Special thanks to our sponsors and tireless organizers @brooklandartswalk, @kuchehdc, @kuzehpottery, and @omid.pilates @mooonbeam for sustaining Norooz Market’s seasonal events and community traditions! #wintersolstice #holidaymarket #yaldamarkethortage of hot food, drink, and entertainment! For more information visit @Noroozmarket

Calling all kids and their families! Join us for a Yalda crafting event on Sunday, December 8!

Come as we make and learn about the traditions of the longest night of the year, also known as #Yalda, while we craft together! It is a time when loved ones gather to eat, drink, and read poetry (especially Hafez). We will be coloring, cutting, molding, gluing, and having plenty of fun! 

There will be light kid-friendly snacks, as well as tea and sweets for parents to enjoy. We will also be learning how to seed pomegranates, an important part of the Yalda holiday.

Join us for a special end-of-the-year Book Klub event! We will read and discuss Killing Gilda by Yahya Gharagozlou, with the author! Come with your questions, and stay to chat over tea and get your copy signed. Books will also be available for purchase at the event.

“Killing Gilda is infused with intrigue, but at its heart, it's a love story that follows the best traditions of classics like The Beauty and the Beast. We enter the rarified atmosphere of the court, the young woman's life, and the reasons for her death. We follow the characters through the Paris of Madame Claude, the Shah's ski resort at St. Moritz, and Doctor Pitanguy's plastic surgery clinic in Baden Baden.”

About the author: Born in Iran, Yahya Gharagozlou earned an MFA from the University of New Hampshire. Gharagozlou has published short stories in The Kenyon and Massachusetts Review.

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This book club is intended to be an intimate, supportive, and safe space for SWANA (South West Asian and North African) identified femmes to discuss issues of identity, belonging, activism, and solidarity through storytelling. Please only register to attend if your identity intersects with the SWANA region. We thank you for respecting the intention for this book club to center the voices, stories, and experiences of this community.

While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!

Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together includes:

• Group sharing

• Small group sharing

• Tea and Sweets (feel free to bring your own snack!)

Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.

By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.

While this is a free event, we encourage you to consider making a donation if you can! 100% of the donations will be invested into the future of Book Klub.

_____________

About the Facilitators

Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.

Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view.

Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s monthly Book Klub event! We will be reading and discussing A Woman is a School by Céline Semaan.

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This book club is intended to be an intimate, supportive, and safe space for SWANA (South West Asian and North African) identified femmes to discuss issues of identity, belonging, activism, and solidarity through storytelling. Please only register to attend if your identity intersects with the SWANA region. We thank you for respecting the intention for this book club to center the voices, stories, and experiences of this community.

While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!

Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together includes:

• Group sharing

• Small group sharing

• Tea and Sweets (feel free to bring your own snack!)

Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.

By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.

While this is a free event, we encourage you to consider making a donation if you can! 100% of the donations will be invested into the future of Book Klub.

_____________

About the Facilitators

Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.

Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view.

Play backgammon at Kucheh! Don’t know how to play? You have the option of learning.

If you know the rules, sign up for the tournament. There will be a prize for first place, snacks, beverages, and art for players and spectators to enjoy throughout the evening. You will also have a chance to use a custom screenprinting press and take home your backgammon-inspired work of art!

Purchase your tickets and learn more about the event on Eventbrite using the button at the top of the page.

Join us to create a one-of-a-kind self-watering planter with the guidance of a plant expert! In this interactive event, you'll learn about water-wicking concepts and get hands-on experience building your own planter. Paints will be available so you can add your personal touch and make your creation truly unique. Be prepared to get a little dirty! If you're eager to start planting right away, feel free to bring a plant to place directly into your 2-gallon planter — otherwise, an assortment of seeds will be available for sowing.

The event will be led by Arman Milanian, an avid forest gardener and plant lover with 8 years of experience in regenerative agriculture and a passion for designing edible landscapes using permaculture principles. Arman is an edible landscape designer at Dandelion Foodscapes and volunteer coordinator at Forested, a 10-acre food forest in Bowie, MD. He is deeply committed to the earth and, a strong advocate of the solar punk movement.

Your completed work of art will be ready to take home at the end of the event. All materials, including paints and tools, are part of the ticket price.

Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s monthly Book Klub event! We will be reading and discussing The Anthropologists by Ayşegül Savaş.

_____________

This book club is intended to be an intimate, supportive, and safe space for SWANA (South West Asian and North African) identified femmes to discuss issues of identity, belonging, activism, and solidarity through storytelling. Please only register to attend if your identity intersects with the SWANA region. We thank you for respecting the intention for this book club to center the voices, stories, and experiences of this community.

