Explore how to stay in touch with the lungs and luster of your creative practice in this virtual playboratory. How can we water and polish the gem-seeds that are buried in the challenges of daily life? Together we'll practice curiosity and buoyancy regarding how to live our art, via a sparkleporium of experiments, skillshares, and what Toni Morrison called "being alert and ready for unaccountable beauty."

Find the link to join in your calendar & in the upcoming newsletter.

Bio: Almah LaVon (theyy/themme) is artcestor-powered as a writer, mixed media maker, and fairy marsh monster living in Dionde:gâ. Almah is a creature of myth who is reputed to write fiction that engages unfettered Black imagination and dreaming a new world many-petaled. Their queer speculative novella is slated to be released in 2026.Theyy know beauty is rampant.

AlmahLaVonRice.com

“Isibeleko” is an isiXhosa word that translates to “womb.” Join Joyell Arvella for this unique opportunity to explore the overlaps of traditional midwifery, the sacred power of preserving our stories, and the elemental wisdom in indigenous African cultures. This workshop is rooted in ancestral traditions of community and nature. Attendees will be guided through an opening ceremony, a mini-lecture, writing exercises, and a closing ceremony. 
 
Isibeleko will be held at the Frick Environmental Center—a living building designed for experiential environmental education and public engagement. Attendees are encouraged to bring a journal and natural item for our community midwife and mothers altar. Come, there is a space for you.
 

Joyell Arvella, JD has been in birth work for 20 years and is on track to become a Certified Professional Midwife. She supports communities as a medicine weaver and writer who embodies birth work as an ancestral art practice. After sitting with griots and midwives on 5 continents, Joyell created the first birth worker residency in Senegal. When she is not supporting wombs, you can find her soaking in a bathtub somewhere in the world and writing.

 
REGISTER HERE: https://pittsburghparks.org/event/joyell-arvellas-woven-stories/

Join our workshop to discover the essentials of starting a business and launching a Shopify website. We'll cover key steps from ideation and planning to setting up your online store and driving traffic. Learn practical tips and tools to streamline the process and bring your entrepreneurial vision to life. Perfect for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to build a successful online presence.

Baiyinah Brookins, a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and a serial entrepreneur with a passion for cultural heritage and spirituality. She has an undergraduate degree in Business Management and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Women’s Spirituality from California Institute for Integral Studies, Baiyinah seamlessly blends her business acumen with her spiritual interests.Her journey into the world of jewelry began when her father returned from a trip to West Africa with a beautiful handmade Tuareg half-moon silver necklace. Inspired by the rich culture and history of the Tuareg Tribe, Baiyinah embarked on a journey of discovery and admiration. This newfound passion led her to establish Mystics and Sages, a brand dedicated to showcasing the handmade jewelry of the Tuareg Tribe.Launching the brand on a Shopify platform, Baiyinah has successfully created a bridge between traditional Tuareg craftsmanship and modern fashion, offering unique, handcrafted pieces that celebrate the tribe's heritage, history and culture.

Mommies and Aunties come play a fun match of soccer! We will stretch, run drills, laugh, and make goals together to be healthy and strong. You can bring your children to play with us or play come solo. We play July 14th from 2-4pm at Westinghouse Park!!!

Join us for a transformative workshop on setting up and tending to your ancestral altar. Learn to connect with your ancestors daily and strengthen your bond through herbs. Dive into ancestral wisdom and create a sacred space for guidance and healing. Perfect for beginners and those seeking to deepen their practice. Join us and honor your lineage.

Please bring a pen and notebook for taking notes during the session.

If you'd like to prepare beforehand to seamlessly build an altar after the class, consider gathering these items:

- White cloth
- Incense, cigarettes, or a cigar
- White flowers
- A vessel (1 or 3), such as a glass (thrifted or new, not for human consumption) to be filled with water
- A plant
- Photos of your elevated ancestors (ensure no living people are in the photos)
- Brown paper bag
- Purple marker or pen (any pen will suffice)
- Items that belonged to your ancestors or represent a connection to them (e.g., Bible, trinkets, jewelry, stones)
- White candle(s)

Prepare these items to make the most out of the workshop experience. We look forward to seeing you there!

