David Pace’s exhilarating new collect-ion, American Trinity, fashions a new set of mythologies from the material of Mormon America—tales of doubters and believers, angels and heretics, the sacred and the profane. With wisdom and humor, these ambitious stories use the particularities of LDS culture and history as a lens to examine the most profound, universal elements of human life—producing a collection that speaks powerfully to Mormons and non-Mormons alike. –Shawn Vestal, author of Daredevils and God-forsaken Idaho Twelve stories that span the Mormon Corridor—a geographical as well as, now, globally psychic space inhabited by America's most "successful" indigenous religion. At times rendered through life's daily grind (politics, marriage, acquiring an STD... and too many parking tickets), other times through the supernatural and fabulist (angels and personified names of the dead ripped from the real-life Utah mountain vault filled with genealogical records), these are Latter-day Saints who see things “Mormonly” (with apologies to “New Englandly” Emily Dickinson) both driven and riven by their frenetic and sacralized sense of community, their orthodoxy, their doubts and their awkward (often futile) rebellions to comical, poignant, sometimes harrowing ends. Please join us in welcoming author David Pace to The Printed Garden on Friday night, April 26th to read from, answer questions about, and sign copies of his new book, American Trinity. This event is free and open to the public, and will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Bomba Marilé invites you to join us in honoring how our stories are told through song and oral tradition at this event entitled "Storytelling Through Song". Thanks to the WESTAF, SLC ACE, Salt Lake County Zoo Arts and Parks, Walmart, and to the Sorenson Unity Center, we are able to bring you a full day of workshops, discussions, and live music free all day long and open to all in the community. Join us on Saturday April 27th from 10am-7pm at the Sorenson Unity Center.

We will be highlighting bomba from Loiza. We are honored to have visiting bomba educator and historian Marcos Peñaloza Pica all the way from Loiza Puerto Rico. Schedule: 10-11:30am Percussion workshop of bomba rhythms from Loiza 12-1:30 pm Workshop on Bomba Songs from Loiza 3pm-5pm Panel discussion on Storytelling Through Song Panelists include: Marcos Peñaloza Pica (Puerto Rico) Leah Gishie (Diné) Carl Moore (Hopi) Chitra Kaayva (India) Moderator Noemi Hernandez (Mexico) 5:30- 7pm Live Bomba Music and Dance

Tickets are now on sale! https://www.24tix.com/event/3831253529?fbclid=IwAR1K4gnm_IUxlRvz2FomYHLLhPhLefqj4WwUrsIyERWnkGkgvagrSn7wRRA_aem_AcVgOt_YXJSYrYPpJ5yC3Ld89G7dn34N9De8D0Knikn_JYic32HuHSgeW-O_qgZaep9D4D7HHh9Vy7EAv0Ao8Ghd The Brave and Brilliant event is April 27th at 7 pm, doors open at 6:30 pm. 🌟 Brace yourselves for an engaging evening of bravery and brilliance!" 💡 Join us for an event with TEDxSaltLakeCity where we're serving up a menagerie of daring ideas and activities. 💬 Engage in lively discussions that'll make your neurons dance and your perspectives pop. Plus, a special message from none other than Governor Cox himself! 🎩 Get ready to amplify your thinking and elevate your evening. 🚀 See you there, trailblazers!

