OUR EVENTS
October 23, 2020
July 31, 2020
Friday, October 23, 2020
6:30PM to 9PM PST
common ground (virtual) 10 year anniversary show - radical love
Register here: bit.ly/cg10year
”The moment we choose to love we begin to move against domination, against oppression. The moment we choose to love we begin to move towards freedom, to act in ways that liberate ourselves and others. That action is the testimony of love as the practice of freedom.” - bell hooks, “Love as the Practice of Freedom”
For the last ten years, commongroundoc has been a creative space that offers collective healing through artistic expression, recognizes our collective struggle and celebrates our diverse, complex backgrounds. It is important to have creative, artistic spaces that help us navigate healing, grief, recovery, and above all, joy that encourages honest, vulnerable conversations and experiences.
To lead with love requires us to continuously unlearn and unpack what it means to be worthy of love, to love ourselves and to share love with others. commongroundoc is purposeful in offering a space that fosters radical love.
In this moment, as we move towards liberation through love, we ask:
In our 10th year, we are within a critical, historic moment. Now, more than ever, it is clear that the systems in which our society operates are broken, violent and oppressive. Yet just as clear, the collective power we possess as a community in unity is immovable. Through our pain and suffering, we must remember to love so fiercely that when they see us they will know exactly how it should be done. We must be so free, open, and unapologetic in the ways we express love to ourselves and one another that we create connection and empathy. In doing so, we will move in solidarity. As bell hooks said, “Without justice, there can be no love.”
You’re invited to:
commongroundoc presents:
10 Year Anniversary Show - Radical Love
October 23rd, 2020
6:30-9:00 PM PST
We invite you to serve love with us. Together, we create systems that adore all that we are, and all that we cherish. Join us for an evening of radical love, creative empowerment, and healing. We love you.
This event is offered at no cost to encourage your participation. We gladly welcome community donations (suggested $5) to help support our local cultural protectors and visionaries - our artists and creative pioneers - and to sustain commongroundoc to continue these offerings to you: our community.
featuring:
Jenni Trang Le / Spoken Word
BlckNoise / Music
Hatefas Yop / Spoken Word
Vi Son Trinh / Visual Storyteller
Matt Diep + Psypher LA / Dance
Natalie Bui / Illustrator
DJ Nina Ross
community spotlight:
Vietnamese American Arts & Letters Association (VAALA)
6:30PM to 9PM PST
common ground (virtual) 10 year anniversary show - radical love
Register here: bit.ly/cg10year
”The moment we choose to love we begin to move against domination, against oppression. The moment we choose to love we begin to move towards freedom, to act in ways that liberate ourselves and others. That action is the testimony of love as the practice of freedom.” - bell hooks, “Love as the Practice of Freedom”
For the last ten years, commongroundoc has been a creative space that offers collective healing through artistic expression, recognizes our collective struggle and celebrates our diverse, complex backgrounds. It is important to have creative, artistic spaces that help us navigate healing, grief, recovery, and above all, joy that encourages honest, vulnerable conversations and experiences.
To lead with love requires us to continuously unlearn and unpack what it means to be worthy of love, to love ourselves and to share love with others. commongroundoc is purposeful in offering a space that fosters radical love.
In this moment, as we move towards liberation through love, we ask:
- How do we lead with love?
- What does it mean to love our community, and work from a place of love?
- How do we practice love towards others and ourselves?
In our 10th year, we are within a critical, historic moment. Now, more than ever, it is clear that the systems in which our society operates are broken, violent and oppressive. Yet just as clear, the collective power we possess as a community in unity is immovable. Through our pain and suffering, we must remember to love so fiercely that when they see us they will know exactly how it should be done. We must be so free, open, and unapologetic in the ways we express love to ourselves and one another that we create connection and empathy. In doing so, we will move in solidarity. As bell hooks said, “Without justice, there can be no love.”
