JLiv Inspirations

10 years ago, this baby dude came into the world, and so did a special nonprofit called Hearts for Kindness 💙 I am honored to have served on the founding board and currently serving again!

Next week, we will be celebrating the 10 year anniversary and I’m helping to coordinate donations for raffle baskets/items.

✨ Can you donate a gift card? Piece of artwork? Service? ✨

Let me know! All proceeds go toward this amazing organization that helps people with emergency expenses. Times are tough and one unexpected bill can be detrimental to a family or person.

Help us celebrate and continue to help people right here in our community 💙

We're so excited to participate in the inaugural Concord Sound & Color Festival on Friday and Saturday, 10/18-19 in Downtown Concord! Check out the participating CAM artists during this 2 day event with engaging arts, music, food, and fun for everyone!

https://concordsoundandcolor.com/artist-market

Art From Memory
B.L. Batchelder Art
By Arlene Pottery
Crafty Creations by Rylee Ames
Craft Happens
Crafted by Erica Aubin
Elm ART Studio
HLEmrick
JLiv Inspirations Art
Keira Curtis Art
Kodama Creations
Leah Kuehne Art
Mellifera Modern
My Darling Threads
Postage Stamp Soap Company
Sewing Nerd Studios
Simple Chaos
Stella Orion Studios
Shay Vogel/Vogel Haus Studio
Warm N Fuzzies by Amy
White Rabbit Arts

It was an honor to speak at the Rotary Club of Concord this week about my favorite topic: the Concord Multicultural Festival 🎉

It was wonderful to discuss the history and significance of this community celebration, especially since I was invited by my friend, Cary Gladstone , who was involved in starting the Festival many years ago.

Mark your calendars for the 17th Annual Concord Multicultural Festival!

I love this so much 🥰

Two of my dear friends coming together for a beautiful outcome 💜 💜 💜

Batulo's Kitchen and Saad Hindal / Art From Memory.

When I worked for the Capitol Center for the Arts, I created a Culinary Artist in Residence Program for people from historically marginalized communities who wanted to start a culinary business without as much risk. An incubator, if you will. Batulo's Kitchen was the first to participate in the program, building her business for a year and then launching her food truck this past spring.

Also while I worked there, I recruited Saad Hindal, a local artist from Iraq who has made Concord his home, to paint a mural on the wall in the lobby of BNH Stage. We paid him an actual artist wage for this project, something he'd never had before.

✨These were life-changing opportunities for both Saad and Batulo✨

While Saad spent 2 weeks painting the mural last September, he got to know Batulo and her family. Fast forward to now: Saad and his son, Hassan, have painted Batulo's food truck. Now Batulo's Kitchen has a unique and beautiful food truck, and Saad has another large scale professional work in his portfolio.

This is what it's all about for me. The opportunities, connections, friendships - leading organically to beautiful outcomes. It's like dropping a pebble in a pond and watching the ripples spread.

Send a message to learn more

This past weekend, the American Independence Festival took place in downtown Exeter. This was my first time organizing this festival and it was SO HOT - that last pic is me at the end of two days in 90 degree heat!

I truly enjoyed this new experience- the people from the organization were so great to work with, I loved learning more about the 18th century time period, and I really appreciated that the organization, though steeped in history, places great emphasis on their role in shaping the future.

This has been such an interesting event to organize! Join us next Saturday, July 13 at the American Independence Museum!

Robert Levey, interim director of the museum, said the goal for this year’s festival is “to create an experience that connects that past with the present."

“What we want people to appreciate is that history happens every single day,” he said. “What happened yesterday still has meaning and is relevant today … who we are as Americans is because of what took place during the revolutionary period of America.”

“One big aspect of the village this year is a concerted emphasis on delivering educational content to visitors,” he said. “When visitors leave the village, they will have learned a little bit about whatever traditional arts were demonstrated and their connection to today.”

Exeter's American Independence Festival 2024: What you need to know The 34th American Independence Festival returns July 13 in Exeter, featuring military demonstrations, 18th-century artisans and more.

I love that my event planning skills have opened my eyes to so many new experiences and knowledge throughout my career.

When I began organizing the New Hampshire Herbal Network (NHHN)'s Herb & Garden Day, I knew *nothing* about plants, herbs, and natural remedies. Now I grow my own herbs and use them (still very much a novice though)!

