A cookbook & a call to action
you gotta pick one
Gaza on a Plate
My lovely friend Miriam wrote a cookbook while surviving the ongoing genocide of Palestinians. Inside are 4 simple and beautiful recipes. Editing and testing these recipes has newly sparked my passion for cooking and baking. It’s been a few years since I have found joy in this, and I am so grateful to Miriam for her friendship and role in reigniting my passion. You can get the physical book here, and the electronic version here. Please enjoy this video of Miriam’s daughter helping her cook:
A Call to Action
As many of you are aware, I have been planning fundraising events for close to a year. Not a month has gone by since I began in which I have not created or taken part in a fundraising event, ranging from things like putting up a table outside of a farmers market to sell my watercolors, to hosting a huge board game resale and partnering with local businesses.
These days I am working to tone down the size of the events due to my capacity. And I’m realizing something else, I need help. So, this is my plead for support; can you help with any individual event, or in an ongoing capacity? These are the things I could use help with:
Locations! Finding places to hold my events is the most difficult. I would prefer not to spend any money. All sorts of locations are great, my intent is for all sorts of people to have access to the events, so many different places are ideal.
Marketing! This is the thing I feel the worst at. I could use help making flyers, promoting, and distributing them both online and in person. Other ideas for marketing are welcome.
Organizing…. my life. I have accumulated so much stuff: things I have made to sell, things other people have made to sell, sign holders, posters, tables, junk I can’t even remember. There must be some way to keep all of this stuff organized and not in piles that I sort through in the hours before an event deciding which things I’m bringing.
Signage! For how often I do this, I still create new signs, printed or hand-written (depending on how much capacity I have leading up to the event) every single time. There must be some way to make and use the same signs and information across events… If only someone had the wherewithal to help me figure it out.
Hosting, or co-hosting! If anyone out there is interested in creating and hosting an event, I would love to help YOU in whatever capacity you need. As a mentor, an assistant, a co-host, etc. I have so many tools, and so many families that need help, more people doing more fundraising is a good and needed thing.
Urgent Needs:
Heba still needs to pay off her son’s surgery. She owes $1,000 more, and we have until the end of February to raise this amount. Please help. Her campaign is in euros, so if you would prefer to Venmo me the money, I will convert it and send it to her campaign, and I will show you the proof. My Venmo is [at]Madison-Mordaunt.
Amany’s brother Mohammed has a scholarship to finish his medical degree in Indonesia, but needs $8,000 for visa and travel in order to get there. I am told the border will open for students soon. Please help this medical student, if you can.
Raffles and online fundraising:
Frida Raffle — Print of this beautiful watercolor of Frida Khalo
1 ticket = $5, 4 tickets = $15
Purchase tickets here, and send a screenshot to @tarot_obscuro or DM me and I will send for you.
Trivia for Palestine — Online! Test your knowledge of history, culture, and resistance.
Sunday, February 23rd at 1:00pm PST, 4:00pm EST, 9:00pm GMT
Register tinyurl.com/paltrivia Sliding scale $5-$25 to play
Poems for Palestine — The ineffable Darla will send monthly poems by mail to those who sign up for a minimum of $5. You send your venmo or cashapp handle to @melancholy_leopard on Instagram, or email them at mottram.darla@proton.me
PDX in-person events:
Zine making — Thursday February 20th 6:00pm-9:00pm 8105 SE Stark St.
Come learn to make zines, work on yours, hang out, or fold and put together already made zine’s. I’ll have paper, scissors, writing utincils, tape, collage materials, glue, and a long stapler. Bring your own supplies if you have them!
Seattle Bake Sale — February 22nd 12:00pm-sellout at 670 King St.
Open Mic —February 28th from 6:00pm-9:00pm location TBD
Community open mic and organizing fair. Sign up to perform here.
Awalem — February 28-March 2. 513 NE Schuyler St. Tickets are $20 if you purchase for this event and the one below at the same time.
Ashtar Muallem illustrates her life’s journey and her relationships with her countries, body, and spirituality. As a Palestinian born in Jerusalem who also lives in France, she synthesizes her experiences into a ceremony performed with poetry and humor. Awalem will be performed in Arabic with English Subtitles.
Dear Laila — February 28-March 2. 2942 NE MLK. Tickets are $20 if you purchase for this event and the one above at the same time.
Dear Laila shares the Palestinian experience of displacement and resistance through the story of one family. An intimate, interactive installation experienced by one audience ember at a time. There will be a quiet waiting area with tea and books to sit in before and after your experience.
Multimedia Art Hang — Saturday March 1st 2:00pm-4:00pm at 5716 SE 92nd Ave.
Bring whatever you’re working on, and/or anything to share! We’ll be at a table in the big north room just chilling and working on our stuff. I hope to see you there!
Highlighted Merch:
Are you a crabby little capybara and need everyone to know? Head on over to my redbubble shop called direct-aid and pick up this amazing sticker. The design can also be put on hats or shirts! All proceeds (20%) go to families in Gaza.