This was an inspiring weekend for every type of writer who needs a little push. I had fun sharing my poetry with a talented group of Los Angeles poets at the annual LitFest Pasadena.
Spreading sweet treats of compassion.
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One of the best things happened to me! I was able to fullfill a bucket list dream which was to put on a community Music and Cultural Festival. Although there is room for improvement I can honestly say it was the best decision I have made this year. It takes support of family and friends to keep me motivated and pushing towards my goals and vision. I am grateful. There will be more festivals curated by me in the on going years. The world is as good as you make it. Stay focused, stay positive and set your intention. Please do yourself a favor and research the historic relevance of "Black Palm Springs" in the 1920's during Jim Crow. This annual festival is not just about having a good time it's about historical awareness in underserved communities. Come out next year for free camping, free swimming, yoga, live music and community! Find us on Facebook: Val Verde Music and Cultural Festival
#urbansoulfarmer grew out of a need to learn my culture and tradition through the migration of medicinal plants and spices. Urban Soul Farmer is also a platform that synthesizes wellness, art and nature. The aim is to sow seeds of wisdom about our past, present and future. Study, research, certifications, observation, workshops, community, interviews, and travel are all part of my process to create an experimental multimedia narrative about my ancestors. I am continuing as Blaqnomadtales to archive stories of healers, counselors, and underground artists of the African Diaspora. Our stories need to be told by us and preserved by us. The time is now. Stay tuned 2017 I would like to thank Rock Rose a Gallery for donating a garden plot to urban soul farmer. I will be hosting classes every two weeks for demonstrations, hands on projects and community building. As part of an "art and nature" series, I have been chosen to organize and develop urban gardening workshops inc...
I am an artist and holistic health advocate. My love is using healing arts for community building. This is a workshop developed for self care and empowerment. We can not fully be a Goddess if we are constantly burned out and drained. We discussed the importance of sacred space, herbs specifically for womban health and tasted home made kombucha, hibiscus and dandelion root tea. We even had a fantastic time making mosaic pots for our own sacred space. All guests left with an Urban Soul Farmer gift bag. Please contact me for the next Goddess Workshop coming up! Urbansoulfarmer.tumblr.com
Greetings, I am floating, flying, sailing into darkness, uncertainty and faith. It's been an interesting year so far. I feel myself evolving while unraveling. With the death of my grandmother and my beloved friend just a few months apart, I feel the ancestors tugging at me like never before. My production company is providing a service in order to fund our film production about the African Diaspora called DiSpell. I would like to thank all of you who have donated at our fundraisers. We continue to stay passionate about traveling along the Caribbean coast and archiving stories. The goal is to fly to Afro Caribbean Costa Rica and travel by land back to the United States maintaining and documenting stories of our ancestors. We are the historians that must keep our own stories alive. It is important to instill strength, courage and holistic health practices in our POC communities. I am a holistic health advocate and I want to remind you of who you are. As storytellers and multimedia...
Spring is always a self reflection of who I have become mostly because my birthday is in March. Urban gardening is not just a hobby it's a lifestyle that gives me hope, faith and abundance in a world of uncertainty. A seed is potential. Compost is rebirth. The sun and moon connects us all to growth and prosperity. I am a holistic health advocate who aims to help people reconnect with who they are instead of getting lost in illusion. I have gained tremendous insight from traveling. Food sharing and community has broadened my views on migration and the cultures and traditions that have maintained medicinal herbs and their use. I will be venturing into this topic in the film DiSpell . Sobek Films Holistic Health: Gardening as mindfulness; tune into nature: The more you grow, the more you will invite butterflies, ladybugs, praying mantis, lizards, hummingbirds and bees. Gardening is inviting a beautiful atmosphere into your environment and having the pleasure to se...
Having a blast meeting new people at the Black Caucus on the Bakersfield College campus. I'm thrilled that community leaders are excited about #urbansoulfarmer workshops. I had so much fun exchanging info with positive folks. I'd like to thank everyone involved! #sobekfilms #daughtersofthediaspora #grubscape
Hello friends, I am pleased to announce our first pop up film fundraiser is finally here! We will have a fun evening of show and tell, music and live entertainment. DiSpell is the outcome of my travels to Costa Rica, Louisiana and researching my ancestry. I partnered up with filmmaker Skryb Anu of Earth Realm Comics and we will navigate across country to experience and archive ancient traditions and cultures that connect people of color on a global scale. Our intention is to empower and rebirth a new way of thinking about the African diaspora. Our intention is to reconnect with who we really are for further innovation. ********** Have a laugh and enter the crab derby at the event February 6th! Support a Caribbean hermit crab in the crab derby for our film fundraiser ! Your crab needs your support at the finish line, cheer it on! Fun things are going on February 6th and you are invited! Help us reach our goal and buy an original designed Tshirt / credit cards ac...
