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This program takes place in person at Charis Books and More, 184 S Candler Street, Decatur, GA 30030. No reservation or ticket is required, drop-ins are encouraged! All adult attendees must wear a face mask at all times during events.Whether you are on your way to or from the polls, are abstaining, or simply need a place to put your energy on election day, we invite you to join author Nya S. Abernathy and Charis Circle E.D., E.R. Anderson for a series of writing invitations organized from Welcome, Wonder: A Season of Practices to Curate an Awe-Filled Life. This event is part of Charis Books and More's 50th birthday season of celebrations from November 2nd-9th. Our theme, "Take Root Among the Stars," is a Parable of the Sower inspired invocation of the last 50 years of Charis history and dreams of the feminist future.
Together we will take inspiration from offerings like these from Welcome, Wonder: "Why are we obsessed with light when most of creation is dark? Think about the depths of the ocean. Consider the understory of the forest and contemplate humus. Life itself forms in the dark. The darkness of a womb. The darkness of a seed in the ground. And yet light is what we gravitate toward. Are we so divorced from mystery that we simply cannot stand not knowing? What are we afraid of?"
Through our writing, we can practice being with the discomfort of an unknown future at a very frightening time on the world's clock. We can also remember our agency, our power, and what our interconnectedness to all living beings requires of us. We can make plans and start, little by little, to find our way in the dark.
Nya Jacobs Abernathy is an educator, writer, and alchemist who co-creates worlds with you. With a steady focus on wonder and awe, Nya's creative non-fiction writing plays in the influence of speculative fiction and theoretical science—a way of imagining which dances so close to reality that the embrace feels impossible to break. Within the energy of this specific magic, her first book Welcome, Wonder offers a collection of reflections, questions, and affirmations to be revisited again and again. You can find Nya writing regularly about wonder, awe, and connection at her online publication Of Earth & Of Stars. Watch Nya's event with Charis on youtube.
Executive Director, Errol "E.R." Anderson manages the programming, fiscal, and daily operations of Charis Circle, and is always interested in the ways our communities can share skills and resources. A native Atlantan, E.R. came to Charis as one of the founding members of the Young Writer's Group in 1997, and has enjoyed helping build connections between communities of activists, artists, and academics in this city ever since. E.R. is lead facilitator of our Trans and Friends adult support group and co-facilitates the Gender Creative Parenting Collective, and the Trans and Queer Teen Game Group, because he knows that when young people receive a strong foundation in justice and liberation, they go on to change the world in unexpected and beautiful ways.
The event is free and open to all people, but we encourage and appreciate a donation of $5-20 in support of the work of Charis Circle, our programming non-profit. Donate via our website: www.chariscircle.org/donate or in person the day of the event.
Accessibility:
Charis Books is a fully wheelchair-accessible space with on-site van-accessible parking, two ramps, and additional overflow-accessible parking nearby. Most of our shelves are on wheels and can be moved to provide additional access. Our bathrooms are wheelchair-accessible and gender-neutral with motion-activated fixtures. Both bathrooms have wheelchair-accessible baby changing tables. Our directional signs are written in braille. Our events are mic'd for sound. We caption videos when we show them in the space. Free ASL interpretation is available for most Charis Circle programs upon request. Please email [email protected] to request interpretation as early as possible. We have several different kinds of seating for events. If you need a wider or sturdier chair and don't immediately see one available, please let us know and we will help you find one that fits your body. The space has all LED lighting. The space is not scent or chemical free but we do our best to minimize the use of chemicals and scents throughout the space and use low-VOC materials whenever possible. If you have specific questions about the space or how an event can be made more accessible to you, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
184 S. Candler St. , Decatur, GA, United States, Georgia 30030