You’re invited to:
commongroundoc presents:
10 Year Anniversary Show - Radical Love
October 23rd, 2020
6:30-9:00 PM PST
We invite you to serve love with us. Together, we create systems that adore all that we are, and all that we cherish. Join us for an evening of radical love, creative empowerment, and healing. We love you.
This event is offered at no cost to encourage your participation. We gladly welcome community donations (suggested $5) to help support our local cultural protectors and visionaries - our artists and creative pioneers - and to sustain commongroundoc to continue these offerings to you: our community.
featuring:
Jenni Trang Le / Spoken Word
BlckNoise / Music
Hatefas Yop / Spoken Word
Vi Son Trinh / Visual Storyteller
Matt Diep + Psypher LA / Dance
Natalie Bui / Illustrator
DJ Nina Ross
community spotlight:
Vietnamese American Arts & Letters Association (VAALA)
common ground oc presents:
LOVE ON PHIM
Film Screening // Q&A with Filmmakers
Friday, July 31, 2020
6:30PM to 8:00PM (PST)
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW: bit.ly/loveonphim
Featuring films by and conversations with:
Quyên Nguyen-Le, Hoài (Ongoing, Memory)
Peterson Pham, Tết (New Year)
Stevie Vu, Thương Dân (Love Your People)
Moderated by Uyen Hoang, Project Director of Youth in Motion
Please join common ground on Friday, July 31st at 6:30pm PST as we explore radical love through the deeply personal and profound short films from three Vietnamese-American filmmakers. Bring your curiosity, love of film and refreshments as we enjoy the power of visual storytelling and chat with our featured artists.
Quyên Nguyen-Le, Hoài (Ongoing, Memory)
Hoài (Ongoing, Memory)
Centering on the story of a queer second generation Vietnamese American woman, this film explores the collapsing and intersecting realities of heartbreak: from romantic partnerships, to families, to nation states.
Quyên Nguyen-Le is a queer Vietnamese American filmmaker.
quyennl.com
Peterson Pham, Tết (New Year)
Tết (New Year), Peterson Pham's debut filmmaking effort, was created in part through Youth In Motion: A Workshop for Emerging Filmmakers, a smART program series of Vietnamese Arts and Letters Association (VAALA) and in conjunction with its annual Viet Film Fest. Peterson "came out" to their mom in order to create this short film. Tết (New Year) special premiered at Viet Film Fest 2015 where Peterson's mom along with their chosen family, Viet Rainbow of Orange County (VROC), were surprised to watched the film for the first time together.
Peterson Pham is an advocate for social justice: they have been involved with LGBTQ+ and ethnic community organizations in the Southern California region and currently serves as the Public Relations Chair of Viet Rainbow of Orange County. Professionally, Peterson works in behavioral health and is a clinical social worker managing the social services department at a psychiatric hospital.
Stevie Vu, Thương Dân (Love Your People)
For decades, Vietnamese people have made homes for themselves in Little Saigon. Now, they’re fighting to keep it.
Stevie Vu is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach and works with Vietnamese non-profits around Orange County.
Uyen Hoang (she/hers, they/theirs) is an educator, organizer, artist, and dog mom from Garden Grove, CA. She is currently the Project Director for Viet-Rainbow of Orange County. She is also a Libra sun, Sagittarius rising, and Pisces moon. For all the astrology inclined folks here, you now know her pretty darn well. For everyone else, just know that Uyen values justice and fairness, is funny (or tries to be), and has lots of emotions.
We gladly offer this event at no-cost to participants. Yet, as COVID-19 continues to impact our communities, it is especially hard for our cultural protectors and visionaries - our artists and creative pioneers - to sustain themselves. If you are able, we ask for a donation of $5 which will go directly towards supporting our featured filmmakers and moderator, and to sustain common ground oc to continue these offerings to you: our community.