While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!

Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together includes:

• Group sharing

• Small group sharing

• Tea and Sweets (feel free to bring your own snack!)

Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.

By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.

While this is a free event, we encourage you to consider making a donation if you can! 100% of the donations will be invested into the future of Book Klub.

_____________

About the Facilitators

Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.

Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view.

Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s monthly Book Klub event! We will be reading and discussing Let Us Believe in the Beginning of the Cold Season, a book of selected poetry by Forough Farrokhzad, translated into English.

_____________

This book club is intended to be an intimate, supportive, and safe space for SWANA (South West Asian and North African) identified femmes to discuss issues of identity, belonging, activism, and solidarity through storytelling. Please only register to attend if your identity intersects with the SWANA region. We thank you for respecting the intention for this book club to center the voices, stories, and experiences of this community.

While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!

Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together includes:

• Group sharing

• Small group sharing

• Tea and Sweets (feel free to bring your own snack!)

Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.

By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.

While this is a free event, we encourage you to consider making a donation if you can! 100% of the donations will be invested into the future of Book Klub.

_____________

About the Facilitators

Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.

Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view.

Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s monthly Book Klub event! We will be reading and discussing Behind You Is the Sea by Susan Muaddi Darraj.

_____________

This book club is intended to be an intimate, supportive, and safe space for SWANA (South West Asian and North African) identified femmes to discuss issues of identity, belonging, activism, and solidarity through storytelling. Please only register to attend if your identity intersects with the SWANA region. We thank you for respecting the intention for this book club to center the voices, stories, and experiences of this community.

While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!

Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together includes:

• Group sharing

• Small group sharing

• Tea and Sweets (feel free to bring your own snack!)

Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.

By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.

While this is a free event, we encourage you to consider making a donation if you can! 100% of the donations will be invested into the future of Book Klub.

_____________

About the Facilitators

Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.

Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view.

Play backgammon at Kucheh! Don’t know how to play? You have the option of learning.

If you know the rules, sign up for the tournament. There will be a prize for first place and plenty of snacks, beverages, and art for players and spectators to enjoy throughout the evening. You will also have a chance to use a custom screenprinting press and take home your backgammon-inspired work of art!

Purchase your tickets and learn more about the event on Eventbrite using the button at the top of the page.

Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s monthly Book Klub event! We will be reading and discussing Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El Saadawi. Content Warning: This book contains potentially triggering subject matter. You can download a free pdf of the book here.

_____________

This book club is intended to be an intimate, supportive, and safe space for SWANA (South West Asian and North African) identified femmes to discuss issues of identity, belonging, activism, and solidarity through storytelling. Please only register to attend if your identity intersects with the SWANA region. We thank you for respecting the intention for this book club to center the voices, stories, and experiences of this community.

While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!

Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together includes:

• Group sharing

• Small group sharing

• Tea and Sweets (feel free to bring your own snack!)

Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.

By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.

While this is a free event, we encourage you to consider making a donation if you can! 100% of the donations will be invested into the future of Book Klub.

_____________

About the Facilitators

Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.

Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view.

Phonebank for the lawmakers who are speaking up for Palestine.

AIPAC and the Democratic establishment are backing Rep. Jamaal Bowman’s multimillionaire opponent in the primaries. They are spending millions to influence the June 25 elections in New York, in opposition to progressive policies and calls for a ceasefire in Gaza. We need to support Jamaal in his reelection so he can continue making a difference in Congress and for Palestinians!

Pizza will be provided — bring your phone, and help us encourage voters to turnout for the primary elections and keep Bowman in Congress!

Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s monthly Book Klub event! We will be reading and discussing The Color Black: Enslavement and Erasure in Iran by Beeta Baghoolizadeh.

_____________

This book club is intended to be an intimate, supportive, and safe space for SWANA (South West Asian and North African) identified femmes to discuss issues of identity, belonging, activism, and solidarity through storytelling. Please only register to attend if your identity intersects with the SWANA region. We thank you for respecting the intention for this book club to center the voices, stories, and experiences of this community.

While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!

Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together includes:

• Group sharing

• Small group sharing

• Tea and Sweets (feel free to bring your own snack!)

Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.

By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.

While this is a free event, we encourage you to consider making a donation if you can! 100% of the donations will be invested into the future of Book Klub.

_____________

About the Facilitators

Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.

Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view.

Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s monthly Book Klub event! We will be reading and discussing Customs by Solmaz Sharif.

