Workshop: The Art of Linocut
Learn the basics of linocut carving and printing in one 3-hour session with a professional artist. All experience levels are welcome.
This class is an opportunity to learn to get creative, develop a plan and design, and make a bold work of art using linocut. You will be guided and learn the complete linoleum carving and printing process, and will leave with a series of prints and your carved printing block. All materials are included with your registration.
About the Artist:
Mina Michelle Jafari is a multi-disciplinary artist, with over a decade of professional experience with creating digital art, paintings, screenprinting, and linocut printmaking. She has degrees in Government & Politics and Persian Studies from the University of Maryland College Park, and grew up in the Washington, DC area.
Bandana Printing Workshop
Over one 3-hour session, you will design, carve, and customize a bandana with a professional artist. All experience levels are welcome.
This class is an opportunity to learn to get creative, develop a plan and design, and make a bold work of art using linocut. You will be guided and learn the complete linoleum carving and printing process, and will leave with a printed bandana and your carved printing block(s). All materials are included with your registration.
About the Artist:
Mina Michelle Jafari is a multi-disciplinary artist, with over a decade of professional experience with creating digital art, paintings, screenprinting, and linocut printmaking. She has degrees in Government & Politics and Persian Studies from the University of Maryland College Park, and grew up in the Washington, DC area.
Introduction to Black and White Photography
(c) Hesam Mostafavi | 2025
Discover the world through a new lens in this session led by a professional designer and photographer. Whether you are completely new to the craft or looking to refresh your eye, all experience levels are welcome.
Any device is perfect for this class — whether you are shooting on a DSLR, a mirrorless camera, or a smartphone (as long as you can manually adjust or use an app to control the shutter speed, ISO, and aperture/F-stop).
This class is an opportunity to slow down, get creative, and shift how you see the world around you. We will dive into some essential techniques that make a black-and-white image truly powerful, with a main focus on learning how to see the world around you so you can talk through your photos.
About the Instructor:
Hesam is a graphic designer and photographer who has been honing his visual craft since 2012. Combining a deep understanding of graphic design layout with his photographic experience, he helps students explore how to transform everyday scenes into compelling visual stories.
Jomeh Bazar: Friday Night Market in D.C.
Join us the first Friday of each month to find new vendors and to shop from Brookland Arts Walk art studios and shops! Free and open to the public, ADA accessible, and Metro accessible.
Find unique handmade art, play backgammon, drink aromatic coffee and tea, eat freshly made savory and sweet snacks, smell and taste locally farmed goods, your hand at various art-making methods, hear live poetry—all while you meet local artisans and and pop-up vendors!
Bandana Printing Workshop
Over one 3-hour session, you will design, carve, and customize a bandana with a professional artist. All experience levels are welcome.
This class is an opportunity to learn to get creative, develop a plan and design, and make a bold work of art using linocut. You will be guided and learn the complete linoleum carving and printing process, and will leave with a printed bandana and your carved printing block(s). All materials are included with your registration.
About the Artist:
Mina Michelle Jafari is a multi-disciplinary artist, with over a decade of professional experience with creating digital art, paintings, screenprinting, and linocut printmaking. She has degrees in Government & Politics and Persian Studies from the University of Maryland College Park, and grew up in the Washington, DC area.
Workshop: The Art of Linocut
Learn the basics of linocut carving and printing in one 3-hour session with a professional artist. All experience levels are welcome.
This class is an opportunity to learn to get creative, develop a plan and design, and make a bold work of art using linocut. You will be guided and learn the complete linoleum carving and printing process, and will leave with a series of prints and your carved printing block. All materials are included with your registration.
About the Artist:
Mina Michelle Jafari is a multi-disciplinary artist, with over a decade of professional experience with creating digital art, paintings, screenprinting, and linocut printmaking. She has degrees in Government & Politics and Persian Studies from the University of Maryland College Park, and grew up in the Washington, DC area.
