common ground open mic series

common ground 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...

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Common Ground. Community. Spoken Word. Art. Healing.

Tonight @ 7:30pm, come through!

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Meet the Features, May 2016 Show: Orange County Immigrant Youth United (OCIYU)

A little bit about OCIYU:

We are an undocumented immigrant you-led organization that advocates for the rights of undocumented immigrants to live lives free from exploitation and persecution. Their website is www.ociyu.org!

On the theme, OCIYU shares:

(In)visible Love is a perfect description of an undocumented youth's journey of self-love and community-love. It is not easy living in this country undocumented - it is even harder to be so vocal about your status and be proud of your identity. As undocumented folks we are invisible and often overlooked. Our fear of deportation pushes us to hide in dark shadows which only makes our invisibility thicker. Nonetheless our love for our community, for our culture, for our people lights the way. As we learn to bring awareness and attention to our issues we lose fear and we gain love and visibility.

Learn what OCIYU is all about on May 5th - Event Here!

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Meet the Features, May 2016 Show: Loan Hoang

A little bit about Loan:

A still evolving artist born in Saigon, raised in Orange County, nurtured in the Bay, and evolving in LA.

About the theme, Loan shares:

I have always felt that the only way to truly know who I am, was to look back on those who have come before me. As I sought out our communities’ rich histories, I learned more about myself than I could ever imagine. There will never be enough appreciation that I can offer for all people who struggled through history for me to be able to be where I am today.

Watch Loan on the mic - Event Here!

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Meet the Features, May 2016 Show: Dorothy Ho

A little bit about Dorothy:

Dorothy Ho, 19 years old. Director of Ruse, an all-female team, whom recently competed and placed 2nd at Urban Street Jam. Graduated from Orange County School of Arts, double major in Classical Voice and Commercial Dance. Currently attending Mt. Sac as a freshman wishing to transfer after her second year. About the theme, Dorothy shares:

Objective facts and truths help people overcome adversity by accepting reality not based on ideological beliefs. This will enable people to seek proper education, treatment, help, and to bare a full grasp in understanding art in its full beauty. By understanding this basic concept, people will be liberated from the shackles that bound us in voice, art, and reason.

Catch Dorothy’s dance moves in person - Event Here!

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Meet the Features, May 2016 Show: Thaolinh Tran

A little bit about Thaolinh:

My name is Thaolinh Nguyen Tran. I am an undergraduate student at UC San Diego, majoring in Communication with a minor in Visual Arts- Media. Coming from an artistic background, I started doing photography when I was young, and just recently (2 years ago), I started to create film. I identity myself as an artist, using my past experiences and both of the mediums, to chase memories.

About the theme, Thaolinh shares:

I understand that the theme for this event is about (in)visible love. From my understanding, my parents have worked hard and long hours in order to become a stable family. Growing up with four siblings, I can see the invisible love that parents project, whether it may a gesture or lecture.

The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of (in)visible love, is seeing what my grandparents, parents, and older siblings do for me. As well, as what I do for my younger siblings. It's the small gestures that we do, but not everybody notices. It's also a constant reminder that there's always someone watching over us and loving us.

Check out Thaolinh’s art on May 5th - Event Here!

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April 2016 Show: “Remember”

RSPV Here!

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March 2016 Show: “March (Mad) Tea Party”

RSPV Here!

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Common Ground Show tonight @ 7:30pm! See you there for #CommunityLove.

Love, Common Ground

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Meet the Features, February 2016 Show: Mark Maza

Meet Mark Maza, spoken word poet extraordinaire!

Who is Mark Maza?

Mark is a poet who grew up between two-cities: Tondo, Manila and Westminster, California. He currently hails from Fullerton, CA. He has shared his work at various venues in Washington, DC, San Diego, Oceanside, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Minnesota. Mark has a degree in Criminology from UC Irvine, an alumni of Uncultivated Rabbits (UCI’s one and only spoken word collective), co-founder of ForWord Spoken Word collective with Eddy Gana, Stephanie Sajor, and Susan Diep. He is the Talent Director at The Definitive Soapbox, a monthly open mic in Long Beach and helps organize The Long Beach Poetry Slam that will be celebrating its 5th anniversary on April 30th.

Mark’s thoughts on our theme:

"I have recently been meditating about and practicing self-care/self-love, which is essential in one's emotional growth. Although, I'm not perfect at this practice, as I also succumb to self-doubt and infrequent visits to spaces of depression and devalued self-worth that I've carved within me, it's imperative that I continue to remind myself of the things I did right, to embrace my successes and reflect on (but never dwell upon) my mistakes, understand that the things I cannot control must be set free with each exhale, and spend time with the people close to me and do things I love doing. Yes, I am a "visitor" to depression, but I am not here to stay. Soon I'll patch up the holes, add a new coat of paint, new floors, eventually renovate the place and fill it with that good love that can only come from self acceptance."

Witness Mark’s words come to life on Feb. 4th - Event Here!

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Meet the Features, February 2016 Show: Hapa Haole

Check out musical Feature, Hapa Haole!

Who are Hapa Haole?

Hapa Haole is a new musical duo featuring Tiffany Lytle on vocals, and Brendan Dewing on guitar. Tiffany and Brendan have been playing music together for only a short time, but their musical connection was ripe with promise from the start! Her jazz background paired with his rock and reggae style from his home state, Hawaii, have created a unique sound that is hard to explain, but very pleasant to listen to. Their band name pays homage to Brendan's Hawaiian roots and is telling of their Asian American influences.