LOVE ON PHIM
Film Screening // Q&A with Filmmakers
Friday, July 31, 2020
6:30PM to 8:00PM (PST)
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW: bit.ly/loveonphim
Featuring films by and conversations with:
Quyên Nguyen-Le, Hoài (Ongoing, Memory)
Peterson Pham, Tết (New Year)
Stevie Vu, Thương Dân (Love Your People)
Moderated by Uyen Hoang, Project Director of Youth in Motion
Please join common ground on Friday, July 31st at 6:30pm PST as we explore radical love through the deeply personal and profound short films from three Vietnamese-American filmmakers. Bring your curiosity, love of film and refreshments as we enjoy the power of visual storytelling and chat with our featured artists.
Quyên Nguyen-Le, Hoài (Ongoing, Memory)
Hoài (Ongoing, Memory)
Centering on the story of a queer second generation Vietnamese American woman, this film explores the collapsing and intersecting realities of heartbreak: from romantic partnerships, to families, to nation states.
Quyên Nguyen-Le is a queer Vietnamese American filmmaker.
quyennl.com
Peterson Pham, Tết (New Year)
Tết (New Year), Peterson Pham's debut filmmaking effort, was created in part through Youth In Motion: A Workshop for Emerging Filmmakers, a smART program series of Vietnamese Arts and Letters Association (VAALA) and in conjunction with its annual Viet Film Fest. Peterson "came out" to their mom in order to create this short film. Tết (New Year) special premiered at Viet Film Fest 2015 where Peterson's mom along with their chosen family, Viet Rainbow of Orange County (VROC), were surprised to watched the film for the first time together.
Peterson Pham is an advocate for social justice: they have been involved with LGBTQ+ and ethnic community organizations in the Southern California region and currently serves as the Public Relations Chair of Viet Rainbow of Orange County. Professionally, Peterson works in behavioral health and is a clinical social worker managing the social services department at a psychiatric hospital.
Stevie Vu, Thương Dân (Love Your People)
For decades, Vietnamese people have made homes for themselves in Little Saigon. Now, they’re fighting to keep it.
Stevie Vu is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach and works with Vietnamese non-profits around Orange County.
Uyen Hoang (she/hers, they/theirs) is an educator, organizer, artist, and dog mom from Garden Grove, CA. She is currently the Project Director for Viet-Rainbow of Orange County. She is also a Libra sun, Sagittarius rising, and Pisces moon. For all the astrology inclined folks here, you now know her pretty darn well. For everyone else, just know that Uyen values justice and fairness, is funny (or tries to be), and has lots of emotions.
We gladly offer this event at no-cost to participants. Yet, as COVID-19 continues to impact our communities, it is especially hard for our cultural protectors and visionaries - our artists and creative pioneers - to sustain themselves. If you are able, we ask for a donation of $5 which will go directly towards supporting our featured filmmakers and moderator, and to sustain common ground oc to continue these offerings to you: our community.
JUNE 5, 2020
common ground open mic presents:
"They tried to bury us. They didn't know we were seeds."
- Greek poet Dinos Christianopoulos
We are in a historic moment. As oppressors continue to enact their violence and behaviors of suppression, our communities are responding.
The conditions in which state-sanctioned violence against Black people have been condoned are no longer acceptable.
"They tried to bury us. They didn't know we were seeds."
In this moment, we remember that even when they bury us, we will flourish. Together, we grow, unlearn, heal and move towards the light. Our shared hxstories compel us to move in solidarity and we will continue to emanate life through the seeds of resiliency.
In doing so, we ask:
- How do we redefine the conditions and identify broken systems that are not working for the people?
- Can we build strong roots in order to continue to grow and thrive?
- What is necessary for us to grow?
We invite you to grow with us. Together, till and nourish the soil, tend to our roots, name those that seek to bury us, and bring attention to the conditions that continue to nurture us. Join us for an evening of planting seeds for creativity, healing, growth. We are seeds.
Thursday, June 18th, 2020 | 6:30PM to 8:30PM PST
common ground (virtual) open mic show!
Open Mic sign-ups begin day before at 5PM & closes day of the open mic at noon. All are welcome!