_____________

This book club is intended to be an intimate, supportive, and safe space for SWANA (South West Asian and North African) identified femmes to discuss issues of identity, belonging, activism, and solidarity through storytelling. Please only register to attend if your identity intersects with the SWANA region. We thank you for respecting the intention for this book club to center the voices, stories, and experiences of this community.

While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!

Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together includes:

• Group sharing

• Small group sharing

• Tea and Sweets (feel free to bring your own snack!)

Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.

By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.

While this is a free event, we encourage you to consider making a donation if you can! 100% of the donations will be invested into the future of Book Klub.

_____________

About the Facilitators

Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.

Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view.

Come play backgammon at Kucheh! Don’t know how to play? You have the option of learning. If you know the rules, sign up for the tournament. There will be a prize for first place and plenty of snacks, beverages, and art for players and spectators to enjoy throughout the evening. You will also have a chance to use a custom screenprinting press and take home your backgammon-inspired work of art!

Purchase your tickets and learn more about the event on Eventbrite using the button at the top of the page.

Enjoy tea and sweets while painting handmade ceramic bowls with your designs! Each bowl is lovingly made by our friend Pegah Shahghasemi of Kuzeh Pottery — and once you complete your design, your ceramic will be professionally glazed and fired by Pegah!

Bring your ideas to life, and create a one-of-a-kind piece with the help of a ceramic artist! Your completed work of art will be ready to pick up 2 weeks after the event.

The event will be led by Kuzeh Pottery and held at Kucheh Art Studio + Shop (716 Monroe Street NE, Studio 9, Washington, DC 20017). All materials, including tea and sweets, are part of the ticket price.

More about Kuzeh Pottery

Kuzeh Pottery creates artistic and functional ceramics including tableware, kitchenware, and bakeware. Owners, Pegah Shahghasemi and Lisa Ramber create their work with influences from Persian culture, Mediterranean patterns, and nature. The line is modern, yet very colorful with a touch of whimsy. Kuzeh is Farsi (Persian) for clay pottery.

Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s monthly Book Klub event! We will be reading and discussing The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy.

_____________

This book club is intended to be an intimate, supportive, and safe space for SWANA (South West Asian and North African) identified femmes to discuss issues of identity, belonging, activism, and solidarity through storytelling. Please only register to attend if your identity intersects with the SWANA region. We thank you for respecting the intention for this book club to center the voices, stories, and experiences of this community.

While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!

Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together includes:

• Group sharing

• Small group sharing

• Tea and Sweets (feel free to bring your own snack!)

Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.

By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.

While this is a free event, we encourage you to consider making a donation if you can! 100% of the donations will be invested into the future of Book Klub.

_____________

About the Facilitators

Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.

Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view.

Celebrate the coming of Spring at the annual Norooz Market in Washington, DC! Plenty of food and drink vendors, live entertainment, and most importantly art and handmade items to shop from local makers! All free and fun for the whole family.

Enjoy the smells and tastes of Norooz at the Brookland Arts Walk (716 Monroe Street NE, Washington DC) on Saturday, March 16 following the morning farmer's market. There will be no shortage of delicious foods and pastries, hot and cold beverages celebrating the traditional flavors of this ancient holiday celebrating Spring.

Live performances will be performed throughout the event! Stay tuned for big announcements and the program. We can't wait to share who will perform this year.

Learn more and stay updated here, on Instagram, or on the Norooz Market website: noroozmarket.com
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Norooz Market is FREE and fun for the whole family, thanks to our generous sponsors. If you are interested in supporting Norooz Market, please reach out to us at noroozmarket@gmail.com!

Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s monthly Book Klub event! We will be reading and discussing They Said They Wanted Revolution: A Memoir of My Parents by Neda Toloui-Semnani.

This book club is intended to be an intimate, supportive, and safe space for SWANA (South West Asian and North African) identified femmes to discuss issues of identity, belonging, activism, and solidarity through storytelling. Please only register to attend if your identity intersects with the SWANA region. We thank you for respecting the intention for this book club to center the voices, stories, and experiences of this community.

While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!

Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together will include:

• Mindfulness activities

• Writing prompts

• Group sharing

• Small group sharing 

• Tea

Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book before the event or are unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.

By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.

About the Facilitators:

Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.

Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view. 

Enjoy tea and sweets while painting ceramic pomegranates with your designs! Each pomegranate is lovingly hand-made by our friend Pegah Shahghasemi of Kuzeh Pottery — and once you complete your design, your pomegranate will be professionally glazed and fired by Pegah!

