Hey Garden(ers),

Thank you all so much for this very fun Halloween weekend! A big thank you to everyone who came by and participated, whether it was to our open mic/karaoke session, our merengue class, the costume contest, or the movie marathons! Laughs, scares and colorful times were had by all!

A special shout-out to the winner of the costume contest: Ze! Who dressed up as Chun-Li both on camera and in their avatar as well! We love to see the creativity! Check out some photos from the festivities below!

Also, did you know we added a Pandemic Resource Hub in the Enchanted Library? If you haven't already checked it out, make sure to come through for specialized information and resources on best practices for caring for ourselves during these pandemic times!

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New Events

⏲️ Our events are typically listed in Pacific Standard Time (PT). Need help converting PT to your time zone? Check out this handy WorldTimeBuddy clock!

🏳️‍🌈 November 1st at 5pm PST, Ru and Chanelle will be hosting a marathon of the queer teen romance show Heartstopper! Starting on season 1 and watching 4-6 30 minute episodes, as well as talking afterwards. Join them at the Up All Night room for slumber party vibes! Wear pajamas and bring your favorite snacks and comfort items!

🤍Led by Skyriver, join us November 2nd at 12:30pm PT for Grief and Mourning practices of Haitian Vodou. There will be a screening the film Bawon by Xpressions and a discussion of the traditional and contemporary grief and mourning practices of Haitian Vodou. This is an open session but will center Haitian and Haitian Diaspora voices.

💐Also November 2nd at 3pm PT is Krik Krak Remembers 2024. A healthy community is one that makes space for grief. Join us as we remember and honor our ancestors and those who have transitioned through music, movement, altar building, and more. You may (but are not required to) bring a candle, water and something that reminds you of those you want to remember.

🦖Did you know that November 3rd is Godzilla Day? Come celebrate Godzilla's 70th anniversary in Garden as we witness, connect and reflect on the historical origins, legacy and cultural impact of the King of the Monsters. Join us November 3rd at 11:30am PT, for a Watch Party and post-movie discussion of the Oscar award winning and newest Godzilla Film, Godzilla Minus One (2023, Japanese audio & English subtitles).

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Ongoing events in Garden

🫁 Want to increase your lung capacity? Come to Breathing in the Knowledge Nursery! Every weekday at 9am PT. RSVP here!

🥣 Grab your favorite cereal for dinner and watch anime & cartoons with us at Monday Night Cereal! Join us every other Monday. October 21st, we're watching people's grandpas and little brothers get stolen for the sake of a children's card game. Your move! Read more about the event here.

🎥 Name That Movie (Night!) is Wednesday at 5:30pm PT! This week's movie is a horror about a fading celebrity that takes a drug to create a younger version of herself. Think you know what it is? Come thru and find out! RSVP via the visit page.

🫂 The next session of Chronic Illness and Long Covid Support Group will be Thursday November 7th from 5:30pm-7:30pm PT with Chanelle! Navigating everything that comes with chronic illness can be difficult - from managing symptoms to experiencing grief over missing your pre-illness life. This is a peer support space where we can share our feelings about living with any chronic/long-term illness, including long Covid, during an ongoing pandemic. RSVP via the calendar on the visit page.

🪷 Stretch it out as Caroline leads us in another weekly afternoon Yoga sesh this Friday at 2:15pm PT by streaming a yoga video from YouTube and following along. Videos will be between 25-45 minutes long between easy to moderate pace. Drop ins are always welcome! RSVP via the calendar on the visit page.

🦾 Saturdays at 6pm PT, Caroline hosts a Self Defense Discussion Series which includes reading, discussion and (potential) movement on self-defense principles. In these politically challenging times, it is especially important for our collective liberation and self-care to learn self-defense. RSVP and reach out to Caroline via the visit page!

💻 Do you work from home and sometimes feel a little too isolated from others? Come Co-Work with us in Garden! We are a 24/7 drop in space for folks to join to co-work silently, listen to music, play a game or chat amongst each other in the chat box.

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Opportunities

✒️Liberation Medicine School is excited to share that they will be launching the Liberation Medicine Kinship Cohort in April 2025, and are seeking applicants. This 16-month abolitionist, decolonial, and narrative justice activation invites Black Trans, Gender Expansive, and Non-Binary practitioners into a space of critical knowledge-building, medicine-making, storytelling, collective witnessing, and mutual care. Applications are open until November 18, 2024. Click here for more information and to apply.

📔The 42 Percent Project, is seeking submissions for an anthology about Trans Voices on Suicide. Abstracts are due by November 15th!

🤪 So you think you're funny and you like to write poems? Then check out the Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest where first prize wins $2,000! Published or unpublished work is welcome and submissions are open now until April 1st, 2025.

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Announcements & Actions

🍉 Centering Palestine has a zoom every Tuesday at 5pm PT, along with other resources to show up for Palestine available here.

😷World Health Network has a weekly call to organize community members against mask bans every Friday at 12pm PT.

🐣Are you a Parent? A Garden member is considering hosting a Garden Parents' Group! Please fill out this survey to let us know if you are interested!

🌻 We are looking to open Garden up to more community orgs who would like to share space with us here. If you are part of an org that may benefit from office/event space here, please email info@meetatgarden.com

Until next our avatars meet,

🪄Al, 😻Gata & 🪻J Mase

PS: Have a one-time-event or a recurring event and need a place to host? Email us at info@meetatgarden.com!

Garden is a free 24/7 space, but it does cost money for us to maintain it on Gather.Town. If you'd like to donate to this work, consider throwing some money in the pot here. To send donations directly through our 501c3 fiscal sponsor, email us!