Marietta Altenor is a Spiritual Herbalist, mother of one, and Spiritualist. Through her work as an Herb and Flower Farmer, she deepens her relationship with plants, ancestors, and spirit. Guided by nature, she sharpens her skills and hones her impeccable listening and keen sight, allowing her herbal and spiritual work to flourish. A Catalyst and Child of the Water, Marietta is a devoted learner who moves with her heart as a guide. With a brazen fire and a bright light, she uncovers the root in all matters. Through the power of prayer, plants, and spirit, Marietta creates magical work to alchemize and shift the seemingly impossible. Surrendering to fear, she cultivates a sacred space where the unseen and faith birth her deepest truths and desires.

Join us for an engaging and interactive workshop led by award-winning interdisciplinary artist Halima Afi Cassells and Jonesse Davis, the creative force behind Heartwork Wellness. Halima will guide participants through creating an exciting and inclusive swapping event, drawing from her extensive background in community engagement. Learn how to harness the power of community and creativity to promote sustainable practices. Then, under Jonesse's expert guidance, discover the art of upcycling, turning everyday waste into beautiful creations. Whether you're a seasoned crafter or new to upcycling, this workshop offers valuable insights and techniques to make a positive impact through art. Don't miss this chance to collaborate with Halima and Jonesse and turn your ideas into reality!

Halima Afi Cassells (b. 1981) is an award-winning interdisciplinary artist rooted in Waawiiyaataanong/Detroit, MI. Raised in a creative environment, her childhood, documented through unsolicited murals and fashions by her parents, fueled her exploration. Embracing community as the essence of her practice, she transitioned from painting to utilizing natural, found, and up-cycled materials, inspired by her passion for gardening.

Through projects like the Free Market of Detroit, Cassells delves into relationship-building, freedom, and work within participatory contexts, inviting public engagement through interactive installations and upcycled fashion creations.

Recipient of the 2023 Kresge Arts in Detroit fellowship, Cassells explores interconnectedness, studying anthropology, economics, global corporatism, and psychology to foster a 'right relationship.' As an advocate for artists, she spearheads community processes to uplift cultural capital and collaborates across various international spaces.

Jonesse Davis is the creative force and compassionate spirit driving the essence of Heartwork Wellness. From the earliest stages of existence, creativity wove itself into the fabric of Jonesse’s being, offering a refuge for exploration, expression, and human connection.

From hands-on craftsmanship to construction and artistic creation, Jonesse's transformation from a theatrical special effects artist to a skilled dental technician provided invaluable skills and insights, but a thirst for authentic fulfillment remained. This thirst was quenched after discovering the power of art therapy, igniting a visionary quest to develop a space to share the profound connection between creativity, self-discovery, and holistic well-being.

Jonesse earned a master's degree in Art Therapy specializing in counseling. Beyond academic excellence, she is an art facilitator, and spends time visiting afterschool programs, shelters, and safe houses throughout the Greater Pittsburgh Region.

Heartwork Wellness is a testament to Jonesse's journey – one that threads together diverse talents, a profound appreciation for human connection, and a commitment to holistic betterment.

Sometimes referred to as "somatic writing" spirit writing allows for the writer to tap into a deeper connection with their own spirit as a way of writing. Similarly, Lucille Clifton referred to some of writings as spirit writing where she engaged with and allowed for Spirit to take over. 

Samar’s Bio: I am an encourager of souls to live embodied in their truth while here on earth. I stand to witness the emergence of collective liberation and authenticity. I work to create expansive, brave spaces where communities exist in dynamic fullness. At the center of my calling is the work to elevate the voices of those who stand in liminality: queer, Black, femme and disabled being first.