A super big Thank You to all who participated, coordinated, contributed, supported, and attended the 17th Annual Celebrating Words Festival. We hosted a successful and exciting event and we cannot wait to do it again, bigger and better than ever next year! We continue to grow and learn each year and we are grateful for the opportunity to host this wonderful event.
We gave away every single book totaling up to 1,000 brand new books in the hands of the community. You can check out our Book Giveaway Catalog here, for 2022.
Shout out to all the artists that contributed to our Art Giveaway:
Cecilia Lopez, IG: cecilialopez_art
Alexis Davila, IG: my.morning.doodles
Desiboo Creations, Desiree Sanchez, IG: desiboocreations
VLY GRL, Alisa Damaso, IG: vly_grrrl
Erica Friend, IG: Insomniart
Elvia Aguirre, IG: aguires.art
Juan Pablo Reyes, IG: jpmurals
Victor Zuñiga, IG: victorz
Imagine Vivid, Vanessa Gomez, IG: imaginevivid_vmg
Ms. Yellow, IG: msyellowart
Izuriel Marquez, IG: izurielmarquez
Thank you to our performers that brought us ceremony, poetry, live music, and community to our main stage:
Kalpulli Temachtia Quetzalcoatl
Tia Chucha Founders Trini & Luis
Street Poets
Rhythm Arts Alliance
Plaza Comunitaria Sinaloa
Gr818er
Son Jarocho
Mimo Molina
Prestigio Mundial
Viento Callejero
Thank You to our workshop facilitators and artists who offered creative workshops for our festival:
Healing Through Writing by Jesus “JFLOW” Flores and Angel “SGN” Romero
Light Up Clothespin Craft by DIY Girls
Interwoven Storytelling Through Quilt Making by Monica Juarez
Community Mural | Mural Comunitario by Desiboo Creations
Print That Stuff! Celebrating Words with Ink and Block Printing by Xitlalic
Polaroid Lift with Erick Iniguez
Paper Card and Found Objects Earring Workshop by Diana Castro
Plant Care Workshop with Mr. List
Screen Printing by Las Chicas Peligrosas
Creating Our Next LA by LA Commons
Library of Liberated Hearts and Minds: Envisioning Collective Community Care by From Trauma 2 Transformation
Community Mothering Panel by CSUN Ethnic Studies Education Pathways Project
OUR VOICE NOW Documentary Premiere by Arts for Healing and Justice Network
Comics Workshops by Javier Hernandez, of Los Comex
Thank You to our community resource fair participants:
Project Rebound, Dream Center, Plaza Comunitaria Sinaloa, Pacoima Beautiful, Pacoima Neighborhood Council, Helping Hands Resource Center, Gr818ers, Climate Resolve, Latino Outdoors, VACAcicleta, LA Youth Commission, Department of Mental Health, Pacoima Diamonds Jewelry, The People’s Project, and Los Angeles Educational Partnership.
Thank You for our first Press Row:
AK Press, ‘Lil Libros, Con Todo Press, LA Poets Society Press, Tia Chucha Press, and Flower Song Press
Thank You for our first Comics Row:
Featuring local comic creators! A la BRAVA: Latina Superheroes, Comadres Y Comics Podcast, North Fourth Publications, and Los Comex by Javier Hernandez.
Thank you to the vendors of our Mercadito:
Dressographs, Xico Station, Kalli Arte, Ex-Voto Design, Artediosas, Maitri Healing Co., Art de Karla, Chingona Vida, Tarjetitas con Amor, Dora’s Tiendita, Nectar Azul, Penny Puede, and Earthy Corazon.
Thank you to all the food vendors that fed and nourished us:
Come hungry and support our local food vendors. Joining this year is: Guayaba Kitchen, Always Coffee, Lula’s Chile Deliciosos, La Vida Flan, La Chinantla, and Tacos Arabes Food truck.
And a special Thank You to our Sponsors for supporting the vision of Celebrating Words Festival:
Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs
Los Angeles Educational Partnership
First 5 LA
Valley Presbyterian Hospital
Pacoima Neighborhood Council
Vaughn Next Century Learning Center
The Big Read
Supervisor Sheila Kuehl District 3
WE RISE
WE RISE 2022: BY US, FOR US is a series of community-led events that support health and healing across Los Angeles County. A collaborative impact initiative that is now in its fifth year, WE RISE 2022 invests in local organizations, artists and leaders to strengthen community wellbeing. For more information, please visit werise.la
#cwf #cwf2020 #celebratingwords #cwf818 #sfvcwf #tiachuchascwf #books #culturalspace #culturalbooks #POCartists #read4change