Write Action: Meditation & Writing for People of Color
A daylong retreat with Melvin Escobar and Mushim Ikeda
Sunday, December 8th 2024
10 AM – 4 PM PT (Time Zone Converter)
HYBRID at EBMC and online
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. Let’s practice Write Action together!
NOTE: In-person ticket sales end on December 6th, so we can finalize our headcount for the center. If you wish to register for/purchase an in-person ticket after December 6th, please email kristal@eastbaymeditation.org. Thank you!
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.
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 Mushim
Venmo: Mushim Ikeda @MushimPatricia-Ikeda (last 4 digits of her mobile phone: 4234)
PayPal: info@mushimikeda.com
~For Melvin
Venmo: @Melvin-Escobar
PayPal: melvin@melvinescobar.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.
For Zoom participation, these are our Universal Access Guidelines:
– Please do not use virtual or blurred backgrounds
– Please keep your camera still when it’s turned on
– Please say your name when you speak
– Facilitators will attempt to read any comments in the chat out loud
– Please mute when you’re not speaking.
Teachers
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
Melvin Escobar is nourished and inspired by numerous beings via his roles as core teacher in East Bay Meditation Center, psychotherapist, yoga instructor and group facilitator. Melvin 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. MelvinEscobar.com
