January RoZone
Local resources & seals. The RoZone special.
Hi, everyone!
I’ve missed you and I apologize for the delay in the January RoZone. I often tell my friends that art making is two-fold: there’s a gathering phase and a producing phase.
When you’re gathering, maybe you’re not writing or painting as much, but you’re absorbing the world around you. You’re watching movies, you’re reading, you’re doing stuff with your hands and friends.
When you’re in the producing phase, that’s the thick of the creative process. You’re writing and editing, you’re going home at night and click-clacking away.
Today, I’d like to propose a third phase: the sharing phase.
That’s when you’re ready to let other people see what you’ve been making.
I spent the past year deep in the sharing phase, between book stuff and open mics, I was “on” all the time.
Now, I’ve retreated back into the gathering phase. I’m working on a short story collection and I don’t want to say a ton about it just yet, but it will include my lesbian werewolf story.
It feels like I’m burrowing, which is a good thing. I hope you find time to rest and connect with your community this month <3. Below, in lieu of the events corner, you’ll find local resources + the prompts.
Resource Corner:
I wanted to share some Grand Rapids-specific resources for dealing with ICE. If you’re in Grand Rapids and you see ICE agents, you can call the GR Rapid Response to ICE. From the website:
“ If ICE is at your home or workplace, or if they have just arrested someone, you can connect with the Rapid Response team by calling 211 or 616-238-0081. You’ll get a group of people prepared to act directly in solidarity with you and your family to show up at your immediate locations (the DIRECT ACTION team), or you’ll get a few people to rally other kinds of aid (MUTUAL AID). We can connect you with a lawyer, help make phone calls, provide temporary help with children or elders, rides, food, connect with social services, or whatever else you might need that we can help with.”
If you’re looking for direct ways to give back, follow GR Mutual Aid on Instagram
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Movimiento Cosecha GR is another fantastic, local organization that’s dedicated to immigrant justice in Grand Rapids.
Prompt O’Clock
Journaling Prompt: Make a winter survival list. Come up with 3 things you can do this month to move your body, energize your mind and reset your space.
Collage Prompt: Take a page out of anxiety-management 101 and make a collage out of 5 things you can feel. (IYKYK).
Poetry Prompt: Write a poem for an animal. This prompt is inspired by the Ross Seal, who was photographed for the FIRST TIME EVER on new year’s day.1
Xoxoxo,
Rosie
Why does he look like a Petoskey stone with eyes?!