Introduction to Black and White Photography
(c) Hesam Mostafavi | 2025
Discover the world through a new lens in this session led by a professional designer and photographer. Whether you are completely new to the craft or looking to refresh your eye, all experience levels are welcome.
Any device is perfect for this class — whether you are shooting on a DSLR, a mirrorless camera, or a smartphone (as long as you can manually adjust or use an app to control the shutter speed, ISO, and aperture/F-stop).
This class is an opportunity to slow down, get creative, and shift how you see the world around you. We will dive into some essential techniques that make a black-and-white image truly powerful, with a main focus on learning how to see the world around you so you can talk through your photos.
About the Instructor:
Hesam is a graphic designer and photographer who has been honing his visual craft since 2012. Combining a deep understanding of graphic design layout with his photographic experience, he helps students explore how to transform everyday scenes into compelling visual stories.
Workshop: The Art of Linocut
Learn the basics of linocut carving and printing in one 3-hour session with a professional artist. All experience levels are welcome.
This class is an opportunity to learn to get creative, develop a plan and design, and make a bold work of art using linocut. You will be guided and learn the complete linoleum carving and printing process, and will leave with a series of prints and your carved printing block. All materials are included with your registration.
About the Artist:
Mina Michelle Jafari is a multi-disciplinary artist, with over a decade of professional experience with creating digital art, paintings, screenprinting, and linocut printmaking. She has degrees in Government & Politics and Persian Studies from the University of Maryland College Park, and grew up in the Washington, DC area.
Introduction to Black and White Photography - Session II
(c) Hesam Mostafavi | 2025
Discover the world through a new lens in this session led by a professional designer and photographer. Whether you are completely new to the craft or looking to refresh your eye, all experience levels are welcome.
Any device is perfect for this class — whether you are shooting on a DSLR, a mirrorless camera, or a smartphone (as long as you can manually adjust or use an app to control the shutter speed, ISO, and aperture/F-stop).
This class is an opportunity to slow down, get creative, and shift how you see the world around you. We will dive into some essential techniques that make a black-and-white image truly powerful, with a main focus on learning how to see the world around you so you can talk through your photos.
About the Instructor:
Hesam is a graphic designer and photographer who has been honing his visual craft since 2012. Combining a deep understanding of graphic design layout with his photographic experience, he helps students explore how to transform everyday scenes into compelling visual stories.
Jomeh Bazar: Friday Night Market
Jomeh Bazar means “Friday Market”—join us the first Friday of each month to find new vendors and to shop from Brookland Arts Walk art studios and shops (like Kucheh at Studio 9)! Free and open to the public, ADA accessible, and Metro accessible.
Find unique handmade art, play backgammon, drink aromatic coffee and tea, eat freshly made savory and sweet snacks, smell and taste locally farmed goods, your hand at various art-making methods, hear live poetry—all while you meet local artisans and and pop-up vendors!
Here are the star-studded pop-up vendors for this month’s Jomeh Bazar, and activities at various Brookland Arts Walk studios + shops:
🌯 Finger food, sandwiches and dips by shaboolimi
🍪 Baked goods by toimoibakary
🎨 Art and body paint By tmofid_art
🧶 Handmade Rugs by Kabul Home Decor
☕️ Chai + Turkish Coffee by Ballstonian by Isa Seyran
🎲 Backgammon by Kucheh
🎤 Live Poetry at American Poetry Museum
🪡 Sewing machine “petting zoo” at Amend and Adapt
…and more available at studios all along the outdoor promenade!
PLUS music to close out your Friday night and enter the weekend right! See you there
Book Klub: My Dreadful Body
Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s monthly Book Klub event! We will be discussing My Dreadful Body by Egana Djabbarova.
_____________
While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!
Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together includes:
Group sharing
Small group sharing
Tea and Sweets (feel free to bring your own snack!)
Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.
By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.