Register now: bit.ly/seedsopenmic
MAY 29, 2020
common ground oc presents:
"WE ARE SEEDS: How to Connect with Your Plantcestors" with Jumakae
WE ARE SEEDS: How to Connect with Your Plantcestors
Friday, May 29, 2020
5:30pm-7:00pm
To register please visit: bit.ly/plantcestors
This workshop is offered at no-cost to encourage your participation. We gladly welcome community donations be directed to Jumakae at venmo.com/jumakae or paypal.me/jumakae
"We Are Seeds" is a workshop using poetry and gentle movement to tell stories of how immigrants, refugees, and residents continuously find ways to create home. Through guided visualization, sensory memory and writing prompts, participants will (re)discover their connection to our "plant" ancestors, heal intergenerational wounds, and cultivate a garden of resiliency through storytelling.
ABOUT JUMAKAE
June Marisa Kaewsith, also known as "Jumakae," is a professional artist, wellness consultant, and transformational life coach. With her passion for the arts and somatic learning, she holds self-care and storytelling workshops for organizations and individuals to strengthen team relationships and wellness culture from a social justice and trauma-informed lens. Website: www.jumakae.com | IG: @jumakae
"WE ARE SEEDS: How to Connect with Your Plantcestors" with Jumakae
WE ARE SEEDS: How to Connect with Your Plantcestors
Friday, May 29, 2020
5:30pm-7:00pm
To register please visit: bit.ly/plantcestors
This workshop is offered at no-cost to encourage your participation. We gladly welcome community donations be directed to Jumakae at venmo.com/jumakae or paypal.me/jumakae
"We Are Seeds" is a workshop using poetry and gentle movement to tell stories of how immigrants, refugees, and residents continuously find ways to create home. Through guided visualization, sensory memory and writing prompts, participants will (re)discover their connection to our "plant" ancestors, heal intergenerational wounds, and cultivate a garden of resiliency through storytelling.
ABOUT JUMAKAE
June Marisa Kaewsith, also known as "Jumakae," is a professional artist, wellness consultant, and transformational life coach. With her passion for the arts and somatic learning, she holds self-care and storytelling workshops for organizations and individuals to strengthen team relationships and wellness culture from a social justice and trauma-informed lens. Website: www.jumakae.com | IG: @jumakae
MAY 1, 2020
common ground open mic presents:
What is the meaning of this moment?
take a breath
a deep breath
hold it in for one sec
now breathe out all the air that has filled your lungs
recognize how you feel, what thoughts were raised
focus on all your senses - touch, taste, sight, and sound
As we are living in a global pandemic and we are all directly impacted by this stress and trauma, the resilience and creativity that our community has found to develop collective care is inspiring. Out of this collective offering of creativity, common ground invites you to liberate the stress carried from the week and breathe with us on May 1 as we come together to learn and share our response to, “what is the meaning of this moment?”
Common ground open mic presents
What is the meaning of this moment?
Friday, May 1st, 2020 - 7 pm- 9 pm
Zoom Live HERE
Facebook Live @commongroundoc
OPEN MIC SIGN-UPS OPEN ON FRIDAY AT NOON
about common ground
common ground open mic is organized by progressive Vietnamese American community members, artists, and activists committed to cultivating a positive and safe healing space for artistic growth and community empowerment. The common ground collective builds collaborations across communities and supports the work of social justice spaces.
IG and Facebook: @commongroundoc
What is the meaning of this moment?
take a breath
a deep breath
hold it in for one sec
now breathe out all the air that has filled your lungs
recognize how you feel, what thoughts were raised
focus on all your senses - touch, taste, sight, and sound
As we are living in a global pandemic and we are all directly impacted by this stress and trauma, the resilience and creativity that our community has found to develop collective care is inspiring. Out of this collective offering of creativity, common ground invites you to liberate the stress carried from the week and breathe with us on May 1 as we come together to learn and share our response to, “what is the meaning of this moment?”
Common ground open mic presents
What is the meaning of this moment?