A book reading & signing by Nikki Walker, featured author in Awareness Put Me On: Leading By Choice, Thriving By Design ___________________________________ How has awareness put YOU on? The time has come to listen to the call and make a change. In Awareness Put Me On, you will meet over 20 leaders from diverse background to explore the profound impact of height and awareness on personal and professional growth. This book dives in real life stories, experiences, and insights that highlight the pivotal moments when increased awareness became a catalyst for change. "STRONGER THAN PRIDE" The theme of Nikki Walker’s chapter revolves around resilience, self-awareness, and the transformative power of confronting and embracing one's emotions, particularly in the context of mental health challenges. The chapter emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and addressing personal struggles, seeking help and support, and finding strength in vulnerability. It also touches on the societal stigma surrounding mental health issues, highlighting the need for increased awareness and accessibility to mental health care, especially for underserved communities like Black women. Overall, the chapter underscores the journey of personal growth and healing through self-awareness, communication, and seeking assistance when needed. About Nikki Walker: Nikki Walker is a highly accomplished professional with a diverse background in public relations, communications, and community engagement. Born and raised in Jersey City, NJ, Nikki made the move to Lehi, Utah in 2017 and has since become an integral part of the local community. With over 20 years of experience in the field, Nikki's career in public relations and communications on the east coast was marked by remarkable achievements and continuous growth. She began as an associate and steadily climbed the ranks to eventually reach the position of Vice President. Along the way, she successfully launched and ran her own PR firm for a decade and even served as an in-house PR director for a national ethnic hair care brand. In 2017, Nikki's talents and expertise caught the attention of a multibillion-dollar wellness brand based in Utah, and she was recruited to serve as the Director of Global Brand Awareness. Her time with the company was highly successful, and she played a pivotal role in expanding the brand's reach and impact on a global scale. Seeking new challenges and opportunities, Nikki transitioned into the tech space, where she currently holds the position of Director of Community Engagement and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) at a prominent tech company. In this role, Nikki is dedicated to fostering strong connections between the company and its community, while also championing diversity and inclusivity within the organization. Beyond her professional endeavors, Nikki is deeply committed to making a positive difference in her community. She serves on various nonprofit boards throughout the state of Utah, including the State Workforce Development Board, Utah Foster Care, The Children's Center, The Road Home, The Utah Black Chamber of Commerce, and Women Who Succeed. Her active involvement in these organizations reflects her passion for empowering others and creating opportunities for growth and success. Nikki's outstanding contributions have been recognized by numerous prestigious awards and accolades. She was named one of Utah Business Magazine's 30 Women to Watch and was honored as part of the W Collective's 40 Over 40. In 2022, she received a Stevie Award, acknowledging her exceptional achievements in her field. Additionally, Nikki was a recipient of the 2021 Women Tech Change Catalyst Award, recognizing her significant impact in the technology sector. Most notably, she was a 2023 candidate for the Utah State Senate, reflecting her dedication to public service and her desire to make a positive impact on a broader scale. https://www.goldenbraidslc.com/events/awareness-put-me-on-an-author-event-with-nikki-walker

Garbage Bag Girl: an unforgettable story of hope and resiliency. A book reading, signing, & interactive community event with Celeste L. Edmunds, Author and International Executive Director of The Christmas Box. Garbage Bag Girl is Celeste Edmund's story of being raised by addicted parents and, at a young age, learning to survive and protect her siblings from rapists and drug dealers. Eventually, the state separated their family, and Celeste was adopted alone into a dysfunctional, fractured home where a sadistic and manipulating mother treated her as an unwanted outsider. Contemplating taking her abuser's life, Celeste eventually ran away, finding shelter wherever she could, until a compassionate woman stepped in to give her home and love. About Celeste L. Edmunds: Christmas Box House Executive Director Celeste Edmunds understands what the children she serves at The Christmas Box Houses are going through. She went through it herself. Her biological parents were addicts, and her childhood was an ongoing cycle of police calls, fighting, and physical, sexual, and mental abuse. At age 7, Celeste was taken from her home and placed into a child welfare system, where moving every few months to a new environment became normal. By age sixteen, she had lived in more than 30 cities. Celeste views her childhood as a difficult but essential growing experience. There were terrible things, but there were also caring people along the way who did what they could to protect and nurture her. She was author Richard Paul Evans’ assistant when he founded The Christmas Box International. She quickly became an integral part of its creation, helping to build and refine the original shelters for a decade before taking a new position in Corporate America. Working in the corporate world gave her valuable knowledge of a different kind, with experience in marketing (receiving Marketer of the Year by Utah Business Magazine), public relations, community giving, and team management. Combining her nonprofit and corporate experience, Celeste is uniquely fit to guide The Christmas Box International. Celeste is passionate about making a difference in the lives of youth and the child welfare system so that others may not have to go through the same experiences she had. The Christmas Box International celebrates 28 years of defending more than 155,000 children. That is enough to fill Madison Square Garden more than seven and a half times. Celeste believes that The Christmas Box International is more than a place–it is a concept where community, government, and nonprofits come together to bring the resources to children that they need. As a child who grew up in the system, Celeste understands the importance of providing these youth the opportunity for a better life by providing them with safety, dignity, and hope. Her goal is to give these beautiful children everything she wished for as a child, including hope for a better future. Celeste released her book this fall titled Garbage Bag Girl. She hopes to bring more awareness to the issues that face children in the child welfare system and help them know that they deserve a childhood and are worthy of safety and love. https://www.goldenbraidslc.com/events/garbage-bag-girl-an-author-event-with-celeste-l-edmunds