While this is a free event, we encourage you to consider making a donation if you can! 100% of the donations will be invested into the future of Book Klub.
_____________
About the Facilitators
Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.
Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view.
Iranian Queer Representation at Capital Pride 2026
We are part of a women-led collective of LGBTQIA+ Iranians and allies working to bring "Azadi," the name of our pride float, to Capital Pride 2026. Azadi, meaning "Freedom," will represent the Iranian queer community in the parade in the streets of DC once again.
You helped bring this vision to life last year at World Pride, and now we need your help to bring back Azadi in all their radiance to Capital Pride in Washington, DC on June 20, 2026.
Pride Is a Protest
With the generous help of local art studio Kucheh, we've designed and built a float that stands as a bold testament to queer Iranian resilience in the face of oppression. We aim to ignite freedom of expression and identity for all, with special focus on those most silenced. This creation honors the revolutionary spirit of the Stonewall Riots—it exists as a form of protest– and we hope we can count on your support as we protest together at Capital Pride in Washington, DC!
Screen-Print + World Cup Watch Party
Pride is a protest! And we’re coming together to help bring that protest in the form of a float named Azadi (meaning freedom in Persian) back to Capital Pride.
In partnership with The Arcade DC and Right Proper Kitchen we’re hosting a fundraising at Brookland Arts Walk featuring community, art, and football in support of queer Iranian representation at Pride in Washington, DC.
Screen-Print + World Cup Watch Party
At Right Proper Kitchen in Brookland
On Monday, June 15, 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Bring a cotton shirt to Right Proper Kitchen at Brookland Arts Walk during the Iran Vs New Zealand in FIFA World Cup to be screen-printed with art celebrating queer Iranian love. Just donate $25+ to our campaign! Every dollar helps fund the restoration and transportation of Azadi for Capital Pride.
Cheer on Team Iran as they take on New Zealand in the FIFA World Cup during an evening of community, screen-printing, and fundraising! All while enjoying delicious beer and bites at Right Proper’s new location in Brookland. Whether you’re coming for the match, the art, or the chance to support queer Iranian representation, we’d love to see you there.
Bring your friends, spread the word, and help us create a beautiful show of love and liberation together.
You can donate $25+ now by visiting this link, or any time during the events, to participate and have your cotton shirt screen-printed.
Roya: Exploring Dreams + Inner Wisdom
Dream Yoga is a transformative practice that helps you connect with your inner knowing through the exploration and understanding of your dreams. Because dreams are deeply personal, learning to work with them can be one of the most direct and illuminating ways to understand yourself more deeply.
By combining yogic techniques with the study of dream symbolism, this workshop opens a meaningful dialogue with the unconscious mind.
Dream Yoga emphasizes self-discovery and independence. The process of uncovering your own insights is empowering, joyful, and confidence-building - helping you cultivate wisdom from within.
This workshop will guide you in:
Learning a clear framework for exploring and interpreting your own dreams
Engaging in guided reflection and symbolic inquiry
Sharing insights and reflections
Please bring: A journal or something to write with one dream written out and ready to explore
About the facilitator:
As a certified teacher of Yasodhara Hatha Yoga, Hidden Language Hatha Yoga, and Kundalini and Dreams Yoga, Ametisse Gover-Chamlou takes an insight-oriented approach to her teaching, with a particular interest in the transformative potential of dream work. She understands dreams as a powerful pathway for entering into dialogue with the unconscious and accessing inner wisdom.
Her journey began in 2013, when she completed the three-month Yoga Development Course at Yasodhara Ashram, followed by her Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification later that year. In 2014, she expanded her expertise by earning additional certifications in Hidden Language Hatha Yoga and Kundalini and Dreams Yoga.
Ametisse teaches yoga workshops at Lighthouse Yoga Studio in Washington, DC, and at Yasodhara Ashram in British Columbia. She grew up in Northern Virginia and currently lives in Maryland. She is Iranian American and holds deep gratitude for the gifts of her cultural heritage.
