JLiv Inspirations

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

09/25/2024

08/08/2024

It was an honor to speak at the Rotary Club of Concord this week about my favorite topic: the Concord Multicultural Festival 🎉

It was wonderful to discuss the history and significance of this community celebration, especially since I was invited by my friend, Cary Gladstone , who was involved in starting the Festival many years ago.

Mark your calendars for the 17th Annual Concord Multicultural Festival!

08/02/2024

I love this so much 🥰

08/02/2024

This is a new skill set for me: Managing a construction project👷🏻‍♀️

I’ve been working with a friend’s company to help open an adult daycare in Concord. In order to comply with the City/State’s building codes for an adult daycare, we’ve had to make some updates to the building.

We hired an architect who helped us determine what is needed to be compliant. He worked with the us and the City’s code enforcers and created a plan for the building. Now we have a contractor who is in the space doing the work with their subcontractors (plumbing and electrical).

In addition to this, I’ve also been helping with the licensing process, which is another area that I’m unfamiliar with.

However, when it comes down to it, it’s really all just Project Management. I’ve spent my career as an Event Planner/Manager, which also is basically Project Management (but with flare!) And I’ve managed many other projects throughout my career, though they were mostly related to arts, DEI initiatives, etc. But I guess a project is a project and managing them - whether it’s art or construction or licensing - the basic skills are the same.

Still, I prefer events and arts related projects, but I am always grateful for new experiences and learning opportunities.

07/25/2024

Two of my dear friends coming together for a beautiful outcome 💜 💜 💜

Batulo's Kitchen and Saad Hindal / Art From Memory.

When I worked for the Capitol Center for the Arts, I created a Culinary Artist in Residence Program for people from historically marginalized communities who wanted to start a culinary business without as much risk. An incubator, if you will. Batulo's Kitchen was the first to participate in the program, building her business for a year and then launching her food truck this past spring.

Also while I worked there, I recruited Saad Hindal, a local artist from Iraq who has made Concord his home, to paint a mural on the wall in the lobby of BNH Stage. We paid him an actual artist wage for this project, something he'd never had before.

✨These were life-changing opportunities for both Saad and Batulo✨

While Saad spent 2 weeks painting the mural last September, he got to know Batulo and her family. Fast forward to now: Saad and his son, Hassan, have painted Batulo's food truck. Now Batulo's Kitchen has a unique and beautiful food truck, and Saad has another large scale professional work in his portfolio.

This is what it's all about for me. The opportunities, connections, friendships - leading organically to beautiful outcomes. It's like dropping a pebble in a pond and watching the ripples spread.

Send a message to learn more

07/17/2024

07/16/2024

This past weekend, the American Independence Festival took place in downtown Exeter. This was my first time organizing this festival and it was SO HOT - that last pic is me at the end of two days in 90 degree heat!

I truly enjoyed this new experience- the people from the organization were so great to work with, I loved learning more about the 18th century time period, and I really appreciated that the organization, though steeped in history, places great emphasis on their role in shaping the future.

07/06/2024

This has been such an interesting event to organize! Join us next Saturday, July 13 at the American Independence Museum!

Robert Levey, interim director of the museum, said the goal for this year’s festival is “to create an experience that connects that past with the present."

“What we want people to appreciate is that history happens every single day,” he said. “What happened yesterday still has meaning and is relevant today … who we are as Americans is because of what took place during the revolutionary period of America.”

“One big aspect of the village this year is a concerted emphasis on delivering educational content to visitors,” he said. “When visitors leave the village, they will have learned a little bit about whatever traditional arts were demonstrated and their connection to today.”

The 34th American Independence Festival returns July 13 in Exeter, featuring military demonstrations, 18th-century artisans and more.