Hillary Swank played Erin Gruwell in the movie version titled Freedom Writers.  Gruwell comes to Metro Vancouver to speak to students and teachers.

A naive and idealistic brand new teacher in Room 203 at Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, California, was given her first class.  The students were not interested in giving the teacher any respect, and they comprised a volatile racially-diverse mix of African-American, Latino, Cambodian, Vietnamese, and Caucasian students, many of whom had grown up in rough neighborhoods in Long Beach.

But the teacher, Erin Gruwell found ways to reach them, and their class project became a book, that became a movie.  The Freedom Writers Diary: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them even sparked interest from Oprah and Barbara Walters.

I watched the movie a few weeks ago, and was amazed at the movie.  The students grow up surrounded by violence, and with gang mentality.  They are always on the verge of racial wars with each different ethnic group.  The African-Americans feel intruded upon by the new arrivals such as the Cambodian or Vietnamese students.  And the Latinos are also claiming and protecting their turf too.

This could be Vancouver, a city celebrated for its racial and ethnic diversity and harmony.  This could be Vancouver where in January 2008, a 15 year old Filipino student was stabbed to death. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/01/28/bc-daisy.html

Racism has also been a factor in other teenage deaths and incidents such as the Reena Virk murder in Victoria BC. 

But Freedom Writers is a wonderful positive story of triumph over personal adversity.  The students learn that they have more in common than they realized.  They learn that each ethnic group shares the same fears, hopes and struggles.  She assigns them the book, Diary of Anne Frank to read.  And the students relate to the young Anne, who has to hide from Nazi oppression.

It is a story that could happen in Vancouver.  Erin Gruwell gives a talk at River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond BC.  She was invited by King David high school executive director Dan Shmilovitch after he saw the film last February.  

Read the Vancouver Sun story by Chantal Eustace
From written off to Freedom Writers
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=eabf2ac1-53a4-4020-b42a-3d7fc2d01c96&p=2

"Tailor Made: Chinatown's Last Tailors" wins prestigious Golden Reel Award for Best Short Film at the 2008 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.

My friend JJ Lee sent me this message.  JJ was one of the real life characters in the documentary "Tailor Made."  He is "the apprentice."  The main character is tailor Bill Wong, who is the father of my friend Steven Wong.  Steven paddles on our Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team.  Our families have known each other for generations.



VANCOUVER, BC: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Realize Entertainment is thrilled to announce that their documentary "Tailor Made: Chinatown's Last Tailors" has won the prestigious  Golden Reel Award for Best Short Film at the 2008 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.   The award, presented during the Festival's Closing Night program in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo, is presented to artists whose work exemplifies  artistic excellence and the potential for future creative activity.
 
Directed by Calgary director Leonard Lee and Vancouver filmmaker Marsha Newbery, "Tailor Made" follows 80-something brothers Bill & Jack Wong for one year as they face the reality that they're getting too old to run the little tailor shop their father opened in 1913…and letting go isn't easy. With tailoring being a dying trade, finding someone to take over the family business has proved impossible, but Bill refuses to give up. From taking on a fashion journalist as an apprentice, to selling the shop to a young hot-shot corporate tailor, Bill becomes especially determined and pulls out all the stops.
 
"Tailor Made: Chinatown's Last Tailors" was commissioned for the CBC Newsworld strand, The Lens, and premiered to a sold out audience at the 2007 Whistler Film Festival.  It is also screening as a part of CBC Vancouver's celebration of Asian Heritage Month on May 24th.  Please visit www.cbc.ca/asianheritage for details and to book a seat.   Screenings are also being held by the Vancouver Parks board all through May, please visit www.vancouver.ca/parks for details.

TAILOR MADE is presented by Realize Entertainment and produced in association with CBC Newsworld.  TAILOR MADE was produced in association with  Knowledge Network,  and with the participation of The Canadian Television Fund: License Fee Program and Equity Investment Program, The Rogers Documentary Fund, Canadian Film & Television Tax Credit, British Columbia Film Incentive and developed with the participation of CBC British Columbia, Telefilm, and British Columbia Film.

