
HYBRID DAYLONG: Write Action: Meditation & Writing for People of Color
Sunday, July 13th
10AM – 5PM PT (Time Zone Converter)
With Melvin Escobar and Mushim Ikeda
Open to those who identify as BIPOC and/or mixed race
Closed Captioning Provided on Zoom
The center is fragrance-free and wheelchair accessible
N95/KN95 masks required
Do you identify as BIPOC and/or mixed race and want to write with fellow EBMC sangha members? Whether you’re an experienced writer or a novice attempting to put together your first poem or story, you are invited to this daylong full of fun activities that will get your creativity flowing.
The day will include basic meditation instruction, writing periods prompted by embodied action methods, time for free-writing, and a grand finale where we’ll have an open-mic for those who wish to share brief samples of their work.
Option for follow-up peer-led writing groups to emerge.
Let’s practice Write Action together!
Public Transportation/Parking:
– We strongly encourage public transportation/biking/walking since parking in the neighborhood is limited.
– EBMC is 4-5 blocks from 19th Street Bart (about a 7 minute walk).
– EBMC has bike parking inside the center.
– Meter parking is free on Sunday, and enforced Monday-Saturday 8am-6pm.
– There are also garages on Harrison at 15th and on Harrison between 17th and 19th. If you are planning to drive, please allow extra time for parking.
Cost
The teachings are regarded as priceless. So they are offered without a fee. You are invited to support the teachings and our efforts by contributing voluntary donations (the practice of “Dana”) for the expenses of the meditation center and the support of the teachers.
The ticket prices are listed as different tiers with suggested donations based on income ranges. For those who wish to give more, you may choose an “add-on” to your ticket. For those unable to give, there is an option for that.
Note that all financial gifts received here go directly to EBMC, and we invite you to give separately to our teachers, using the information below.
Other ways to give:
To make a gift to sustain the work of East Bay Meditation Center, you may do so via Paypal: paypal.me/eastbaymeditation or our website: eastbaymeditation.org/dana 100% of our programming is sliding scale and no one will ever be turned away for lack of funds.
Please also consider giving a financial gift to our teachers as well, who do not receive a salary for their work, and give their teachings freely to all.
~ For Melvin:
Venmo – @Melvin-Escobar
PayPal – melvin@melvinescobar.com
~ For Mushim:
Venmo: @MushimPatricia-Ikeda [4234 last 4 digits of my mobile phone]
PayPal: info@mushimikeda.com
For in-person participation:
For those wishing to practice in person, space will be limited to 60 people to allow ample space for social distancing. Participants will be asked to wear N95 or KN95 face masks. (N95 face masks will be available at EBMC.) Please note: The teacher may be unmasked while teaching.
To attend in person, you need to be completely free of fragranced body and clothing products — more information and a list of fragrance free products, including those that are especially good for people of color, appears on our website: https://eastbaymeditation.org/resources/fragrance-free-at-ebmc/
East Bay Meditation Center is a scent free / fragrance free space and is wheelchair accessible.
Universal Access Requests on Zoom to help with sound and video quality. If possible…
1. When speaking, introduce your name, pronouns, and (optionally) a brief physical description of yourself.
2. If using virtual backgrounds, please use static, simple, high-contrast backgrounds.
3. Please keep your camera still while your camera is on.
4. Please repeat your name when you speak to help those with visual impairment.
5. The host/volunteer will attempt to read any comments that appear in the chat out loud.
6. Please strive for clear audio and mute when you are not speaking. Phone access is also available.
7. If you have unmet access needs, please send a message to the volunteer or host in the chat. If the chat is not accessible to you, please offer them briefly in one minute or less via voice. Please do not send access requests directly to other participants.
Teachers
Melvin Escobar has walked the path of service for much of his life, drawing on his experiences as a queer man of color born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. He loves to read poetry and fiction, especially by BIPOC writers. His latest project is writing (mostly unsent) letters to old friends. Some of Melvin’s published writing can be found in Lion’s Roar magazine.
Mushim has published poetry, Buddhist essays in Lion’s Roar, Buddhadharma, and Tricycle, and autobiographical fiction widely under the names “Patricia Y. Ikeda” and “Mushim Ikeda-Nash.” A core teacher at EBMC, she has taught meditation retreats for people of color and social justice activists nationally. Mushim is the first recipient of the Ragdale Foundation’s Alice Hayes Writing Fellowship supporting work on a book-length manuscript, Elegy with Blue Shirt, Tie & Gun. Her autobiographical fiction piece, “The Vortex,” was nominated for the Pushcart Prize. See www.mushimikeda.com