Bravery takes Practice! Are you Practicing?
a story (and video) of unexpected bravery, upcoming events, resources, joy, and a free pattern!
Hello My Friends
I want to tell you about a courageous act I witnessed last month because I cannot stop thinking about it. There is a quarterly event in Chicago that I LOVE. It’s called 20x2 and it invites 20 creatives to take the stage. Each speaker answers the same questions in 2 minutes or less. I’ve been invited to answer twice now. This last time the question was…What’s the Mission?.
The thing I love most about this event is how unique each answer is. It’s such a testament to our diverse and creative brains. What’s the Mission? brought up the GREATEST 2-minute response ever. Beth Cummings took the stage and in 30 seconds brilliantly shared the story of her and her husband’s first kiss when she was 19 years old. She is now a widow. Her last first kiss was 23 years ago. She then used her last minute and a half to invite someone from the audience (all genders welcome) to come up on stage and give her her next first kiss!
Spoiler alert: she gets her kiss.
I stood in that audience and MARVELED at her bravery, her vulnerability, her panache! I love to witness bold acts of bravery.
Now more than ever, we need courageous action…from everyone…daily. Bravery takes practice. I am a firm believer in starting where you are at and pushing yourself every day to expand your comfort zone (by being uncomfortable). I talk about this a lot in my book.
I invite you to start a daily courage practice. Can you do something each day that pushes you into good discomfort just a little bit? What might that look like?
The Joyful Menace Society just read Defy, by Dr Sunita Sah. It was a wonderfully accessible introduction to the concepts of defiance, compliance, and resistance. Highly recommend if you are thinking about how to develop your bravery.
Let’s all do something bold today, eh?
UPDATES
The H+H Show took place this month in Chicago. I had never even heard of it before…not sure how because it was a MASSIVE craft convention. I mean MASSIVE. I had the pleasure of facilitating a panel on craftivism for the main stage and I did some book signings.
The panel featured: Knit the Rainbow, Loose Ends Project, Liberty Crochet Mural, and Dr. Melissa Blount.
They were brilliant and they inspired me to update the “community projects” section of my website. You can now learn about 19 craftivism projects that you can get involved in.
If you have a project that requires community involvement, send it my way! I may add it to the page.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Online
Community Crafternoon // Sunday, May 25th // 2-4pm CT // Zoom - Join Here
Creative Jam Live Stream // Wednesday, May 28th // 6-8pm CT // Twitch - Join Here
Embroidery for Sexual Assault Survivors a collaboration with Resilience // Wednesday, June 11th // 6-8pm CT // Zoom // Details to register here
Intro to Embroidery // Saturday, June 21st // 1-2:30pm // Zoom // Register Here
Community Crafternoon // Sunday, June22nd // 2-4pm CT // Zoom - Join Here
Chicagoland
Intro to Embroidery // Saturday, May 31st // 1:30 - 3pm CT // EcoShip - Register Here
Community Crafternoon // Sunday, June 1st // 2-4pm CT // Welle’s Park - Register Here
TEEN SERIES - Upcycling with a Twist
Thursday, June 4th // 4-5:30pm CT // Back of the Yards Library - Register Here
Tuesday, June 10th // 3:30 - 5pm CT // Vodak-East Side Public Library - Register Here
Tuesday, July 1st // 2-3:30pm CT // Chinatown Public Library - Register Here
COMMUNITY + CRAFTIVISM EXHIBIT
I am delighted to be working with the Arlington Heights Memorial Library on a big ole craftivism exhibit for pride month!
Come see part of the AIDS memorial quilt, Rita’s Quilt, The Let Freedom Read Dress, Welcome Blankets and more!
Here’s some details and how to register for the opening on June 12th. The exhibit will be on display through July 23rd.
I hope to see you there!!!
THE JOYFUL MENACE SOCIETY BOOK CLUB PICK
The next pick for our book club is…MINE!
and because I love you, here is a discount code for 20% off: CHANGE20
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/shannon-downey/lets-move-the-needle/9781635868906/
Our book club discussion (with the author lol) is June 18th.
All members of the Joyful Menace Society are invited. Join the fun today!
RESOURCES
The National Lawyers Guild has a brilliant video you should watch.
Here's an inspiring video from my favorite modern philosopher:
May 7th was International Harm Reduction Day.
Harm reduction is a public health approach grounded in respect for the rights of people who use drugs. It focuses on reducing the harms associated with drug use, rather than solely focusing on abstinence. This approach acknowledges that not everyone is ready or able to stop using drugs, and aims to meet people where they are at to improve their quality of life and reduce risks.
The primary goal is to minimize the negative consequences of drug use, such as overdose, infectious disease transmission, and social harms.
Many of you went through our How to be a Good Human training on how to reverse a drug overdose with naloxone/narcan. And you learned about the use of testing strips to detect fentanyl and prevent an overdose. If you missed those workshops you should check out the resources at >>>
A draft budget proposal for the Department of Health and Human Services would cut funding to a crucial program that equips first responders with naloxone which works within minutes to reverse an overdose and save the user’s life.
I recommend everyone get themselves some narcan spray and testing strips. You could save a life! You can now buy narcan spray in most pharmacies and big box retailers. You can also find an interactive map here to locations across the country where you can get narcan and testing strips. https://harmreduction.org/resource-center/harm-reduction-near-you/
FREE PATTERN
Here is a link to the pattern should you want to stitch it and help spread the word about harm reduction and the importance of naloxone and testing strips!
JOY SEEKING
I took a basket weaving workshop at the Chicago Weaving School this month and I am VERY pleased with the result.
Lastly, I just wrapped up a 12-week intergenerational embroidery program that I’ve been leading since February for Art on Sedgwick. Y’all this group was amazing! So much talent and so much joy!
xo
Shannon