LET'S ELECT VANCOUVER'S 1ST DRAGON BOAT MAYOR


Vision Vancouver Councillor Raymond Louie knows dragon boating. He knows it's important to Vancouver's cultural, recreational, economic and environmental communities.

Raymond paddled with the Vancouver Sun team during the 1990's.  He also raced bicycles in the Tour de White Rock, and the Gastown Grand Prix.

In 2003, Raymond was Canada's first dragon boat flag catcher along with Olympic gold medalist Lori Fung, when they participated in the first demonstration race for the inaugural Vancouver International Taiwanese Dragon Boat Race. 

Raymond also helped the Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society stickhandle through bureaucracy to ensure the boats arrived on time for the Labour Day 2003 Taiwanese Cultural Festival during a Vancouver Ports strike.  These special "flag catching" dragon boats were donated to the City of Vancouver, by the Taiwanese Government and the people of Taiwan - which Raymond helped to facilitate.

"Motor-less Marina" are the words Raymond uses to describe the recreational benefits for False Creek's East Bay - East of the Cambie Street Bridge. He has also served as Co-Chair, Steering Committee for the redevelopment of Southeast False Creek.

Raymond is someone who can not only bring together voters from different political parties, but he also offers leadership that brings support from the multi-varied ethnic communities that define our city.
Raymond holds Tartan Day proclamation with Gung Haggis Fat Choy's dragon boat team's Michael Brophy and Todd Wong + bagpiper Joseph McDonald. As deputy mayor, Raymond read the Tartan Day that he helped move through Vancouver City Council. Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team then went out on the water for their April 6th "Tartan Day" dragon boat practice.  photo Todd Wong collection.

Raymond offers a clear vision of a city where no one is left behind, and a civic administration that is not only experienced, but also offers an opportunity to unite neighbourhoods, ethnic communities, and supporters from various political backgrounds in building a progressive and sustainable city.

Raymond offers the experience and knowledge with the City of Vancouver that he has demonstrated with his two terms on City Council and as serving as a Director of Metro Vancouver(GVRD) and TransLink.

It is an amazing opportunity to have the very real possibility to elect the first dragon boat Mayor of Vancouver.

Please register with Vision Vancouver so you can vote for Raymond Louie:
http://raymondlouie.ca/get-involved/join-vision-vancouver/

The deadline for signing up new Vision Vancouver members is Thursday, May 15.

There are two ways you can help get people to join Vision Vancouver and vote for Raymond:

1. Volunteer to Pick Up Forms: Help pick up membership forms from other supporters in the evenings, Sunday thru Wednesday. Please call 604-724-4307 to volunteer a couple of hours this week.

2. Sign-up: Download a membership form by clicking here and return it to Raymond’s campaign office at 1327 Laburnum St. by May 14, 10 PM. Call 604-724-4307 for more info on dropping off your forms.

Join Councilor Raymond Louie for Mayor (facebook group)
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10860325854&ref=ts

Join Dragon Boaters for Raymond Louie - Mayor! (facebook group)
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=13601990479&ref=ts

Jason Kenney, Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity was in BC, and came to a ceremony at the Shiang Garden Restaurant in Richmond, BC.

Jason Kenney affirmed the announcement below.  In addition, he named Wesley Lowe, to head the advisory panel which will oversee the evaluation of projects and disbursement of funds.  

While this announcement does not give recognition to the 99.3% of head tax certificates where the head tax payers or spouses are pre-deceased.  It allows the community to move forward to create projects that are commemorative and educational, to help all Canadians understand the terrible systemic racism that Canada perpetuated against a single ethnic cultural group that spanned over 62 years, by means of the Chinese head tax (1885-1923), and the Exclusion Act (1923-1947).

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The Government of Canada Promotes Historical Recognition for Chinese-Canadian Community's Immigration Experiences

TORONTO, May 8, 2008 - The Honourable Jason Kenney, Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity), today announced $5 million in grants and contributions funding will be made available to the Chinese-Canadian community for community-based commemorative and educational projects related to immigration restrictions.