Bring your ideas to life, and create a one-of-a-kind piece with the help of a ceramic artist! Your completed work of art will be ready to pick up 2 weeks after the event.

The event will be led by Kuzeh Pottery and held at Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. All materials, including tea and sweets, are part of the ticket price.

More about Kuzeh Pottery

Kuzeh Pottery creates artistic and functional ceramics including tableware, kitchenware, and bakeware. Owners, Pegah Shahghasemi and Lisa Ramber create their work with influences by Persian culture, Mediterranean patterns and nature. The line is modern, yet very colorful with a touch of whimsy. Kuzeh is Farsi (Persian) for clay pottery.

Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s free and monthly Book Klub event! This month we will be reading and discussing Light in Gaza an anthology of works by Palestinian writers and artists, imagining a future after occupation.

This book club is intended to be an intimate, supportive, and safe space for SWANA (South West Asian and North African) identified femmes to discuss issues of identity, belonging, activism, and solidarity through storytelling. Please only register to attend if your identity intersects with the SWANA region. We thank you for respecting the intention for this book club to center the voices, stories, and experiences of this community.

We will share all questions and the agenda in advance of the book club. While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!

Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together will include:

• Mindfulness activities

• Writing prompts

• Group sharing

• Small group sharing 

• Tea

Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or are unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.

By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.

About the Facilitators:

Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.

Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view. 

Special thanks to our sponsors and tireless organizers @brooklandartswalk, @kuchehdc, @kuzehpottery, and @ofaclaw @mooonbeam for sustaining Norooz Market’s seasonal events and community traditions! #wintersolstice #holidaymarket #yaldamarkethortage of hot food, drink, and entertainment! For more information visit @Noroozmarket

Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s monthly Book Klub event! We will be reading and discussing Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa.

This book club is intended to be an intimate, supportive, and safe space for SWANA (South West Asian and North African) identified femmes to discuss issues of identity, belonging, activism, and solidarity through storytelling. Please only register to attend if your identity intersects with the SWANA region. We thank you for respecting the intention for this book club to center the voices, stories, and experiences of this community.

We will share all questions and the agenda in advance of the book club. While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!

Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together will include:

• Mindfulness activities

• Writing prompts

• Group sharing

• Small group sharing 

• Tea

Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or are unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.

By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.

About the Facilitators:

Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.

Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view. 

Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s monthly Book Klub event! We will be reading and discussing If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English by Noor Naga.

This book club is intended to be an intimate, supportive, and safe space for SWANA (South West Asian and North African) identified femmes to discuss issues of identity, belonging, activism, and solidarity through storytelling. Please only register to attend if your identity intersects with the SWANA region. We thank you for respecting the intention for this book club to center the voices, stories, and experiences of this community.

We will share all questions and the agenda in advance of the book club. While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!

Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together will include:

• Mindfulness activities

• Writing prompts

• Group sharing

• Small group sharing 

• Tea

Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or are unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.

By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.

About the Facilitators:

Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.

Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view. 

Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s monthly Book Klub event! We will be reading and discussing Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H.

This book club is intended to be an intimate, supportive, and safe space for SWANA (South West Asian and North African) identified femmes to discuss issues of identity, belonging, activism, and solidarity through storytelling. Please only register to attend if your identity intersects with the SWANA region. We thank you for respecting the intention for this book club to center the voices, stories, and experiences of this community.

We will share all questions and the agenda in advance of the book club. While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!

Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together will include:

• Mindfulness activities

• Writing prompts

• Group sharing

• Small group sharing 

• Tea

Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or are unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.

By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.

About the Facilitators:

Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.

Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view. 

This September, it will be the one-year anniversary of the start of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement in Iran. “Ghambastegi” (a play on the words “grief” and “togetherness” in Persian) will help us process what has happened this year, and prepare for the future to build resiliency and bring hope. 

This event offers an opportunity to create a safe space outside of self, and to look at our emotions from a different perspective, through creativity and art. Because of that, there is no judgment on the skills or the product, and anyone can participate without any artistic experience. 

We will be led and guided by local art therapist, Yasi Ahsanipour. The workshop focuses on wellness and mindfulness through therapeutic art directives:

• Introduction and ice breaking activity

• Creating collage art following the directives provided

• Processing and sharing about the experience

Please wear comfortable clothing, as we will be using glue and mixed media to create!

More about art therapy:

Art therapy is a mental health profession that uses art as an extra tool to put an image on our unspoken thoughts and feelings. Throughout the process it helps to foster a better understanding of ourselves and improve coping skills and self-esteem.