Pride Shirt Printing Party
Pride is a protest! And we’re coming together to help bring that protest in the form of a float named Azadi (meaning freedom in Persian) back to Capital Pride.
In partnership with The Arcade DC and Right Proper Kitchen we’re hosting a two-part fundraising series at Brookland Arts Walk featuring community, art, and football in support of queer Iranian representation at Pride in Washington, DC.
Part 1: Screen-Print Fundraiser at the Farmer’s Market
At Kucheh / Brookland Arts Walk
On Saturday, June 13, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Bring a cotton shirt to Kucheh during the Brookland Farmer’s Market to be screen-printed with art celebrating queer Iranian love. Just donate $25+ to our campaign! Every dollar helps fund the restoration and transportation of Azadi for Capital Pride.
Part 2: Screen-Print + World Cup Watch Party
At Right Proper Kitchen in Brookland
On Monday, June 15, 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Cheer on Team Iran as they take on New Zealand in the FIFA World Cup during an evening of community, screen-printing, and fundraising! All while enjoying delicious beer and bites at Right Proper’s new location in Brookland. Whether you’re coming for the match, the art, or the chance to support queer Iranian representation, we’d love to see you there.
Bring your friends, spread the word, and help us create a beautiful show of love and liberation together.
You can donate $25+ now by visiting this link, or any time during the events, to participate and have your cotton shirt screen-printed.
Workshop: The Art of Linocut
Learn the basics of linocut carving and printing in one 3-hour session with a professional artist. All experience levels are welcome.
This class is an opportunity to learn to get creative, develop a plan and design, and make a bold work of art using linocut. You will be guided and learn the complete linoleum carving and printing process, and will leave with a series of prints and your carved printing block. All materials are included with your registration.
About the Artist:
Mina Michelle Jafari is a multi-disciplinary artist, with over a decade of professional experience with creating digital art, paintings, screenprinting, and linocut printmaking. She has degrees in Government & Politics and Persian Studies from the University of Maryland College Park, and grew up in the Washington, DC area.
Jomeh Bazar: Friday Night Market
Jomeh Bazar means “Friday Market”—join us the first Friday of each month to find new vendors and to shop from Brookland Arts Walk art studios and shops (like Kucheh at Studio 9)! Free and open to the public, ADA accessible, and Metro accessible.
Find unique handmade art, play backgammon, drink aromatic coffee and tea, eat freshly made savory and sweet snacks, smell and taste locally farmed goods, your hand at various art-making methods, hear live poetry—all while you meet local artisans and and pop-up vendors!
Here are the star-studded pop-up vendors for this month’s Jomeh Bazar, and activities at various Brookland Arts Walk studios + shops:
🫓 Delicious bites by Elif’s Table Catering
🍰 Cookies by Chef Koo’s Kitchen
🧶 Handmade Rugs by Kabul Home Decor
☕️ Chai + Turkish Coffee by Ballstonian by Isa Seyran
🌱 Farmed goods by Keep Step Farm
🎲 Backgammon by Kucheh
🎤 Live Poetry at American Poetry Museum
🪡 Sewing machine “petting zoo” at Amend and Adapt
…and more available at studios all along the outdoor promenade!
PLUS music to close out your Friday night and enter the weekend right! See you there
Workshop: Decorate Your Denim
Over one 3-hour session, you will design, carve, and customize your denim item with a professional artist. All experience levels are welcome.
This class is an opportunity to learn to get creative, develop a plan and design, and elevate your outfit from dull to delightful by adding hand-carved elements that celebrate your individuality! You will be guided and learn the complete linoleum carving and printing process, print your own piece, and take home your carving(s) to continue your design collection. Bring your own denim — all other materials and professional guided instruction are included with your registration. Class is limited to 4 people.
If you want to organize a private group session, or invite more individuals than the provided limit please email info@kuchehdc.com with more information.