"The Head Tax and other immigration restrictions, which affected Chinese-Canadians, are an unfortunate chapter in our history and deserve recognition," said Secretary of State Kenney.

This funding is being provided under the Community Historical Recognition Program, which was first announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in June 2006. The Program will fund community-based projects that will allow communities affected by Canadian wartime measures and immigration restrictions to have their experiences acknowledged in a way that is meaningful to them. Eligible projects could include monuments, commemorative plaques, educational material, and exhibits.

Other components of the Community Historical Recognition Program will be announced in the days to come, as well as details regarding the National Historical Recognition Program, which will fund federal initiatives that educate Canadians about the history of wartime measures and immigration restrictions and the contributions of affected communities to the building of Canada.

Chinese-Canadians received an official apology by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2006 for the Head Tax imposed on Chinese immigrants. The Government also announced that it would make ex-gratia symbolic payments of $20,000 to living Head Tax payers and to persons who had lived in a conjugal relationship with a now-deceased Head Tax payer. To date, more than $12 million in ex-gratia payments have already been made to this community.

The Bill Reid Gallery opening is wonderful...  

I love Bill Reid art.  I could stare at the Raven and the First Men, at the Museum of Anthropology for hours.  And the Killer Whale in front of the Aquarium... that is Bill Reid too. 

In 1990, I visisted Haida Gwaii, ancestral home of the Haida nation.  On my hand I wear a gold eagle wrap ring, carved by Garner Moody, who apprenticed with Bill Reid in Haida Gwaii.

On Saturday May 10th, I attended the packed opening at the Bill Reid Gallery on Hornby Street.  I missed the opening ceremonies at 10am, but we saw the 2pm ceremonial dance by dancers and drummers from Haida Gwaii, presided by artist Jim Hart, who is also known by his hereditary name of Chief Edenshaw.   Charles Edenshaw was the great Haida carver of silver, gold and argillite, and it was his work that first inspired Reid to carve.

View a Bill Reid photo gallery

Coast Salish chiefs celebrate Bill Reid gallery opening

VANCOUVER - When Bill Reid art was chosen to adorn the $20 bill, it was a sign that the Haida artist had become a Canadian icon. Now the organizers of the new Bill Reid gallery in downtown Vancouver are hoping it will capitalize on the growing interest in art of the Northwest Coast and catapult Reid to an international art superstar.

"I think we could say already that he as the status of a national icon," said George MacDonald, an anthropologist and expert on Haida art who was instrumental in bringing about the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art.

"What we hope to do with this gallery is to make him an international icon. In doing that, we're promoting Northwest Coast culture and art as much as we're promoting Bill Reid as a practitioner of that style."

The Empress of Asian brought many Chinese to BC.  Wallace  Chung painstakingly rebuilt a model of it.

9th Annual Asian Comedy Night: 
 
Etch-YOUR-Sketch 2! 
MAY 9 - Friday - 8pm
  
SKETCHOFF!#$%!! People's Choys Award
MAY 10 - Saturday - 8pm



Roundhouse Community Theatre
181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver
www.roundhouse.ca

Asian Comedy Night is always funny.  Lots of stereotype bashing, lots of Asian-type jokes you 
can relate to, or grew up with.  

Host Tom Chin has also performed at the 2005 Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner event.

From the explorASIAN website:

Paddling on False Creek in the sunshine... with friends... on a dragon boat team.  Very Vancouver!


I love the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragonboat team.  I have managed and coached it since 2002, when the team morphed from the former Celebration team, which I had created in 1997.

This past Sunday, we did some full 500m race pieces.  You could feel the power in the boat.  Some of the rookies still need to develop their timing and many paddlers still need to develop their cardio.  But the potential is there and we are very happy with our development this year.

Our core paddlers are so enthusiastic they wanted to start paddling in February.  I told them they were crazy and should go skiing instead... but happily relented and joined them, when a Global television crew wanted to film us for their "Best of BC" news series representing cultural diversity.

The Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team is about opportunities. 
It's about community building.  It's about making cultural statements.  It's about having fun and making friends.
And it's about dragon boat racing....

