Evenings in the Garden: Adult Story-Sharing Workshops
Saturdays, July 27, August 24, September 28, October 26, 5:30-6:30 pm
Join us for four sessions exploring the growth and stories of local plants and people, encouraging hands-on interaction with the garden. Each session will be led by community gardener, musician, and artist Nia Watson, along with guest storytellers on select dates.
Register here.  Advanced registration is appreciated but not required.
August 24, 5:30-6:30 pm
Restoring Petals with Chloe Cole-Wilson and Basement Poetry
Saturday, September 28, 6-7 pm
Cooking Demo with a local chef Melanie Lino of From Lino showcasing recipes using seasonal produce grown in the garden.
Saturday, October 26, 6 pm
Ancestral Story Share
The Lehigh valley community is invited to gather in the garden with songs, photos, mental memory stories and tradition stories that have been passed down over time. There will be the opportunity to share these cherished memorabilia in small groups or as a whole. The garden will be transtormed into a space to hold such energy. Ceremony and ritual is intertwined in all of our lives all around the world in different ways. This is a chance to break from the routines that consume our day to day and gather in love with one another.
This program was made possible in part by Southside Tomorrow, a 6-year revitalization program of Community Action Development Bethlehem and the City of Bethlehem, with support from Univest Bank & Trust Co., Embassy Bank for the Lehigh Valley, People’s Security Bank and Trust, PPL Electric Utilities, and Provident Bank.
 
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Nia Watson is a song poet & educator, and has evolved into her art form over the last six years. Taking journal entries and transforming them into song poems inspired by life experiences. Influenced by nature, specifically birds, their flying patterns and songs. She creates other visuals as well when inspired.
Nia is also a yoga instructor offering diverse classes to the valley for the past decade. She has taught early childhood since 2009.  Currently, Nia is in the midst of learning to be a birth worker to support birthing beings themselves and those who are growing within them from conceiving to postpartum. Her classes and community offerings weave all the parts of herself together. Offering movement with a touch of playfulness and songs to soothe everyone present.
Nia has performed here in the Valley, Philadelphia Amsterdam and Rio de Janeiro. She hopes to keep learning and growing and sharing the lessons she learns along the way.
 
Chloe Cole-Wilson
 
Chloe Cole-Wilson has been engaging in social work and trauma-informed care for communities of color and LGBTQ communities for more than nine years, and is the cofounder of Basement Poetry, a community-centered theater company. In addition to her work in poetry and theater, Chloe works as a Program Supervisor at Silk Lehigh Valley, teaches theater, and serves as a substance-abuse counselor. She is also an Art & Action Fellow for the Allentown Art Museum. Chloe is committed to creating spaces where it is safe to process intense topics such as death, racism, mental health, and the obstacles faced by LGBTQ+ folks. In her free time, Chloe likes to spend time with her loving partner, Ashleigh; her family; her cat child, Ms. Lady; and her favorite baby cousins, Trinity and Nia.
Basement Poetry is a performance arts group focusing on slam poetry & movement theatre dedicated to creating a courageous & safe place to share stories. @BasementPoetry
 
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Melanie Lino was born & raised in Allentown PA, spending parts of her childhood with family in the Dominican Republic during the summer months. She is a small business owner and activist in the Lehigh Valley. You can find her making food for her community at  @From.Lino, and also planning programs and meetups for Afros in Nature, a collective aiming to connect Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) with nature.
Image of Melanie Lino by Petra Sommers.