When I took over the planning for the Concord Multicultural Festival, I didn't know any of our new neighbors, or about the cultures they brought here to their new homes. Now I feel so blessed to know so many people from around the world and my eyes have been opened to so many different perspectives.

I recently just started working with the American Independence Museum to organize their Independence Festival on July 13. I am learning so much about 18th century life and details about the Revolution that I didn't know (or ever think to learn).

I am looking forward to the day of this event to really immerse myself in the past and get to know the many people involved who are passionate about keeping our history alive.

https://www.independencemuseum.org/american-independence-festival-to-bring-history-to-life/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1uLTY_WdFRO2gmw59yVb-XNPovGBG3GUs35EA_ORLdWqbk76960K27OJ0_aem_U0Rnwxjrh9ppyoFdvoWhKg

American Independence Festival to Bring History to Life - American Independence Museum On Saturday, July 13, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., visitors to the American Independence Festival will be transported back almost 250 years to the brink of the American Revolution.

Concord Multicultural Festival By sponsoring the Concord Multicultural Festival, your company or business can benefit from the publicity of this popular event. There are many ways to sponsor, with varying levels of marketing benefits to suit your needs. 

In collaboration with the City of Concord, and numerous art organizations in Concord, NH the Concord Sound & Color: Music & Arts Festival is seeking sculptural works, both mid-sized work and larger-scale public art. The Sound & Color festival will take place on Oct. 18, 19, 2024 and will likely draw over 10,000 people to the city.

APPLY HERE -->

FORM — Concord Sound & Color Call For Entry: SculptureOpportunity open to ME, VT, MA, and NH ResidentsSUBMISSION DEADLINE: Sept. 15, 2024, 12:00AM NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE: Oct. 1, 2024 EXHIBITION DATES: Oct. 18, 19, on display through Jan. 17 2025. Name * First Name Last Name Email * Email Phone Phone Number ( # # #) # # # # # # #...

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🎵🌟AMAZING MUSIC ALERT!!!🌟🎶
The FIRST Annual Concord Sound & Color Music & Arts Festival is set to illuminate Concord, NH on October 18-19. This event is presented by Bank of New Hampshire. Learn more at concordsoundandcolor.com.

The Concord Sound & Color Festival is a FREE community-driven event dedicated to celebrating the arts and music. Our mission is to create a vibrant and inclusive environment that brings people together through creative expression and free live performances. The weekend features an array of outdoor arts activities, stunning sculptures, captivating performance art, food vendors, and live music from a diverse lineup of talented bands.

Here's our amazing line up of musicians so far (More to be announced soon!):

October 18th:
Oliver Hazard
Adam Ezra Group
Tyler Hilton
GoldenOak
Billy Wylder
April Cushman

October 19th:
Colony House
Rubblebucket
Couch
Billy Gilman
Taylor Hughes Music
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER
Eliot Fisk

This event is a true collaborative effort to bring world class arts to the City which includes partners like: City of Concord, New Hampshire, Capitol Center for the Arts, Pillar Gallery Projects, Intown Concord, Concord Community Music School, Feathered Friend Brewing, NHMusicCollective, Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce, Concord Arts Market, Queerlective, and more.

What a beautiful, vibrant, fulfilling weekend! I got to see and talk to so many people, and experience the joy that is this little community of .

On Friday, I got to table for Capital City Pride while Journee was away running their Decolonize and Discover Festival (shout out to Journee for being an amazing human being and community builder!). This was during Intown Concord's First Friday event, which is getting more and more popular!

On Saturday, I had a booth at the Concord Arts Market (I make digital and collage artwork (check me out on IG: 😁). I love that Concord has this market that has over 70 vendors, as well as local food and local music by NHMusicCollective

June is National Indigenous History Month and Pride Month! In this article, actor Lily Gladstone, who is Blackfeet and Nimíipuu, recently clarified and educated people about the intersection of their indigeneity and queerness. Lily Gladstone is not two-spirit, they use rolling pronouns. Learn more in this article: https://i.mtr.cool/dpcljdiqgg

Last night I graduated from Leadership New Hampshire. Class of ‘24 - !

The graduation event also honored Steve Reno, long time executive director of LNH, who is retiring. If you know Steve, you’ll know why there’s a bowtie!

What an incredible journey LNH was. Nine months of in-depth session days all around the state, learning about the challenges in our state, meeting so many people who are making a difference in NH, and building friendships with a truly diverse and remarkable group of classmates.