DANCE MOMS (danced by Maddie Ziegler of Sia’s “Chandelier.”) Other featured music television credits include KEEPING UP WITH THE KARDASHIANS. Chicago stage appearances include duetting with Kristin Chenoweth at the Chicago Theatre, National Anthem singing for the Chicago Bulls and engagements at Mayne Stage, Double Door, The Athenaeum, Subterranean and Bottom Lounge. An accomplished actress, Jess’s Chicago theatre credits include: A WONDERFUL LIFE (Mary), GYPSY (Louise), COMPANY (April), SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE (Dot), SHINING LIVES (Frances), THE WILD PARTY (Queenie), PIPPIN (Catherine), SNAPSHOTS (Susan), TICK, TICK…BOOM! (Susan) and CAROUSEL. Concerts include: GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD: JESS GODWIN SINGS ELTON JOHN. Learn more at godwinanthology.com .