12th Community Speaks: Frames of Mind 2023

510 Bellevue Way Northeast,Bellevue WA 98004

13 May, 2023

Description

In an evening of raw emotions and profound insights, our speakers will take you on a journey through their unique experiences, shedding light on the often-overlooked mental health challenges faced by South Asians. By breaking the barriers of stigma and silence, they will create a space for empathy, understanding, and open dialogue. Be a part of this transformative event as we celebrate the resilience and strength of our community members. Together, we will foster an environment of healing, support, and unity that uplifts and empowers us all. Community Speaks began in 2011 as a joint effort between Tasveer and API Chaya. It was a space for collective healing where South Asians who had experienced racism, discrimination, and other traumatic events could share their stories. Today, it has evolved into a two-month-long, facilitated workshop where people can talk about their struggles with acceptance and self-love and further the conversation on issues like sexuality, fat-shaming, and postpartum depression- among others- that affect mental well-being in the South Asian community, followed by a public exhibition. Grant: Humanities, WA and City of Bellevue Venue Partner: Bellevue Arts Museum Meet Our 2023 Participants Chithra Jeyaram Story Title: Operation Chithra 4.0 Chithra Jeyaram is a multi-lingual filmmaker and film educator. She makes films about identity, relationships, race, art, and health. She is an avid runner and has completed 14 marathons. Food is her first love. Chithra believes in the power of stories to heal and empower us collectively. At community stories, she will be sharing a pivotal mental health moment in her life that set her on a path to realign with her happiness and inadvertently shifted the trajectory of her life. Nida Shaikh Story Title: Finding Nida “I am a little lady living her best life with her best self.” For Nida whose name means ‘Voice’, adulting is all about embracing the ‘NIDA’ within her with all her heart. She is participating in Tasveer’s Community Speaks event to inspire people to listen to their little voices within them that make them who they are! Jaydev Bhateja Story Title: Beshram Rang Jaydev is studying neuroscience and computer science at the UW. He decided to participate in Community Speaks since he’s already an open book and sharing his story is served as a way of affirming himself and anyone who sees themselves somewhere in him. LGBTQI+ Pooja Gupte Story Title: Owning My Time Pooja is a passionate software engineer who believes in the power of technology to improve human lives. Her insatiable curiosity about the world drives her daily to wake up and learn. She is a speaker, a writer, an actor, and an international dance performer. Teaching, mentoring, and helping others bring her joy. Pooja believes that failures must be celebrated and reflected upon more frequently because they help us heal, learn and pivot to success. She is participating in Community Speaks to share her story of postpartum, hidden disabilities and how to put her needs first. She also hopes to encourage others to celebrate their failures and use them as learning experiences to heal and reach their goals.