WORKSHOPS & COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS
WORKSHOPS @ POCKET PARK (2:30-9pm)
African Drumming with Brotha Ase
2:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Joshua "Brotha Asé" Gillespie is a storyteller, African drummer, multidisciplinary artist, and cultural educator whose work weaves together African and African American history, oral tradition, music, and visual art to strengthen community and preserve cultural memory. His vision is to create transformative experiences that reconnect people to their roots, inspire healing, and ensure that the stories of our ancestors continue to shape future generations.
Bomba Plena Drumming with Tearra Oso and Luis Ortega-Castrellon
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Tearra Oso & Luis Ortega-Castrellon are performing artists, educators, and Afro Boricua culture protectors who have curated a powerful, interactive workshop for all ages to practice movement, songs, & rhythms that have been passed down from our West African & Indigenous Boricua ancestors. Collectively these artists have over 60 years of experience practicing this ancestral technology known as “Bomba” and are excited to share this knowledge & healing with the community.
Chen Taijiquan with José Figueroa & Mind Body Synergy Institute (ASL)
6:00pm -7:00pm
José Figueroa has been a practitioner of Chen Taijiquan for over 30 years. During those years he has been very creative with its exhibition in many forms and functions. This workshop with the Mind Body Synergy Institute will allow you to explore some of them
Sacred Movement Yoga With Brother Ra (ASL)
7:00pm - 8:00pm
Sacred movement is an opportunity for us to pause and slow down our breathing while making some mindful movements with our body. Stretching and breathing for the purpose of strengthening the connection with ourselves.
When The Borders Cross Home: A Community Conversation with Patti Kemeya (ASL)
2:30-3:30
Patti Kameya is the great-grandchild of Okinawan and Japanese plantation laborers in US-controlled Hawaiʻi. She writes, edits, forages wild plants, and treats historical amnesia in Saint Paul. She received several Minnesota State Arts Board grants to research and write about a Japanese American family who moved to Minneapolis in 1919. As a teaching artist, she taught “Your Story and Historical Context” at the Loft Literary Center in 2018, 2022, and 2025. She occasionally performs comedy with Funny Asian Women Kollective. Find her work at pattikameya.com.
Community Conversations @ Demera (2:30-4:30pm)
Panafrikanism Nu Skool Of Afrikan American Thought (ASL)
2:30-3:30
The Nu Skool Of Afrikan Thought seeks to expand minds beyond white supremacist and eurocentric thinking, and to challenge oppressive structures. By teaching Black history and building Black Community, they seek to create pathways to Black Liberation.
Artist Member Takeover @ 825 Arts (2:30-9pm)
Artist Membership Takeover!
Come into the 825 Arts building and get to know our Artist Members!
Kim Berry will be drawing portraits from 2-5pm, and Sheena Vang will be offering anime caricatures from 6-8pm.
Broderick Poole will help visitors turn tote bags into art masterpieces. Stop by his table, grab a tote bag, and spend some time painting from 2-5pm.
Make a beeswax wrap with Matt Harren! Matt will be set up from 2-5pm, helping people use fabric and beeswax to create eco-friendly wraps.
At 4:30pm, Maria Arreola will do a reading from her forthcoming play. And at 6:30pm, Elaine Evans will be performing original music!
With magnetic poetry stations, a photo station, an art vending machine, and more, the Artist Membership takeover of the 825 Arts building will be fun for all ages! Make sure to stop by.
ASL INTERPRETED EVENTS ARE MARKED ASL