Friday, May 1st, 2020 - 7 pm- 9 pm
Zoom Live HERE
Facebook Live @commongroundoc
OPEN MIC SIGN-UPS OPEN ON FRIDAY AT NOON
about common ground
common ground open mic is organized by progressive Vietnamese American community members, artists, and activists committed to cultivating a positive and safe healing space for artistic growth and community empowerment. The common ground collective builds collaborations across communities and supports the work of social justice spaces.
IG and Facebook: @commongroundoc
APRIL 19, 2020
a moment for ourselves - together
a workshop with tk lê
Sign-up for the workshop today! https://bit.ly/cgocworkshop
During this time, it is both bewildering and inspiring to witness the many ways our communities are coming together to share space and offer our personal stories and gifts to one another in various ways.
Out of this collective offering of creativity, common ground is returning through the virtual space with the spirit of storytelling, healing and arts. This is an exciting way for us to re-connect and we invite you to build with us. A Moment for Ourselves - Together with T.K. Lê Friday, April 24, 2020 6:30pm-8:30pm |
Though this 2-hour session is called a workshop, this is not about "work." This is an opportunity to get grounded, tune in to ourselves, and generate writing. We will open with a short guided meditation before moving into writing and some sharing. Come as your whole self.
This workshop is offered at no cost to encourage your participation. We gladly welcome community donations be directed to the COVID-19 Community Assistance Fund organized by Viet Rainbow of Orange County (VROC) and AHRI for Justice (AHRI). T.K. Lê is a writer and adjunct instructor from Westminster, California. She is currently writing a poetry collection called In This Strange Place. She is an alum of the VONA Voices summer writing workshop and a 2019 PEN America Emerging Voices fellow. Her fiction has been featured in Strange Horizons. Find her at tk-le.com or on Twitter @tk_le_tired |
APRIL 30, 2016
APRIL 25, 2016
Save the date for our May show on Thursday, May 5, 2016!
APRIL 1, 2016
MARCH 1, 2016
Come out to our March (Mad) Tea Party to heal mind, body, soul, and heart as community, at #CommonGroundOC
JANUARY 28, 2016
Happy New Year! We're back this new year, so join us at our first show of 2016 for community love at #CommonGroundOC!
NOVEMBER 12, 2015
There will be no Common Ground for December or January. Enjoy the holidays with loved ones, and join us at Common Ground when we come back full swing in February 2016!
NOVEMBER 1, 2015
SEPTEMBER 27, 2015
Presenting a fantastic lineup that will be sure to start the year off strong!
AUGUST 2, 2015
JULY 15, 2015
JULY 2, 2015
NO COMMON GROUND SHOW TONIGHT!! STAY TUNED FOR AWESOME AUGUST NEWS!
JUNE 1, 2015
MAY 2, 2015
Instead of our regular show, join us for Common Ground at OC Night Market on Friday, May 8th!
APRIL 6, 2015
MARCH 1, 2015
We're back with another season of CG! Check out our first show this year on March 5th!
NOVEMBER 16, 2014
No Common Ground December or January. However, please do join us for this special presentation of Vietgone, a free play reading, co-presented by South Coast Repertory and VAALA. Event is November 23, 4pm, @ VAALA Cultural Center.
OCTOBER 30, 2014
OCTOBER 1, 2014
AUGUST 25, 2014
AUGUST 1, 2014
JULY 28, 2014
JULY 2, 2014
JUNE 19, 2014
MAY 27, 2014
MAY 13, 2014
Highlights from our last show: "Teachers"
Highlights from our last show: "Teachers"
APRIL 22, 2014
WELCOME to our new website!
We want to see you at our next show on May 1st, 7:30 pm-9:30 pm @ VAALA Cultural Center. Our show's theme is dedicated to all the "teachers" in our lives, so please come out for a night full of art, music, poetry, and fun!
- common ground organizing team 2014
WELCOME to our new website!
We want to see you at our next show on May 1st, 7:30 pm-9:30 pm @ VAALA Cultural Center. Our show's theme is dedicated to all the "teachers" in our lives, so please come out for a night full of art, music, poetry, and fun!
- common ground organizing team 2014
