JLiv Inspirations

02/15/2025

“Reclaiming a culture’s cuisine is a clear act of using food in a way to create social change. But home cooking can create change in smaller communities and ways.”

Explore a diverse range of articles in the YES! Media archive. From justice to sustainability, discover insightful perspectives on shaping a better world.

02/11/2025

“Make sure you are talking to people and doing something. The logic of ‘move fast and break things,’ like the logic of all coups, is to gain quick dramatic successes that deter and demoralize and create the impression of inevitability. Nothing is inevitable. Do not be alone and do not be dismayed. Find someone who is doing something you admire and join them.” - Timothy Snyder

The writer Dorothy Parker had a unique way of answering the phone. Instead of saying hello, she would cry out, “What fresh hell is this?!” I think of that on a daily basis as I hear about at the latest amalgam of cruelty, graft, chaos, mendacity, and inanity coming out of the Trump Administratio...

02/05/2025

Here’s a little project I’ve been working on for the past several months - opening an adult day care in Concord!

What a learning journey it has been, but I am so thankful to Suraj and Rajesh for trusting me with this venture, and for Rosecel and Lani for all the work they’ve put in to make it warm and welcoming for the participants.

Our team is so excited to welcome you!

L-R:
Suraj Budathoki, Owner
Rosecel Arevalo, Activities Director
Jessica Livingston, Outreach & Public Relations
Lani Canabano, Nursing Director
Rajesh Chauwan, Administrator

02/05/2025

Friends and Artists! We're getting a lot of inquiries about the application for 2025 Concord Arts Market season. Especially because vendor registration has opened for Market Days (June 26-28)!

We're trying to tie up a few loose ends and then we'll be sending out the application in the next week. In the meantime, if you didn't participate in the 2024 season, but would like to be part of 2025, please fill out the interest form here: https://forms.gle/3axnFxCYANAiATxL9

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out: [email protected]

01/29/2025

Executive Orders Affecting Charitable Nonprofits

01/06/2025

Officer Emelia Campbell unexpectedly found herself back in New Hampshire. And she’s not the same person she was when she left.

NHPR’s Lauren Chooljian spent some time with Emelia to understand how the trauma of January 6th still lives in her, every single day. In fact, Emelia’s sister refers to January 6th as “Emelia’s thing.” Because that day isn’t about politics for the Campbell family. It’s something that happened to their sister, their daughter.

Hear what happened to Emelia that day, and how she continues to survive: https://pod.link/1465785780

01/06/2025

Our internship program is a great opportunity for college students interested in communications, media, marketing, and broadcast production!

01/04/2025

01/02/2025

Thinking about what happened in New Orleans …

I’ve organized a lot of community events over the years, and safety is always a top concern. This past decade has been especially fraught with fears of acts of violence.

One year, two weeks before a cultural festival I was organizing, Amnesty International released an advisory for people traveling to the US. It warned of gun violence and recommended avoiding large crowds, especially cultural festivals.

I always work with local officials to do everything possible to ensure the safety of my events. I rarely feel comforted though because like one officer said once “there’s nothing we can do until someone comes in shooting.”

Of course there are many safety mechanisms to put in place - and we do - but really, if someone is hell bent on causing harm, they will find a way.

So, yes, we can keep implementing safety plans and installing barricades and doing emergency trainings, but could we also work to address the underlying issues that lead to so many acts of violence?

12/22/2024

Holding events that feature immigrants/refugees call for extra levels of security these days 😔 I’m relieved that the event remained safe, but I do wish people who open their hearts and minds to learn more about immigrants/refugees. My life has been so enriched by getting to know diverse people in our community.

The book that was being presented is called “Go Home” and was written by Terry Farish, Author and Lochan Sharma.

More info here: https://www.terryfarish.com/book/go-home/

Many thanks to NH Peace Action and the Peacekeepers who were there to support us 🙏🏽

https://concordmonitor-nh.newsmemory.com/?publink=0f658d7f5_134d569

By TERRY FARISHABOUT THE AUTHORTerry Farish is a writer of books for c

11/09/2024

“To Sharma, voter education is one of the key pieces of welcoming newly naturalized citizens to the community. For years he taught free citizenship classes in Concord, helping many pass the naturalization test. Exercising the right to vote, and learning about local, state and federal branches of government is a natural extension of that, he said.

“Voter education is one of the most important things,” he said. “That should be an ongoing process in the city, especially with newcomers.””

By MICHAELA TOWFIGHIMonitor staff Nar Darjee didn’t know what to exp

10/30/2024

I’ve had the great honor over the years of getting to work with so many people from other cultures around the world. I’ve learned so much - not just about different cultures, but about different ways of life, different perspectives, and different ways of approaching things like events.

While we were celebrating Deepawali, a woman asked me if I knew who the organizer was. I said “Well, kind of. I’m one of them, but there are several people who really led the effort. I’m just here to support them.” She said “So there’s no one leading organization?” And I said “No, there are a few who are part of it, but it’s really led by the community, for the community. And that’s how it should be.”

I’m so grateful for the relationships and friendships I’ve built over the years that allow me to be part of these wonderful community events and celebrations.

Happy Deepawali ✨🪔✨

Members of New Hampshire’s Nepali and Bhutanese community, among others, celebrated the Hindu festival of lights on Sunday.

10/24/2024

Congratulations Josh! Well deserved recognition 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Our very own Josh Hardy was named Concord Young Professionals Network YP of the Month! We think he's pretty great too, but he shouldn't let it go to his head.

https://www.concordmonitor.com/CYPN-57488185

10/16/2024

Concord Sound & Color Festival is almost here! I’ll be there with the Concord Arts Market and my art business JLiv Inspirations. There’s going to be so much to do and see and hear. But the most important thing is this:

“Fun and play and art and music and friends are not luxuries – they are necessities,” she said. “Community events are a powerful way for people to connect with each other and with their creative spirit, and they remind us that we are better together.”

Thanks to Liza and Cara for reaching beyond the physical boundaries of the festival and ensuring that people will be engaged and immersed in creativity!

Three large frames decorated with leaves, sea creatures, pumpkins, flowers, and pom-poms – all made of yarn – hang in parks across Concord, injecting extra color into the foliage-saturated landscape. The frames, a communal effort among knitters and...

10/08/2024

10 years ago, this baby dude came into the world, and so did a special nonprofit called Hearts for Kindness 💙 I am honored to have served on the founding board and currently serving again!

Next week, we will be celebrating the 10 year anniversary and I’m helping to coordinate donations for raffle baskets/items.

✨ Can you donate a gift card? Piece of artwork? Service? ✨

Let me know! All proceeds go toward this amazing organization that helps people with emergency expenses. Times are tough and one unexpected bill can be detrimental to a family or person.

Help us celebrate and continue to help people right here in our community 💙

10/02/2024

We're so excited to participate in the inaugural Concord Sound & Color Festival on Friday and Saturday, 10/18-19 in Downtown Concord! Check out the participating CAM artists during this 2 day event with engaging arts, music, food, and fun for everyone!

https://concordsoundandcolor.com/artist-market

Art From Memory
B.L. Batchelder Art
By Arlene Pottery
Crafty Creations by Rylee Ames
Craft Happens
Crafted by Erica Aubin
Elm ART Studio
HLEmrick
JLiv Inspirations Art
Keira Curtis Art
Kodama Creations
Leah Kuehne Art
Mellifera Modern
My Darling Threads
Postage Stamp Soap Company
Sewing Nerd Studios
Simple Chaos
Stella Orion Studios
Shay Vogel/Vogel Haus Studio
Warm N Fuzzies by Amy
White Rabbit Arts