Art making itself is therapeutic and will help to reduce stress, but when we connect it to our emotions it will be more effective, especially in a safe and nonjudgemental group setting. All 18+ are welcome, and we especially encourage Iranians in diaspora to join.

Yasi Ahsanipour has a master’s degree in Art therapy from George Washington University, and works with hospitalized individuals to improve their mental health. In her journey to become an art therapist she learned how to use Art as a coping skill to deal with life challenges. As a result, she is on a mission to make art therapy more accessible. https://yasarttherapy.com/

Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s first ever Book Klub event! We will be reading and discussing Daughters of Smoke and Fire by Ava Homa. The novel highlights the everyday lives of Kurds in Iran through a compelling story of resistance, exile, and love. 

Jina Mahsa Amini was murdered by police forces on September 16, 2022, igniting the Zan, Zendegi, Azadi movement and protests in Iran and around the world. Jina's identity as a Kurdish woman, the subsequent attacks on Kurdistan by the Iranian military, and the history of marginalization and persecution of ethnic minorities in Iran are central to understanding and supporting this movement. In honor of the one-year anniversary of Zan, Zendegi, Azadi and the continued fight for freedom in Iran, we've selected Daughters of Smoke and Fire as our first book club selection to amplify the stories and voices of Kurdish women in Iran.

This book club is intended to be an intimate, supportive, and safe space for SWANA (South West Asian and North African) identified femmes to discuss issues of identity, belonging, activism, and solidarity through storytelling. Please only register to attend if your identity intersects with the SWANA region. We thank you for respecting the intention for this book club to center the voices, stories, and experiences of this community.

We will share all questions and the agenda in advance of the book club. While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!

Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together will include:

• Mindfulness activities

• Writing prompts

• Group sharing

• Small group sharing 

• Tea

Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.

By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.

About the Book and Author:

Daughters of Smoke and Fire is the first novel to be published in English by a female Kurdish writer. Set in Iran, this story follows Leila, who dreams of making films to bring the suppressed stories of her people onto the global stage, but obstacles keep piling up. Leila’s younger brother Chia, influenced by their father’s past torture, imprisonment, and his deep-seated desire for justice, begins to engage with social and political affairs. But his activism grows increasingly risky and one day he disappears in Tehran. Seeking answers about her brother’s whereabouts, Leila fears the worst and begins a campaign to save him. But when she publishes Chia’s writings online, she finds herself in grave danger as well. Daughters of Smoke and Fire is an evocative portrait of the lives and stakes faced by 40 million stateless Kurds and a powerful story that brilliantly illuminates the meaning of identity and the complex bonds of family.

Ava Homa is a renowned transnational author, activist, and lecturer. Beyond her literary accomplishments, Homa's influence extends to the realm of advocacy and public speaking, through which she has shed light on the Kurdish and Iranian women's movements, the power of writing as a form of resistance, and the significance of amplifying marginalized voices. Drawing from her intimate knowledge of Kurdish culture and her own personal experiences, Homa infuses her storytelling with authenticity and depth.

About the Facilitators:

Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.

Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view. 

Come play backgammon at Kucheh! Don’t know how to play? You have the option of learning. If you know the rules, sign up for the tournament. There will be a prize for first place, and also plenty of snacks, beverages, and art for players and spectators to enjoy throughout the evening. You will also have a chance to use a printing press and take home your own backgammon-inspired work of art!

Purchase your tickets and learn more about the event on Eventbrite using the button at the top of the page.

Join us on Saturday, July 8 from 3pm-7pm for our first ever Tirgan Market at the @brooklandartswalk!

Tirgan is a mid summer ancient Iranian festival, celebrated annually in July. It is celebrated with music, dancing, splashing water, reciting poetry, and eating delicious foods! We’re excited to bring together a community of local artists and makers to hold space and celebrate Iranian culture and the diversity of the DMV area.

Vendor and Sponsorship applications for Tirgan Market are open now until June 8! Apply today. 🌞

Limited spots available.

Join us for a group art experience! Through guided prompts we will get creative and explore ourselves and our relationship to activism, solidarity, and self-care. Art supplies will be provided. Absolutely no experience is necessary.

Our time together will include:

• A collective art activity

• Individual art time

• Group sharing

• Small group sharing

Refreshments and light Iranian snacks will be provided. Music will be deejayed by Saaman.

Please arrive on time to participate in the group activity!

Facilitators:

Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view. kuchehdc.com

​Shadi Moayedi is a creative workshop facilitator and wellness coach. She invites people to explore their wellness through mindfulness, creative expression, and nutrition. www.bodhi-house.com