Road to Dictumdose (The Gathering) LiVE!!!

I have a few names....Calvin...Veem...Cal..Kevin....Kub......Neejfwm......and....Dictumdose. Why do I have so many names you may wonder? Well...I'm a child of refugee parents who survived the Hmong genocide during the Vietnam War. I was born and raised in the United States. Despite immigrating to the U.S. with nothing but clothes on their backs and having to adjust to a new lifestyle, my parent's strength, courage, and sacrifices provided me with a priceless opportunity. The names mentioned are reflections of my experiences that make me who I am today. The clashing of traditional Hmong and American cultural influences gave birth to these names. My names represent my ancestral roots, culture, and me. Did I know of this while growing up? Absolutely...not! The experiences of bicultural environments were challenging to navigate and "fitting in" was a constant struggle. Even to this day as an adult....the feelings still exist. After recent work, I learned that this is a SHARED experience and I AM NOT ALONE. Our immigrant stories are not mutually exclusive but rather intertwined in many ways. Our CONNECTEDNESS regardless of our identities is what EMPOWERS us. Feeling comfortable with our language, heritage, and AUTHENTIC self is the key to GROWTH. I've noticed that holding spaces on Facebook Live has allowed us to explore, reflect, connect, and empower one another in immeasurable ways. Imagine how much more we can accomplish in person!?!? I believe that creating a safe space to gather in person will only continue to foster meaningful relationships and help us discover lost parts of ourselves.

To make this possible I am asking for your support. Growing up without much, financial limitations determined what resources I had access to. So, here is where our collective efforts matter. Even as little as a few dollars, it will make a difference in our community. Our next generation is looking for support and I believe that the time is now.

Proceeds:

1. will secure a venue to host The Gathering LiVE!

2. will provide open access to this family-friendly event. Yes, a FREE EVENT for all ages!

3. will provide key public figures and influencers to share their stories.

4. will provide a professional recording and content to be made available for those unable to attend in-person.

5. will bridge the possibility to bring The Gathering LiVE on tour!

My goal is to help you to feel comfortable and confident showing up in your most authentic self while connecting with others. I hope to create a shared space to talk, support, and encourage one another through artistic expression (i.e. music, visual, spoken word, etc). Building a bridge to connect generations is a collective effort and your support is much appreciated.

I look forward to sharing the space with you all. Take care and be well.