Leaven hosted our 4th Annual Winters Makers Market and Silent Auction on December 15th.
There was a great buzz of energy throughout the afternoon; seeing friends, listening to live music, having a break with a sandwich and homemade treats. And then there were the 18 artist vendors of handmade gifts and foods!
Again, we offered free tables to Youth and BIPOC artist vendors in keeping with our mission of equity and reciprocity. We so appreciate the artist vendors for sharing their creativity with the neighborhood!
NEW this year was an "Emerging Artists Zone". New artists and designers and offered limited editions. Also new this year was the Raffle and live music in the“Cafe Cheer”.
In this fundraiser, together, we play a vital role in continuing Leaven’s work in relational organizing centered in our shared values of diversity, story, justice and action. Funds raised for Leaven were over $1,700~
We soooo appreciate the Artists, Makers, Bakers, Growers and local businesses, auction and raffle donors in our vibrant neighborhood an beyond!
Special thanks to Superstars Arvella Hietala and Micah Gorans! We had over 20 volunteers who made it a day of love and cheer. So much appreciation for our collective fun loving efforts that made this community fundraiser happen!
Credible Hope in the face of it all
by Alison Killeen
This morning, my partner Brian and I sat together at our dining table and talked about this new and not-new world we find ourselves in again today. We spoke about the numbness, the shock, and the embarrassment about the shock. We talked about our fear for (all) our child(ren)’s future. We wondered: What Now?
Then Brian said something that landed so strongly for me. He said, “I am looking for credible hope.” Not the next thing to do, the next fight to win, the next explanation why, the next platitude. Not the shallow hope which so many of us rush to in moments like this, to try to stuff down our grief, rage and fear.
But credible hope is something that is solid, and true, and real. It is offering love that is grounded. It has substance, shows the truth. It emerges from relationships that can hold the most vulnerable and rageful and fearful and vengeful parts of us. Credible hope reminds us that this life is both bigger and smaller than this moment - as excruciating as this moment is.
Mary Oliver offers credible hope when she writes, “It is a serious thing just to be alive on this fresh morning in this broken world.” This breath is still a gift. And this one, too.
Credible hope reminds us to take the time to grieve. There is no right way to feel right now, no right thing to do. There is only connecting with our bodies and doing what we can to nourish them.
And credible hope invites us to rely on community. Times are about to get tough(er) - and especially for those most vulnerable among us. Let us turn toward each other, come alongside each other, love each other, and hold each other close.
So, if it feels right, come to Leaven today - and let’s look for grounded, durable, truthful, hard, and credible hope together. The building will be open, with soft places to sit and be, and grieve, if you need to. Come to whisper, to scream, to light a candle, to eat a meal, to cry, to talk, to be numb. All of it is human. All of it is welcome.
