Beachside chats
Why does it take as long as it does for two people to see each other in their humanity?
Why isn’t it the first thing we see?
What would happen if we accepted where and who we are?
“It was like a dance. Everyone arrived with their stories past, along with their discomfort present. The metaphor of the uproaring element only brought our heads closer to hear each other over the din. Forgetting the rain, lost in the moment. Until the voice of reason steps us back into reality, without shame. We rise in courage, bringing with us the wisdoms of knowledge and experience.” Insta@tuktakstudio, September, 2, 2020
This is a FREE program. Everyone in the community needs to REGISTER to participate. IF you would like to donate toward the effort, please DONATE by clicking the button. We often need help to maintain this program VOLUNTEER your time, energy and expertise.
“This is what made the movement, he said. “Our voice was really heard. But it didn’t happen by accident. We made certain it was heard.”
Using art to ground, Beachside Chats started, in June 2020, as an outdoor gathering, meeting for a couple of hours each month. It was a place to discuss and begin integrating all of the histories that we have access to in this age of information. History takes longer to create than to write or tell about. This online gathering offers a safe space to unlearn and relearn the shared culture we live in, allowing a process for individuals to integrate their values and beliefs in hopes to lead the life of their choosing.
When the protests after the death of George Floyd reminded us of the starkness of disparities that exist at every juncture of American society, a relearning of its history needed to take place. A re-examining of the facts, rather than pandering to the stories written by those in power. The creation of privilege, tied to the color of skin is deeply ingrained in the fabric of American culture, even today. For this culture to exist it needs perpetuating by us, those who live it. This is where change can happen, if it does. But for that a community needs to gather.
Tuk Tak Studio is grateful for its friends and neighbors who have had the courage to continue to gather and challenge the discomfort of discussing our intimate views on race and privilege. But we do and have and are no longer avoiding it.
“A few of us got together for a socially distanced discussion about race and the privilege we bring to the conversation. The intention was to create a space where people could openly ask questions, teach, learn and challenge safely. Without a forum to share our stories, it was becoming difficult to move forward and feel empowered to act differently. The conversation wasn’t easy, but it left us feeling connected to each other, relieved to have a space to discuss possibilities and learn together what we fail to see alone. We walked away challenging ourselves to make conscious choices in how we spend and how we face injustice head on so that our children can learn something different.” Instagram@tuktakstudio, June 20, 2020.
Every voice matters for change to take place. This group is open to any individual who wants to attend. We tell each other stories from our experiences and learn how we impact each other in our bodies. We practice sensitizing to our words and actions in our immediate environments with the hopes to ripple change.
As we move indoors and online, we will learn together how to continue this discipline of consciously participating in creating change within ourselves and those around us.
Please join us in imagining something new.