You Belong Here

Hey friend, I took some time off from the YBH book club to breathe. But after the election and the state of this country, I realized, we gotta get back to it. By it I mean, growing as individuals, learning/unlearning, understanding different perspectives and shifting our points of view, continue understanding how our intentions can have major impact, but most importantly stepping back and understanding how we hold ourselves accountable for our own actions, and evaluate w...hether are actually doing the work or just being talking pieces. I know this sounds cray, but reading has helped me tap into all of the above and keep me in check and in alignment with my values. It’s easy to cross over those lines and act without integrity. But damn, when I get to those moments when I don’t want to do the work, I pick up a book and get slapped back into reality. This world ain’t going to heal itself. Let’s do it TOGETHER. I picked an appropriate book to meet us where we are at. I hope you’ll STAY HOME & join me. December Reading: The Purpose of Power: How We Come Together When We Fall Apart by #BlackLivesMatter co-creator, activist, and leader Alicia Garza @chasinggarza First Discussion is Tuesday, December 8th &6pm Parts I & II Link in bio to register Plus: Scroll to see what else I’m keeping my brain busy with these days.

San Diego Design week has officially begun! Starting today throughout September 13th, you can participate in many cultural arts events virtually or live, including WE ARE SACRED, an exterior window installation at You Belong Here, by artist and educator, Chitra Gopalakrishnan @chitragopala The showcase included fifteen portraits of Black Womxn, in most recent American History, who have had their lives unjustly taken from them. ... Prints of all of these paintings will be displayed along with typographic posters and resources to provide awareness for the injustices occurring in the larger community. The hope for this installation is not just awareness, but also to provide resources to the community and engage with them and make their voices heard. These paintings are a part of a series that were made earlier this year to fundraise for the Hill Street Country Club, a BIPOC woman-owned gallery in Oceanside doing essential work in the community. YBH is located at 3619 El Cajon Blvd See more

We are Sacred- A new Exterior Art exhibit is now up and ready for all to see. This art showcase was painted, curated, and created by by local artist, educator, social enterprise founder, and faculty at @prisonartscollective, Chitra Gopalakrishnan, @chitragopala. Chitra Gopalakrishnan’s print window installation is a collection of fine art portraits and typographic posters of slain Black Womxn and Children in recent American history. Prints of all of these paintings will be d...isplayed along with typographic posters and resources to provide awareness for the injustices occurring in the larger community. The hope for this installation is not just awareness, but also to provide resources to the community and engage with them and make their voices heard. These paintings are a part of a series that were made earlier this year to fundraise for the Hill Street Country Club, a BIPOC woman-owned gallery in Oceanside doing essential work in the community. This exterior art installation will be up from September 9th -13th for @sddesignweek . Check out the installation at 3619 El Cajon Blvd.

Forever reminded of the power of space. This past weekend, YBH opened its doors to a new family. The House of Resilience family. An organization lead by Achi Vasquez, @houseofresiliencesd aims to provide free housing for Transgender WOC. YBH collaborated with Achi, @ladymaximo, @kickitwitchin and @_manny_gomez to bring to life a full on color coordinated pop-up clothing shop for the Transgender and LGBTQ+ community. ... Thanks to the community for SHOWING UP!! Over 100+ donors and well over 300 bags of clothing! And thanks to the volunteers who gave their time to help sort and organize clothing. Thanks to Achi, Lady, Sheena, and Manny for pouring lots of love and support into the community. Creating safe space is empowering. See more

This time next week, you’ll have the opportunity to immerse yourself into a COVID-safe art installation by writer and artist Elizabeth Salaam, @ecsalaam . With this multiple media installation, she uses writing to tackle issues from her own experience which encompasses all of the things: cultural isolation... sexual abuse addiction racism The showcase will run from Friday, September 4th through Sunday, September 6th. Appointments will be allotted to ensure social distancing is in effect and will occupy six attendees per hour, with a half-hour reserved between each session for sanitizing. You can schedule your appointment for the in-person experience or watch from afar via zoom, by registering with link in bio. A portion of proceeds will benefit You Belong Here rent relief To learn more about this unique and powerful experience, check out IG stories. @islandfarmpress See more

Last year YBH hosted, collaborated, sponsored, and curated 57 community, arts, and education based programs. When the RONA and all the shit that came with it hit, I felt like I had no business continuing to take up space. Seriously, considered closing the doors. For like a second. When I reflect on the people I met, and how they built safe space and soulful refuge within YBH to tell their stories and challenge narratives, develop programs that provoked thoughtful discussi...on and to bring attention to things we refused to see, I was gently reminded that I must keep pushing forward. Proud to share that YBH has manifested forward momentum and higher vibrations with the help from the community. We here, taking up space. Onwards and upwards. Baby steps. Thursday, Aug. 27 @2-7pm | Clothing drive drop-off at YBH for Transgender WOC and LGBQ+ with @houseofresiliencesd and @ladymaximo Sat-Sun, August 29-30th | Pop-up shop/Free clothing benefit for Transgender WOC and LGBQ+ community. Organized by @houseofresiliencesd and @ladymaximo September 1 @6-8pm | YBH Social Justice Book Club continues | How to be an Antiracist by @ibramxk | Register link in bio September 4-6th | Write or Die an immersive art experience by local artist @ecsalaam | This will be a COVID-Safe in-person experience (and a zoom option) | By Appointment Only | Register link in bio September 9th | An exterior art installation by @chitragopala for #BLM Social Justice Awareness during @Sddesignweek Photo by @stacykeck See more

Really honored to hold space for local artist Chitra Gopalakrishnan for this upcoming installation for San Diego Design Week

Friends, you know that we are committed to creating a safe space for candid discussions with our community. With that being saidIt’s time do the work to become better allies to our black community and change the dominant narrative that is deeply rooted in systemic racism. We're starting a book club for those who are serious about making change. It's time to get real and to open our eyes to what's really going on around usand inside ourselves. We're going straight for the h...eart with our first book, "White Fragility: Why it's so Hard for White People to Talk about Racism" by Robin DiAngelo. This is a great place to start, as the book explores counterproductive reactions white people have when their assumptions about race are challenged, and how these reactions maintain racial inequality. It's not going to be comfortable, but if we're committed to the anti-racism movement, then we have to be willing to do whatever it takes and start by challenging our implicit biases and prejudices. The YBH Book Club will meet biweekly via Zoom, beginning June 23rd at 6pm. Come with the first five chapters read. We'll take it a few chapters at a timetogether. Looking forward to the discussions ahead. Tap link in bio to register. Also, you'll find links to ebooks and audiobooks on the registration page. If the book is outside your budget, please do not hesitate to reach out and let us know. We’re happy to help. @ San Diego, California

Hello friends. We’ve been on the quiet side lately, but we’re still here, supporting and standing in solidarity with our black community. These are heavy times we’re in, and there’s a lot of noise out there. A lot of misinformation. So we’re taking the time to listen carefully and learn how to actively be better allies through education and impactful discussions so that we can help create change that endures. We’ll be in touch soon. #blacklivesmatter #blm #amplifymelanatedvoices #amplifyblackvoices