About the Artist:
Mina Michelle Jafari is a multi-disciplinary artist, with over a decade of professional experience with creating digital art, paintings, screenprinting, and linocut printmaking. She has degrees in Government & Politics and Persian Studies from the University of Maryland College Park, and grew up in the Washington, DC area.
Roya: Exploring Dreams + Inner Wisdom
Dream Yoga is a transformative practice that helps you connect with your inner knowing through the exploration and understanding of your dreams. Because dreams are deeply personal, learning to work with them can be one of the most direct and illuminating ways to understand yourself more deeply.
By combining yogic techniques with the study of dream symbolism, this workshop opens a meaningful dialogue with the unconscious mind. Dream Yoga emphasizes self-discovery and independence. The process of uncovering your own insights is empowering, joyful, and confidence-building - helping you cultivate wisdom from within.
This workshop will guide you in:
-Learning a clear framework for exploring and interpreting your own dreams
-Engaging in guided reflection and symbolic inquiry
-Sharing insights and reflections
Please bring: A journal or something to write with one dream written out and ready to explore
About the facilitator:
As a certified teacher of Yasodhara Hatha Yoga, Hidden Language Hatha Yoga, and Kundalini and Dreams Yoga, Ametisse takes an insight-oriented approach to her teaching, with a particular interest in the transformative potential of dream work. She understands dreams as a powerful pathway for entering into dialogue with the unconscious and accessing inner wisdom.
Her journey began in 2013, when she completed the three-month Yoga Development Course at Yasodhara Ashram, followed by her Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification later that year. In 2014, she expanded her expertise by earning additional certifications in Hidden Language Hatha Yoga and Kundalini and Dreams Yoga.
Ametisse teaches yoga workshops at Lighthouse Yoga Studio in Washington, DC, and at Yasodhara Ashram in British Columbia. She grew up in Northern Virginia and currently lives in Maryland. She is Iranian American and holds deep gratitude for the gifts of her cultural heritage.
Book Klub: The Return
Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s monthly Book Klub event! We will be reading and discussing The Return by Hisham Matar.
_____________
While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!
Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together includes:
Group sharing
Small group sharing
Tea and Sweets (feel free to bring your own snack!)
Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.
By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.
While this is a free event, we encourage you to consider making a donation if you can! 100% of the donations will be invested into the future of Book Klub.
_____________
About the Facilitators
Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.
Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view.
Workshop: The Art of Linocut
Learn the basics of linocut carving and printing in one 3-hour session with a professional artist. All experience levels are welcome.
This class is an opportunity to learn to get creative, develop a plan and design, and make a bold work of art using linocut. You will be guided and learn the complete linoleum carving and printing process, and will leave with a series of prints and your carved printing block. All materials are included with your registration.
About the Artist:
Mina Michelle Jafari is a multi-disciplinary artist, with over a decade of professional experience with creating digital art, paintings, screenprinting, and linocut printmaking. She has degrees in Government & Politics and Persian Studies from the University of Maryland College Park, and grew up in the Washington, DC area.
Jomeh Bazar: Friday Night Market
Jomeh Bazar means “Friday Market”—join us the first Friday of each month to find new vendors and to shop from Brookland Arts Walk art studios and shops (like Kucheh at Studio 9)! Free and open to the public, ADA accessible, and Metro accessible.
Find unique handmade art, play backgammon, drink aromatic coffee and tea, eat freshly baked man’oushe, smell and taste curated herbal remedies, try your hand at various art-making methods, hear live poetry—all while you meet local artisans and and pop-up vendors!
Here are the star-studded pop-up vendors for this month’s Jomeh Bazar, and activities at various Brookland Arts Walk studios + shops:
🫓 Man’oushe by Toot Toot
🍰 Baklava by The Persian Table
🧶 Handmade Rugs by Kabul Home Decor
☕️ Chai + Turkish Coffee by Ballstonian by Isa Seyran
🌱 Herbs + Tinctures by Anahita Herbal Medleys
🎲 Backgammon + Printmaking at Kucheh
🎤 Live Poetry at American Poetry Museum
🪡 Sewing machine “petting zoo” at Amend and Adapt
🌸 Bloom bar at Handmade Habitat
🗿 Sculpting at Maroulla Sculpture
📚 Books at BOL Coop Bookstore
…and more available at studios all along the outdoor promenade!