This year I wanted to create two dragon boat teams.  We now have about 35 active paddlers, coming to practices on Sunday afternoon at 1:30pm and Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at 6pm.  Our system is flexible.  Come at least once a week, twice is recommended.  Pick a day, paddle, bring a friend and have some fun.  Each practice is different with different combinations of paddlers.  Everybody is getting to know each other, and we are encouraging more responsibilities and team leaders.

Last year we raced 7 dragon boat races + 2 canoe regattas.  We will do similar this year, starting on May 17th at the Lotus Sports Club Bill Alley dragonboat regatta.

This year is special.
Two weeks ago we had two time Olympic kayak racer Kamini Jain come out and give us a paddle clinic.  It really helped the team both improve their paddling, and as a bonding experience.  They got to watch each other on the video, cheer for each other, and encourage each other... which is what we do on the boat all the time.  Amazingly, Kamini really complimented many of our rookie paddlers.  She was amazed that some of them had only been on a boat for 6 or 7 times.

This year's Gung Haggis team is going to be incredible.
Adding the CC Dragons paddlers gives us so much more experience in the boat.
I have been drumming during our race pieces "as coach" waiting for our "star drummer" to come out.

Imagine conducting a symphony... where everybody knows what to do, when to do it.  All you have to do is wave your arms, and signal the transitions.

You don't do any counting... the team does it.... mentally... or only for key words.

You stand at the front, watch them, guide them, encourage them, coach them.  giving out cue words.... like a race jockey on a thoroughbred horse.

The Mayor of Lytton likes Gung Haggis Fat Choy!


Here's a picture of Peggy Chute of Lytton BC, with Lt. Gov. Stephen Point, and Premier Gordon Campbell, presenting me with the BC Community Achievement Award.

Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinners official and unofficial have taken place in Whistler BC, Ottawa ON, Seattle WA, Santa Barbara California and even tiny Wells BC.  Maybe next year there will be a Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner in Lytton BC at the home of Lytton mayor Chris O'Connor.

It was wonderful to meet so many community minded people at the 2008 BC Community Achievement Awards.  I met past Vancouver city councilors and award recipients May Brown and George Puil.  The Mayor of Kamloops congratulated me. 

The Lt. Gov. of BC, Hon. Stephen Point, said he really liked the idea of Gung Haggis Fat Choy and mixing up the cultures. 

"You must know my cousin Rhonda Larrabee, Chief of the Qayqayt First Nations," I said.

"Oh yes," he replied as we spoke a bit about the cross-overs and similarities of Chinese and First Nations cultures.

He and his friend laughed when I told them that my friend Dr. Henry Wu's students produced a video called "Why Indians like Chinese food."

I must remember to invite the Lt. Gov. to the 2009 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year's Eve event.

It's aways nice to find a positive news story about oneself.  My Google News Alert for: "todd wong"
found Our towns have broad shoulders from the Ashcroft Cache Creek Journal - Ashcroft, BC, Canada.  Lytton mayor Chris O'Connor wrote a nice story about Peggy Chute of Lytton and Ben Roy of Cache Creek who also received BC Community Achievement Awards with me on April 23rd, at Government House in Victoria.

Mr. O'Connor, Mayor of Lytton, wrote:

I was very fortunate to be in attendance at Government House in Victoria for the presentation of the BC Community Achievement awards to Peggy Chute of Lytton and Ben Roy of Cache Creek.

Accompanied by Chief Byron Spinks of the Lytton First Nation, Mayor John Ranta of Cache Creek and hundreds of other proud British Columbians, we witnessed the very definition of what it means to be a citizen in our great Province.

The recipients came from communities large and small and Lieutenant Governor Steven Point and Premier Gordon Campbell offered the thanks of all of us to a dedicated group of BCer’s who have made large contributions to the lives of their communities. It was humbling, since all of the recipients represented the silent, hardworking volunteers who make our communities work.

Communities are made up of individuals - and these are the individuals upon whose shoulders we stand as your elected representatives. Without them there would be no community clubs, fire departments, hospices, festivals and every manner of activity which contributes to the vitality of our towns. These are the people who have successfully converted the “I” to “We” and in an ironic twist have elevated the “I” in all of us to be the very best we can be.

