community event – Page 21 – Office of Community-Engaged Learning

Meet the Authors with Rhinebeck Writer’s Retreat (in person)

Rhinebeck Writers Retreat serves a crucial role for writers, in the long developmental process for their musicals. We give a writing team a weeklong residency in a private home just outside of Rhinebeck, where they live together for one week and do nothing but write their new musical. We ask for no money from Rhinebeck writers, take no share of future royalties, give each writer a stipend, and cover all costs of the retreat. Come meet the authors! Free and open to all. You’ll enjoy food, drinks, and conversation with the writers, learn more about the creation of their musical, and hear a few songs.

Email RSVP@rhinebeckwriters.org to let us know when you can join us. Once we hear from you, we’ll send more info about each event.

Discussion on: HERE AND THEIR

Sam O’Malley of Butte, Montana is happily engaged and running the family pizza parlor when a carefully guarded family secret is unearthed. Not only does Sam have an estranged aunt no one has ever mentioned, but it turns out she’s lesbian punk rock icon Vikki Vektor! While online stalking, er, research, Sam stumbles across the term “nonbinary” and digs deeper into a world that is simultaneously completely unknown and innately familiar. Is thirty-three “too old” to learn something new about yourself?

JASMINE JOSHUA (Book, additional Music & Lyrics | they/them)

Jasmine Joshua is a writer, producer, actor, and director. Jasmine’s solo show BREAD CRUMBS premiered at ACT’s Solo Fest and was included in Ars Nova’s ANTFest in 2021. Their nonbinary musical HERE AND THEIR is currently being workshopped at the Seattle Rep. Jasmine graduated magna cum laude from UC Santa Cruz with a degree in Creative Writing and a minor in Jewish Studies. They also studied with the Larry Moss Studio and the Groundlings. Directing: Intiman; Reboot Theatre; Cafe Nordo; assistant director at 5th Ave; associate director at Village. On stage: SPT, Book-it, SMT. Jasmine is the Artistic Director of Reboot Theatre Company.

HEATHER RAGUSA (Music & Lyrics | she/her)

Heather Ragusa has worked as songwriter and recording artist for over a decade, including fronting Heather Rae and Tumbleweed and opening multiple times for punk legend Exene Cervenka. Heather’s freshman album “Slow Down Woman” inspired the queer country musical LET’S BE SILVER, another collaboration with writing partner Jasmine Joshua. Heather has roots in both musical theater and commercial music production, and has collaborated and performed with members of Social Distortion, Steppenwolf, The Abiders, The Pullmen, The Side Show Preachers, Whiskey Chimp, and more. Also, not to name drop, but she once rode on the back of Nick St. Nicholas’s motorcycle, stole beer from Hoobastank’s green room, and squatted in Glenn Danzig’s trailer. Heather raises chickens and children in Eagle Rock with her husband, Jon-Paul.

NAMI In Our Own Voice (virtual)

In Our Own Voice is an interactive presentation that provides insight into what it’s like to live with a mental health condition.

National Alliance on Mental Illness Dutchess County presents In Our Own Voice – a unique one-hour public education program in which two trained speakers share their compelling personal stories of living with mental health challenges and achieving recovery. This presentation includes videos and discussion.

Register here!

This presentation provides:

An opportunity to hear open and honest perspectives on a highly misunderstood topic.
A safe place to ask questions, allowing for a deeper understanding of mental health conditions and dispelling of stereotypes and misconceptions. Through dialogue, we help grown the movement to build better lives.
The understanding that people who live with mental health conditions have lives enriched by hopes, dreams and goals.
Information on how to learn more about and support mental health and how to get involved in the community.

We believe through community awareness presentations like this, we can help bring hope to those who deal with mental health challenges, and their families and the greater community we share.

Come see our two presenters as they walk you through their journey to recovery… they will speak of their personal stories and give hope.

Zoom information will be emailed one hour before event. Please add contact@namimidhudson.org to your address book or safe sender list to ensure the email goes into your Inbox.

Fredrick Douglass Day (in person)

May be a cartoon of text that says 'жxorox CELEBRATING THE AFRICAN SPIRIT PRESENTS FREDERICK DOUGLASS Honoring, celebrating, and revitalizing the memory of Frederick Douglass with art, performances, mindful moments, and eats DAY CelebratingTheAfricanSpirit.org' Help us celebrate, honor, and revitalize the words of Frederick Douglass at College Hill Park. Frederick Douglass spoke in Poughkeepsie in 1858, and together we celebrate his life with drumming, singing, dancing, and readings of his words.

Featuring readings from the 1858 College hill words of Frederick Douglass, Melody Africa Drum & Dance Group, the Souls United Choir, Poughkeepsie Performing Arts Academy, interview with Artist Isaac Julien, mindfulness with Mioshi from Reviving Radical, Carlos’ food truck!