PLUS beats by DJ Basbousa to close out your Friday night and enter the weekend right! See you there
Workshop: The Art of Linocut
Learn the basics of linocut carving and printing in one 3-hour session with a professional artist. All experience levels are welcome.
This class is an opportunity to learn to get creative, develop a plan and design, and make a bold work of art using linocut. You will be guided and learn the complete linoleum carving and printing process, and will leave with a series of prints and your carved printing block. All materials are included with your registration, including but not limited to linocut blocks, carving tools, handles, brayers, tracing paper, printmaking paper, palette knives, gloves, rags, sketching materials, and inspiration materials.
About the Artist:
Mina Michelle Jafari is a multi-disciplinary artist, with over a decade of professional experience with creating digital art, paintings, screenprinting, and linocut printmaking. She has degrees in Government & Politics and Persian Studies from the University of Maryland College Park, and grew up in the Washington, DC area.
Book Klub: Liquid
Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s monthly Book Klub event! We will be reading and discussing Liquid by Mariam Rahmani.
_____________
While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!
Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together includes:
Group sharing
Small group sharing
Tea and Sweets (feel free to bring your own snack!)
Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.
By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.
While this is a free event, we encourage you to consider making a donation if you can! 100% of the donations will be invested into the future of Book Klub.
_____________
About the Facilitators
Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.
Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view.
Open Studio
Bring your own materials, or use studio materials! We will have:
Paint and cardboard for poster-making
1” button-making machine
Sticker-making materials
Linocut printmaking tools and materials
This is a self-guided open studio with no formal instruction provided. It is a space for creative expression, message-making, and collective imagination—whether you’re working on personal projects, protest art, or something in between. Come make at your own pace, work alongside others, and be in community. All skill levels are welcome.
Limited space available.
No War on Iran: Teach-In at BOL
Join BOL, Kucheh Kollective, and Muslim Counterpublics Lab to learn more about the long campaign of disinformation, propaganda and war profiteering that has resulted in the current war on Iran. We will also discuss the important actions that activists, artists, teachers and community members can take to resist and push back the narrative of war as peace, the use of US military intervention in the Middle East and South West Asia.
Location: BOL Bookstore, 716 Monroe Street NE, Studio 11, Washington, DC
Date/Time: Sunday, March 29, 3-5pm
Speakers:
Dr. Negar Razavi is a Senior Researcher with Security in Context and an Associate Research Scholar at the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Iran and Persian Gulf Studies at Princeton University, where she is working on her first book manuscript on the role of policy experts in shaping U.S. security policies toward the Middle East generally and Iran specifically. Broadly, Razavi’s work examines the intersections of state power, empire, security, foreign policy, expertise, and gender.
Reza H. Akbari is a Program Manager at the Institute for War and Peace Reporting and a PhD candidate at American University where he studies the history of modern Middle East, modern Iran, and critical theory. Reza conducts research on state-society relations, social movements, political parties, Iranian domestic politics, political transition, and U.S. foreign policy toward the Middle East.
Eid + Nowruz Gathering to Benefit Children in Iran
Play backgammon, enjoy tea, and be in community for a good cause. Hosted by Kucheh Kollective + Alexandria for Palestine.
RSVP and bring proof of donation (any amount!). We can accept your donation at the door, or you can show us a recent receipt from a donation you made to Children of Persia directly here. Every dollar counts, and we encourage you to donate any amount you can.
A donation of $50 provides a family in Iran with essential seasonal staples, helping families prepare modest meals and nourish children in need. We encourage you to bring cash, but you can also make your tax-deductible donation at the event!