While this text may be full of clichés, the actions of these people is certainly not. Each of them has demonstrated the imagination, commitment and sheer willpower - their work is pure creativity of ideas and actions.

For the following, I have borrowed from the text accompanying the awards but I encourage you as the reader to go to the BC Community Achievement Award website to see the full contribution made by the 2008 recipients: www.bcachievement.com/community/2008/

For the past 40 years, Ben Roy has quietly and effectively created positive change within the Cache Creek and Thompson Nicola Regional District. He has served as mayor, volunteer fire chief, chamber of commerce member and was instrumental in establishing a local radio station. While Mayor, Ben championed the landfill project as a way to provide jobs for Cache Creek. Ben Roy has also played a pivotal role in the revitalization of the Gold Country Communities Foundation, an organization founded to serve the economic needs of a number of adjoining rural communities.

Read my story of the BC Community Achievement Awards.
I am one of 45 recipients of the BC Community Achievement Award for 2008
http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/_archives/2008/4/24/3657210.html

Join in celebrating Asian culture and heritage in Canada

By Noa Glouberman

Every May, communities across the country have observed Asian Heritage Month, acknowledging the long and rich history of Asian Canadians in Canada. This year in Vancouver, the annual event — titled explorASIAN — is marking its 12th anniversary, and invites Canadians of all backgrounds to join in the celebration.

Todd Wong, a past explorASIAN volunteer and former program co-ordinator, says the event isn’t simply about having Asian roots. “It’s about understanding the history of Asians in Canada, just as other ethnic groups, like the Scottish or French populations, may celebrate their heritage as part of overall Canadian culture,” he explains.

Wong, who’s involved in a variety of cultural organizations and events, and runs a website devoted to his “Asian Canadian adventures in inter-cultural Vancouver” (gunghaggisfatchoy.com), says the many Asian-infused programs, performances and events available to the public in May can help all Canadians gain a better appreciation for their own backgrounds.

“When you can look at and examine someone else’s culture and heritage, it gives you more insight into your own roots as well,” he says.

Asian Heritage Month is celebrated in cities across Canada, including Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Regina, Calgary and Edmonton. In Vancouver and other Lower Mainland communities, explorASIAN offers an exciting schedule of events in May and June. Visit explorasian.org for full details.

explorAsian highlights

explorASIAN 2008 Opening Event

Infinite Echoes from Japan: New Directions in Traditional Japanese Music

May 1, 7:30 p.m., Frederic Wood Theatre, UBC
explorasian.org/festival2008_short.html

Asian Cinema Takes a Bow on Knowledge Network
The Slanted Screen, Lai Man Wai: The Father of Chinese Cinema, Cinema Asia
May 2, 9, 16, 10 p.m., on the Knowledge Network
knowledgenetwork.ca

SMC/explorASIAN First Annual Filmmakers Showcase
Canadian filmmakers celebrated during Asian Heritage Month
May 11, 18, 25, 9 p.m., on Shaw Multicultural Channel

vancouver.shawtv.com/smc/smc_filmmakers.htm

Vancouver International Children’s Festival
Spectacular Korea, Halmang, Myth of Jeju Island
May 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, various show times/locations
childrensfestival.ca

Tailor Made: Chinatown’s Last Tailors

(this film is special because it is about my friend Steven Wong's father)
A film about two aging brothers who can no longer run their father’s shop
May 13, 14, 16, 28, various screening times/locations
explorasian.org/festival2008_short.html

explorASIAN 2008 Closing Event
Dharmakasa Concert
May 31, 8 p.m., Joyce Walley Learning Centre, Vancouver Museum
explorasian.org/festival2008_short.html

For a listing of events in other parts of the country, visit Canadian Heritage’s official site at canadianheritage.gc.ca/progs/multi/asian-asiatique/index_e.cfm.

 

Jane's Walks are happening all across Canada.

Jane's Walk. It's a wonderful concept about making cities more livable.  Get out of the car, off the bus, and walk the walk.  Learn to discover hidden and unknown secrets about the city and neighborhoods we live in.

