The Festival of Gentleness gathered local Bay Area poets, visual artists, chefs, and musicians into Oakland’s Fig Leaf Gardens.‍ ‍

In support of the Oakland Arms Embargo, we waged a day of gentleness in service of the world we dream of and know is possible.

I was so grateful to organize the event with support from my friend Manuel Garcia, co-founder of Fig Leaf.

The event hosted 200 guests throughout the day.

Poets: Adrian Matias Bell, Trinh Le, Ankoor Patel Hanne Williams-Baron

Musicians: Giulia, Tierra Suelta, Seraphina Perkins

Artist Vendors: Ms. Kiki Robbins Art, Julia Fox Hansen, Flood Tide Zines, S Smith Textiles, Nina Ines

Food: Dos Raicez

Local Organizing: Oakland Arms Embargo

“In order for me to write poetry that isn’t political
I must listen to the birds
and in order to hear the birds
the warplanes must be silent.”

― Marwan Makhoul