All guests will receive a Persian/English calendar (1405/2026) filled with beautiful photographs from Iran.
All donations collected will go toward Children of Persia, one of the few organizations that have OFAC licenses to send humanitarian funds to Iran, while they are under U.S. sanctions.
____
Hosted by Kucheh Kollective + Alexandria for Palestine.
Book Klub: Natural Beauty
Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s monthly Book Klub event! We will be reading and discussing Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang.
_____________
While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!
Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together includes:
Group sharing
Small group sharing
Tea and Sweets (feel free to bring your own snack!)
Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.
By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.
While this is a free event, we encourage you to consider making a donation if you can! 100% of the donations will be invested into the future of Book Klub.
_____________
About the Facilitators
Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.
Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view.
Open Studio
Bring your own materials, or use studio materials! We will have:
Paint and cardboard for poster-making
1” button-making machine
Sticker-making materials
Linocut printmaking tools and materials
This is a self-guided open studio with no formal instruction provided. It is a space for creative expression, message-making, and collective imagination—whether you’re working on personal projects, protest art, or something in between. Come make at your own pace, work alongside others, and be in community. All skill levels are welcome.
Limited space available.
Diaspora in Words: Healing through Writing
In the midst of ongoing trauma and uncertainty in Iran and across the region, Kucheh Kollective invites you to an afternoon of writing as a path to understanding, processing, and healing.
This workshop provides the Iranian diaspora community with a safe and supportive space to explore identity, emotion, belonging, and resilience. Through guided meditation, group and independent writing prompts, and optional sharing, together we will meet our grief, confusion, and pain with empathy and compassion.
No prior writing experience is necessary. Just show up and put pen to page.
__
About our facilitators:
Maryam Khatami, LICSW is a clinical social worker licensed in DC and VA. Maryam specializes in treating anxiety disorders and obsessive compulsive disorder. Maryam currently works as a staff clinician to students at American University.
Elham Khatami is a writer and editor, currently working in nonprofit communications. Previously, she served as a journalist and editor at ThinkProgress and CQ Roll Call. Her work has appeared in Catapult, WIRED, Guernica, and other publications.
Open Studio
Bring your own materials, or use studio materials! We will have:
Paint and cardboard for poster-making
1” button-making machine
Sticker-making materials
Linocut printmaking tools and materials
This is a self-guided open studio with no formal instruction provided. It is a space for creative expression, message-making, and collective imagination—whether you’re working on personal projects, protest art, or something in between. Come make at your own pace, work alongside others, and be in community. All skill levels are welcome.
Limited space available.
Book Klub: The River Has Roots
Join us for Kucheh Kollective’s monthly Book Klub event! We will be reading and discussing The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar.
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While the book will be a starting point for our discussions, this book club is not meant to be academically rigorous or intimidating, but rather a safe space for community and connection. We encourage readers and non-readers alike to join!
Discussions will consider the intersection between the themes from the selected book and our personal and emotional experiences. Our time together includes:
Group sharing
Small group sharing
Tea and Sweets (feel free to bring your own snack!)
Please read or listen to the selected book in advance. If you register and are unable to complete the book prior to the event or unable to attend for any reason, please contact Kucheh Kollective (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) so another individual may have the opportunity to attend.
By registering for Book Klub, please note you will receive emails from the organizers from the Kucheh Kollective email (kuchehkollective@gmail.com) prior to and after the event.
While this is a free event, we encourage you to consider making a donation if you can! 100% of the donations will be invested into the future of Book Klub.
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About the Facilitators
Anita Farsad is a writer and facilitator based in Washington DC. Through poetry, essays, and fiction, she explores themes including memory, identity, and migration.
Mina M. Jafari is an artist based in Washington, DC and co-owner of Kucheh Art Studio + Shop. Her art is rooted in Iranian culture, and is a way for her to express her political and feminist point of view.