When I think about braiding, I think of nurture, nature, and care—fundamental actions woven into the fabric of community that call for action, intimacy, love, and inclusion.

I reflect on how essential textiles have been to the analog world and to indigenous communities, serving as symbols of protection, prayer, and connection.

Beginning in 2024, I’ve been organizing communities around Braiding Ceremonies. In these gatherings, participants bring personal belongings to share and braid together. Inspired by indigenous practices, this act symbolizes transforming individual stories into a narrative of resilience while encouraging reflection on the importance of reusing and valuing what we carry. The braids become an evolving artifact of collective action and empowerment—representing what participants wish to release or embrace. These objects reflect both our past and future. Through this process, we come together as a community, reflect, see, and exist as a cohesive unit—applying the essence of what we carry into the elasticity of our own nature.