Free film screening followed by live Q&A with Palestinians in Hebron via Zoom, featuring: Tamrika Khvtisiashvili, former Assistant Professor at Palestine Polytechnic University, Hamed Qawasmeh with the Hebron International Resource Network, and Dr. Mohammad Tamimi, Director of the Language & Translation Center at Palestine Polytechnic University. "The Occupation Lab uncovers the ways in which a single neighborhood in Hebron fuels the entire Israeli-Palestinian conflict. If you would like to know more about Palestinians in the West Bank and their life under occupation, come to this free event. This is a safe space for all to gather and learn. For more information about Utahns for a Just Peace in the Holy Land, please visit our webpage: ujphl.org

Gearn is a storytelling evening where individuals come together to share their stories and experiences. Themes and storytellers are chosen in advance. From personal anecdotes to life lessons, each storyteller adds their unique voice to the evening, creating a tapestry of diverse experiences and perspectives. Our theme for May is CHILDHOOD. Find info and tickets on Instagram at "gearnstorytelling"

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gearn-storytelling-tickets-877444458997?aff=oddtdtcreator"

Join Courtney to celebrate what’s sprouting for you this spring. We’ll explore the early summer call toward expression, and activate our senses to commune with nature and explore harmonizing diet, lifestyle, and movement with the season. Finally, the beat of the drum will drop you into a renewing Shamanic journey. Please bring pen and paper for the complete integrative experience. Chairs will be provided, but feel free to bring a blanket, eye cover, or cushion if you’d prefer to relax into the journey experience. About Courtney: Courtney Lasker is a certified Ayurvedic Health Coach and Shamanic Reiki Master Teacher. Courtney weaves her experience and training as an intuitive guide and energy healer with practical Ayurvedic wellness to provide profound and sustained healing support. Courtney offers healing circles, tea ceremonies, and private sessions. You can find out more about Courtney and her offerings on her website: www.courtneylasker.com https://www.goldenbraidslc.com/events/cultivating-spring-ayurveda-seasonal-circle

Wendy Davis's campaign was a long shot-the seated Republican who represented Utah's House District 45 was so popular that even her own party doubted a Democrat could win. But Wendy knew her community, and she knew they were ready for change. Despite her party's predictions, she knew she wouldn't lose in a landslide. She might even win. In 2019, she was ready to prove herself in an earnest, grass-roots campaign. She couldn't have predicted what would come next. From a global pandemic that shuttered offices and cancelled in-person events to overblown media stories and back-handed maneuvers from her own party, Davis faced one of the most challenging campaigns in Utah history. Through it all, she would prove that she was much more than an underdog. She was a fighter. A raw look behind-the-scenes of US electoral politics, The Fight You Don't See recounts Wendy Davis's bid to represent Utah's House District 45, documenting the hidden battles she faced before-and long after-Election Day. Join us in welcoming Wendy Davis to The Printed Garden to discuss and answer questions about her new book, her political career, and Utah politics. This event will begin at 7:00 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

This May, the Golden Braid Books Community Book Club is reading When Women Were Birds by Terry Tempest Williams. We have lots of copies in stock, so come on by and get yours today! Keep in touch with us throughout the month on our Instagram and Facebook pages, and then we’ll convene here at the Braid for our book club meeting to talk about the book, meet some new folks, and share some insights and mutual love of reading. About the Book: "I am leaving you all my journals, but you must promise me you won't look at them until after I'm gone." This is what Terry Tempest Williams's mother, the matriarch of a large Mormon clan in northern Utah, told her a week before she died. It was a shock to Williams to discover that her mother had kept journals. But not as much of a shock as it was to discover that the three shelves of journals were all blank. In fifty-four short chapters, Williams recounts memories of her mother, ponders her own faith, and contemplates the notion of absence and presence art and in our world. When Women Were Birds is a carefully crafted kaleidoscope that keeps turning around the question: What does it mean to have a voice? https://www.goldenbraidslc.com/events/may-book-club-when-women-were-birds