Stories on Our Block

In English | En Español | An kreyòl ayisyen

Inspired by The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

Miami Book Fair invites you to notice the words, images, and details all around your neighborhood and reflect on the spaces that shape us. What memories live on your block? Which sights, sounds, and stories make your neighborhood feel like home? Perhaps it’s the squeak of an ice cream cart’s bell, the scent of ropa vieja drifting from a kitchen window, a neighbor’s music echoing into the street, or the corner where friends always gather to talk.

This project encourages people to pay closer attention to their surroundings and share what they see, exchanging stories about who they are, where they come from, and the places that matter most to them.

You can submit your story in English, Spanish, or Haitian Creole.

How to Participate

Options to submit:

• Photo + Caption: Take photos of words/images in your neighborhood and pair with a short caption (Instagram/TikTok style).
  • Tag @miamibookfair.
• Photo + Vignette: Submit 3–5 images + 1 short written vignette (100–150 words) inspired by your neighborhood. (via Formstack)
  • Submissions collect release rights and create a pool for the final curated digital anthology.
• Audio Story: Record a max of 60-second voice note (spoken-word style) about what the photo/word means to you (upload to Instagram reels or TikTok).
  • Tag @miamibookfair.

All submissions will be collected from now until November 1, 2025. Select entries will also be curated into a digital anthology.

Together, through the joy of sharing a great book, we broaden our understanding of our world, our communities, and ourselves.

Submit Your Story!