Hapa Haole’s thoughts on our theme:

"This show's theme is love. We intend to play songs that show the spectrum of emotions that come with loving someone. From elation to devastation, love's trials and tribulations transcend all nations. Emotion is the great unifier.”

Event Here!

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Meet the Features, February 2016 Show: Bo Daraphant

Presenting our Visual Artist, Bo Daraphant!

Who is Bo?

Bo is a Thailand native who moved to So Cal when he was 13. He is a current student at UCI and a young immigrant activist who enjoys creative activities such as writing, drawing, and dancing. He is a lover and not a hater who expresses his outlook on life, identity, and feelings through his art. Bo is a dreamer who believes that ideas can shape the world, and how the 'EARTH' without 'ART' would just be 'EH' because art is what keeps us human. He is an amateur artist who started drawing during the winter of 2015 to create his own happiness and meaning when he was feeling lost and depressed.

About our theme:

Bo 'loves' our show theme, and thinks it is important to discuss about many forms of love. He says, "It is an emotion we all have, but sometimes people have different ways of expressing love and there is even negativity that can come out of it, so it is very important to talk about it. Love can be your motivation, happiness, or sorrow. So, it is very prominent in life."

Event Here!

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Meet the Features, February 2016 Show: Stacy & the boy

One of our musical Features, Stacy & the boy!

Stacy & the boy are Stacy Mauro and Aaron Ding.

Who is Stacy? Stacy is a singer, actor, and gamer. She is a Developer by day and a performer by night with a Philosophy degree and an official/unofficial Theatre minor from UC San Diego. Stacy is excited to debut at Common Ground with one of her San Diego favorites!

And who is Aaron? Aaron Ding is a Software Engineer with a love for music and performance. He's a singer, pianist, guitarist, and aspiring composer with a strange Visual Arts degree from UC San Diego. He would like to thank his tens of fans for their occasional support.

About our theme, Stacy & the boy share: "Because I love you, I love myself.”

Event Here!

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Meet the Features, February 2016 Show: CPAF & Project MotiVATe

Our Community Spotlight, CPAF featuring Project MotiVATe!

About CPAF: The Center for the Pacific Asian Family (CPAF)’s mission is to build healthy and safe communities by addressing the root causes and consequences of family violence and violence against women. CPAF is committed to meeting the specific cultural and language needs of Asian Pacific Islander women and their families. Learn more about CPAF by clicking here.

About Project MotiVATe: Joining CPAF is Project MotiVATe (PM) whose mission is to mentor Vietnamese-American Teens by developing their academic, cultural, and social skills to achieve educational goals and personal success. Read more about PM at this link.

Regarding this show's theme, CPAF and Project MotiVATe affirm: "Everyone deserves to be in a safe and healthy relationship."

Event Here!

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February 4th, 2016 Show: “...because I love you.”

…because Love is a mix of musings, murmurings, and moments – the mundane, and the extraordinary. …because to Love is to be vulnerable and honest with others – and too, with yourself. …because, after all, what does it mean to Love others, when Loving others sometimes comes at the cost of being unforgiving to ourselves? …because the journey to Love oneself is just as hard, and elusive, as the journey to Love others. …because Love shows up in its many forms and faces: the good, the dark, the Self. …because Love lifts, and frees; and yet, Love hurts; and when Love doesn't turn out the way we want it to, we start anew – and in this way, Love heals. During the month of February, many folks focus on romantic relationships or the different ways one loves others. For this show, Common Ground would like to realign that focus, and cultivate a purposeful space for us to connect with not only how we love others, but how we learn to truly love ourselves. Because, as Kendrick Lamar reminds us, “…what love got to do with it when I don't love myself?” Join us at Common Ground as we consider, and learn, all things Love.

Event Here!

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Come through to Common Ground for good vibes, music, art, and community.

Tonight @ 7:30pm. See you there!

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Meet the Features, November 2015 Show: Khushboo Kataria Gulati

Meet our Visual Artist, Khushboo Kataria Gulati!

About Khushboo:

Khushboo Kataria Gulati is a queer brown femme desi diasporic art witch. Their work reflects diasporic deviance and queer ajeeb brownness, unearthing ancestral heartbeats, trauma, affirmation, medicines & stories. Her creations are rooted in conjuring other worlds and the creation stories she and her communities needed to see as a young flower/seed, that unpack self-hate and affirm sweet brown sugar queer desi dark divinity.

More about Khushboo’s art!

https://instagram.com/dothead_divinity/

http://dothead-divinity.tumblr.com/

Come view Khushboo’s artwork in person on Nov. 5th - Event Here!

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Meet the Features, November 2015 Show: Cameo Adele

Check out Cameo Adele!

About Cameo Adele:

Cameo Adele has been singing since she was 3, having been born into a family of performers. She was raised around music her whole life, and was even vocally coached by her mother. It has been less than a year since she dropped her debut EP The Queen’s Letters last December, and the response and support have been inspiring. She hopes to touch hearts and invites you along her journey to the top.

About “Power & Fear,” Cameo shared:

“I think it's almost like a cycle. You gotta find the power and the courage to step outside your comfort zone and overcome your fear, which will in turn make you stronger from the experience and empower you. And it's a lot easier said than done, but you gotta believe in yourself and the person you wanna be and you gotta fight for that person because as scary as it can be now, you're gonna learn something about yourself and you're gonna be stronger for taking that leap.”

Cameo’s music can be found at www.soundcloud.com/cameoadele, where her EP is available as a free download.

Event Here!