I spent Saturday in the Riley Park neighborhood where a total of four Jane's Walks were being organized by Think City.

Ned Jacobs, Jane's son, has lived in Vancouver for many many years, and loves the Riley Park Neighborhood.  At 12 noon, he met a group of walkers at the Little Mountain Neighborhood House on Main @ 24th Ave, to take them on a personal walk through the neighborhood he loves.  

I couldn't go, because I was working at the Riley Park Branch Library.  But on my lunch hour, I walked up the street and had lunch at Tonina's Deli.  It's a wonderful little Italian deli that serves great pasta lunch specials. 

Across the street is Windsor Meats, where I check out the weekly specials.  The Grind Coffee is where I often grab a cup of joe, or over at the Saltspring Coffee Co.  Last week I had lunch at Splitz, a new hamburger joint that was famous in Whistler, before the owners sold out, and decided to move to Main St.  Further down the street is the Cafe Monmarte that hosts live music in the evenings.  Main St. is well known for an abundance of antique stores, but there are also some really funky clothing stores, like the Barefoot Contessa, Legends and many more.      

And then around 32nd Ave. and Manitoba St.  is the Nat Bailey Stadium where  my father used to paint all the building signs, and the ads on the outfield walls.  We got to see lots of baseball games free, but I probably spent more time painting walls in the stadium then actually watching ball games.

Maybe next year, I can organize a Jane's Walk for Vancouver Chinatown, where my parent's grew up, and my great-grandparents had a house and once had a jewelry store on Main St.  Strathcona is also very interesting, because my great-great-grandfather Rev. Chan Yu Tan used to minister at the Chinese United Church at Pender and Dunlevy Streets.  I always take friends and relatives down to the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Gardens designed by my architect cousin Joe Wai, who also designed the Chinatown Millenium Gate, Chinese Cultural Centre Museum and Archives, the Chinatown Parkade and just last week received a special jury award from the Architects Institute of BC for his restoration of the Chinese Freemasons building.

Similar to a Jane Jacobs-assisted protest against the proposed Spadina Expressway in Toronto, there was a  neighborhood protest that rose up to stop a proposed freeway through Strathcona and Chinatown.  Mary Lee Chan was one of the leaders of this protest, assisted by her university daughter Shirley Chan who also became a champion for community activism.  A young lawyer named Mike Harcourt also offered his services.                               
http://www.thinkcity.ca/current/janeswalk

Ned Jacob's Big Questions for Little Mountain (Riley Park) Tour Code: F-NJ2

Ingrid Steenhuisen's Little Mountain Housing (Riley Park) Tour Code: A-LMH

There are good Asian drivers and bad Asian drivers.... just like good and bad non-Asian drivers.

Vancouver is known for its large Asian population, and Richmond even has more Asians, and lots of "Rice Rocket" drag racing. 

But what happens when you mix social commentary with busting stereotypes of Asian drivers?

Melissa Li and Kit Yan's "The Good Asian Drivers Tour" is one of the featured performances for the 2008 explorASIAN festival, celebrating Asian Heritage Month in Metro Vancouver.

The following is from the explorASIAN website:

Naomi Singer is either one of Vancouver's most community minded creative artists... or one of Vancouver's most creative community artists... 

I had the pleasure of meeting her last week at Government House in Victoria, as we were both awarded the BC Community Achievement Awards.


Naomi Singer wore one of her "trademark hat" when she accepted her BC Community Achievement Award from Premier Gordon Campbell and Lt. Gov. Stephen Point.

Naomi Singer was honoured because:


Check out the Secret Lantern Society website http://www.secretlantern.org/

Check out my past stories about attending Winter Solstice events http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog?cmd=search&keywords=winter+solstice

Check out this Vancouver Courier story that features her:

Fourteen years ago, Vancouver artist Naomi Singer travelled to Black Rock Playa in Nevada to attend one of the first Burning Man public art festivals. She saw thousands of people gathered in the heat of the desert sun to build a wild and diverse community, create art, perform, and celebrate, all culminating in the burning