Piddle Productions & Sobek Films are combining forces !! With your donation we will be able to: Have safe travels Equipment maintenance Post Production What type of film is Dispell? It's a docu-narrative about travel, cultural awareness and the importance of storytelling. What is it for? To empower and rebirth a new way of thinking about the African diaspora. Sobek Films Presents.. "DiSpell" Two African American women from Los Angeles who happen to be filmmakers, take a documented journey that explores African diasporic cultures, religions and preserved traditions. Watch them embark on enchanted forgotten paths and connect with fascinating people as they travel the transatlantic slave trail, through Afro Latino Central America and back to Africa. Zoe Blaq of UrbanSoulFarmer and Skryb Anu of Earth Realm Comics will take an unforgettable expedition and you are invited. More info: Sobekfilms@gmail.com
Art Play is an adult arts and crafts night I put together for fundraisers, good times and stress reduction. I am utilizing my love of art to help people and raise money to complete my travels for my documentary. It was so much fun instructing people 21 to 65 paint their perception of the piece presented. I would like to thank the Unions Education Committee Scholorship Fund for inviting me. Wine and snacks Raffle Door prizes Create! Be free! Cheers! For more info on Art Play in the Los Angeles area: Piddleproductions@gmail.com DONATIONS
Me and Mom (Kathy Bartney). She took me to Europe as a child to persue her dreams as a singer Fascinating storytellers! My grandmother at 16. I was invited to share the shady areas of my family tree that I am most thankful for (hahaha) at a unique and charming night called Shaking The Tree in Highland Park. I was touched by the stories that we shared that night. I come from a family of writers, farmers and educators. My grandmother was the first Black teacher in Fortcobb, Oklahoma. My great, great uncle was the first Black cowboy to lead a parade. My cousin in the 1920's was a professor and invented a breed of cow. My mother was the first out of 8 children that followed her dreams and moved to Europe. I'm proud of my family and it is nice to know who my ancestors are and continue to be. My family always concluded we were mixed with Indian because of our hair type and our connection to Indian culture living in Oklaho...
Self love is God. Forgive yourself for not being perfect. Forgive others for not being perfect. When we can love ourselves despite our imperfections we can have compassion and empathy for others. Perfection is in the constant fine tuning of self. It is not a place or destination. Your reflection is filled with creative potential. Be free to be yourself. Self love is God. Zoe Blaq
I am grateful for waking up and allowing myself to feel all emotions dark and light. Thanks for continuously supporting my healing through travel, visual art and holistic gardening. After a near death experience, I will never look at my life the same again. I am thankful that others are being inspired by my work. We are all individuals with original and unique talents. Be authentic without comparing and copying someone's ideas. Be still. The best ideas come with clarity in silence. Lots of good stuff in progress and I'm excited! Having faith in the process is challenging, no doubt. May you continuously feel curious about my loud silence. It's the hunters full moon and eye see you. Sincerely, ZB
Greetings! I found myself traveling around Central America this summer and discovered a unique perspective of the Black and Indigenous. Just a few years ago I spent some time in Louisiana researching my fathers side of the family and discovered that my Grandmother is creole French and I am Chikasaw on both my fathers side and mothers side in Oklahoma. I have come to realize that our traditions are collective memories stored in our DNA. Africans left traces of ancient Ancestors wherever that slave ship landed. We are the beginning and the end. Our global traditions and cultures have cross hatched, intermingled and woven the fabric that connects us to relatedness. It is important to share stories of healing, listening and quieting -past and present. Understanding how our history connects on a global level is the path towards freedom and empowerment. I will document the importance of keeping our history and ancestors alive with art and ecology from North America to...
Donation Perks: $5000- Executive Producer $1000- Special thanks in credits / DVD copy / Los Angeles VIP Party $500- Signed Photography book/ Los Angeles VIP party $100 - 2 tickets to premiere / Los Angeles VIP Party $25- Los Angeles VIP Party Greetings! I am a Los Angeles writer and cultural documenter of the healing arts. In a quest to understand my family history in Louisiana and Oklahoma, I became fascinated with the richness of creole and indigenous culture and traditions. As a world traveler I have decided to explore a narrative of quieting, listening and healing through an adventurous trip along the Caribbean Sea to study and experience creole and indigenous culture in Central America. Archiving gives us a point of reference and I feel it is important to tell the stories of our people through film and photography. I am in Costa Rica at this time and would love for you to join my journey by supporting this project I desire to share ...