On Anti-Violence, Artivism, and Healing: A StoryCorps Interview with Purvi Shah!

For the second half of this month, I put up a firm "On Vacation" sign and put my NYC life on hold. Back to the west coast, back to my family, and back to reading a book a day. So much of my past few months have been about producing -- more workshops, more writing, more editing, more jobs, and more meetings. Going back home allowed me the opportunity to take things at my own pace. I got to be a "student" again, this time of my own health and healing.

I've returned to NYC refreshed and hoping that I can carry on with that student mentality; though we talk about sustainable movements and self-care so often, it's a slippery state to hold on to! In the coming weeks, I'll be writing about what I've learned on my spiritual self-care as I've been fasting during this Ramadan, but for now I want to reflect on some learning that I did before packing my bags:

Take a listen to this conversation between me and Purvi Shah, a facilitator of the Movement to Power workshops hosted by the South Asian Women's Creative Collective (SAWCC). We're talking about anti-violence, creative expression, and our own relationships to healing in this wonderful piece for StoryCorps. And, while you're at it, check out the beautiful workshop video made by Shruti Parekh!

Reading at the SAWCC Creative Commons Literary Festival!

I am excited to announce that this week I am going to be reading my own fiction at Asian American Writer's Workshop! Come see me read my work at the MIXTAPE - the opening event for the South Asian Women's Creative Collective's transmedia literary festival this Friday at 7pm. More info below:

Creative Commons: A Transmedia Literary Festival

Friday, November 30–Saturday, December 1, 2012

Storytelling and creative processes have undergone a revolution in the digital age. We dip in and out of different forms of media, borrow from each other every day, and create completely new forms of communication and expression. Inspired by these shifts, SAWCC presents Creative Commons, a two-day transmedia literary festival featuring authors, comedians, filmmakers, and other storytellers writing at the intersection of literature, media, and performance.

Friday, November 30, 7 pm | Mixtape: Reading

@ the Asian American Writers’ Workshop
110-112 West 27th Street, 6th Floor (btwn 6th and 7th Aves)
$5 at the door
The festival kicks off with an evening of song-inspired readings by South Asian women. From ghazals to indie rock, bhangra to electronica, these writers will celebrate the crossovers of music and literature and explore the ways in which songs and music influence poetry and prose. Featuring Jordan Alam, Roohi Choudhry, Kavita Das, Swati Khurana, Bhumika Muchhala, Bushra Rehman, and Roopa Singh.
Alongside the reading, artist and writer Swati Khurana presents “Scrolling Texts,” a participatory project in which attendees can have their saved text messages transcribed onto scrolls, tied with thread.