Cultivating JOY

Writing~Social Justice

Cultivating JOY is my Far South Border North Social Justice and Community Engagement campaign to empower writers and audiences as they explore their relationships with Nature. The FREE writing workshops, readings, and play performances are open to all and are centered in the communities of Skyline Hills/Paradise Hills, National City, and Southeast San Diego. Please check back for updates as the project rolls out from November 2023 through May 2024.

Ways to Support

• Presence–Go to one writing workshop or participate in all! Attend a public reading. Enjoy the play.
• Share–Tell a friend. Share social media posts.

Cultivating JOY Play

Produced by Asian Story Theater

with Soundscape and Puppets by ARTS

Content Advisory: Grief, death, implied suicide.

Performance Dates

Partner	Map link	Date	Time
Valencia Park/Malcolm X Library	5148 Market Street, San Diego, CA 92114	Sunday, April 14, 2024	3PM
ARTS	200 E. 12th Street, National City, CA 91950	Friday, April 19, 2024	7PM
Skyline Hills Library	7900 Paradise Valley Road, San Diego, CA 92139	Saturday, April 27, 2024	2PM

Press

Inquirer 4/10/2024 “A play nurtured by nature aims to help audiences heal”

Mental Health and Emergency Resources

Call 211 or visit https://www.211.org/get-help/mental-health for Mental Health Resources

Dial 988 or 1-800-273-8255 for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

San Diego Access and Crisis Line: 1.888.724.7240 – Free suicide prevention/intervention hotline in San Diego County

Veterans Crisis Line: call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) and press 1; or text 838255

Crisis Text Line: text the word ‘Home’ to 741-741

The Trevor Lifeline for LGBTQ Youth: call 1-866-488-7386

The Trans Lifeline: call 1-877-565-8860

Save the Dates

2024

Writing Workshops

with Thelma Virata de Castro

in partnership with

FREE writing workshops are open to writers age 16+ for participants with any experience level and working in any genre. We’ll look to Nature to guide our process and be inspired by ideas from Ross Gay’s Inciting Joy and adrienne maree brown’s Emergent Strategy. We’ll set goals, share supportive feedback, and build a sustainable writing practice through autonomy and accountability as we build community. Bring your laptop, journal, or other favorite writing tools (pens and paper will be provided). Come for each class or drop in as you are able. We’ll celebrate our work in a public reading at our final class.

FAQ

What kind of writers can participate? Designed for ages 16+. Any genre, any level of experience. Come as you are.

What will we be doing in each class? Creativity exercises, writing prompts, feedback sharing using the Liz Lerman Critical Response Process, goal setting

Do I have to write about Nature or JOY? Nature and JOY will guide our process, but you’re free to develop whatever project you wish.

Do I have to attend every class? There will be 3 different workshops (Skyline Hills Library, National City Public Library, and Valencia Park/Malcolm X Library). Preferably, you’d attend all the classes at a site and share your work at the public reading. However, you’re welcome to drop in whenever you can, and/or attend at multiple sites. The more you go, the more you’ll grow!

Community Resources

Click on the graphics below for links to these wonderful organizations whose support and inspiration made Cultivating JOY possible.

Thanks to Paradise Gardeners for hosting Creative Nature Journaling

Seed Paper Instructions

This activity is supported through Far South/Border North, a California Creative Corps program implemented by the City of San Diego in partnership with Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties, the San Diego Regional Arts and Culture Coalition, and the San Diego Foundation. It is funded, in part, by the California Arts Council, a State Agency, with additional support from The Conrad Prebys Foundation.