On Reclaiming Joy And Resilience: Listen, Read and Learn During COVID-19
In mitigating the spread of coronavirus, our communities and country at-large have made rapid changes regarding the use of public spaces, social interactions and local businesses. We know these changes have left many of us grappling with financial fears, navigating abrupt interruptions to our lifestyles and work, while also disrupting access to the things we need.
For those reasons, the past few weeks have been rough on the creatives, entrepreneurs, leaders and broader community that we serve, too. (You can learn more about the ways that coronavirus is affecting our organization here.) As an organization, we might not have all of the answers—but we are going to do what we do best: gather resources, brainstorm and get creative.
In that vein, we’re introducing LISTEN, READ AND LEARN. Everyday that our programs are postponed, we will introduce three things for you to listen to, read and learn from. Curated by our team and our community, we’re expecting these daily drops of joy and reflection to be pretty damn good.
This blog post will serve as an archive and running log of all that we release each day. You can follow along across all of our social media channels—@bossbabesatx on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook—to stay in the loop. Or just come back here to check in.
LISTEN, READ AND LEARN WITH US.
1.) CARE FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH.
Need to find some calm and center? bbatx committee member and Licensed Professional Counselor Ilyse Kennedy shares four strategies for caring for our mental health while in a crisis. Click here to read.
2.) STREAM MIRA MIRA MIXES.
If you’re craving mental space, subscribe to Mira Mira’s vinyl, vintage music mixes. It’s only $5 a month and every penny goes toward virtually supporting Mira Mira aka Xochi Solis, an Austin-based creative and DJ who sits on our board at bbatx.
3.) MAKE TIME TO READ.
Earlier this year, we shared 15 books we’re reading for personal and professional pleasure. Add them to your reading list here.
4.) LEARN FROM THESE SMALL BUSINESSES STEPPING IT UP.
Austin just released an order warranting the effective closure of many small businesses in Austin, Texas—the order also closed for pushing restaurants into curbside pick-up and delivery. It’s been tough for all, but we’re proud to live in an innovative community. These smart cookies have kept our spirits up:
Crema Bakery + Cafe (women-owned) has been using their time to offer free meals to those in need, so has Tso’s Chinese Food Delivery (women-owned).
Antonelli’s Cheese (family-owned) has invited their community to do wine and cheese tastings from home—just pick up the plate then call into their Zoom chats.
Give Local has created a directory of Austin-based businesses and restaurants you can buy gift cards from so they can keep the lights on.
5.) GRAB A FREE COPY OF GET SELF-ORGANIZED BY OUR FOUNDER, JANE HERVEY.
Written by group work and bbatx founder Jane Hervey, this 14-page, little guide is designed for emerging and pivoting leaders. Comprised of 10 core questions, the zine is a helpful tool for creatives and entrepreneurs sorting through changes, centering your decision-making and developing tools and strategies for resiliency. Typically, the book is coupled with a course that Jane teaches (which she was planning to teach as a fundraiser for bbatx on March 28). Since that has been postponed to June 27 in response to COVID-19, she is offering a free digital copy of the zine in the meantime. Click here to download.
6.) WORK TO PLAYLISTS BY CHULITA VINYL CLUB.
Chulita Vinyl Club is made up of women, gender-non-conforming, non-binary, LGBTQ+ and self-identifying people of color. CVC launched in 2014, with the context of providing a safe space for empowerment, togetherness and to utilize music and vinyl as a form of resistance against the erasure of culture. You can listen to different playlists from members in the collective here.
7.) ATTEND OUR COVID-19 SMALL BUSINESS PIVOT WORKSHOPS.
We'll be hosting an online workshop in a few weeks exploring crisis management, pivoting budgets and strategies as well as preparing for Tax Day on April 15. Click here to attend.
8.) LISTEN TO THIS MIX BY DJ SHANI.
This particular 2.5-hour mix was live-recorded at our annual BABES FEST in 2019. Click here to listen.
9.) GET TO KNOW LA GOONY CHONGA.
Originally scheduled to perform at our now postponed CYBERBABES showcase, Latina rap recording artist La Goony Chonga shares her thoughts with us online about rapping, motherhood and the music industry. Click here to read.
10.) DOWNLOAD OUR CREATIVE AND ENTREPRENEURIAL WORKBOOKS FOR FREE.
Reflecting three years’ worth of presentations at our biannual creative and entrepreneurial conference, WORK, we just made our workbooks completely free to download. Head to bossbabes.org/guides to grab all five books and sharpen your leadership, storytelling and business management skills during this time. Click here to download.
THIS LIST WILL BUILD OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, SO COME ON BACK.
Have something you want to share? Take the survey in this form.
Found this really helpful? Donate to our programs.