 | | Dream, Believe, ASCEND:
ASCENDtials' World of Opportunities |
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November Theme:
Change in the Air |
|  | Note from the Director
By Mika Marzette
This second month of the fall season has even shorter days, with even less time to enjoy the daylight. So, take advantage of all the hikes, tree plantings, night sky viewing parties, and beach and highway cleanups we have scheduled. You can also drop by our farmers’ market to recharge with our freshest produce and Kemetic Yoga sessions, which reinforce the principles of nature required to thrive. Spending time outdoors is surely the right thing to do and it certainly helps keep you at your best! We have ample opportunities to give back to nature through our events. Thank you for your support and we hope to see you soon! |
| | |  | Change in the Air
By: Naomi Morrison, Publishing Intern, and Casey Herrmann, Copywriter Volunteer
November has come, and with it the first of the cold winter airs. The days are growing shorter, and with everyone stuffed in school and the office, so is our time in the great outdoors. Still, there is plenty of time to be together with friends and family, and enjoy the cool air with hot drinks and freshly baked treats, so be sure to stock up on ingredients from your favorite local farmers!
Speaking of fresh ingredients, ASCENDtials is happy to announce that we are opening up a brand new Farmers’ Market in the Marina district! Come join us for all the fresh produce and friendly chats from our previous markets, this time with some new faces! Get the best freshly grown vegetables, the finest sources, and even live music! Click the links down below to get more information!
As the year draws to a close, we know that there are doubtless countless worries and obligations crowding your mind. The holiday season creeps in with its stresses, but there is room for its joys as well. Whether you will be celebrating Diwali, Thanksgiving, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Christmas, or any other holiday, it is important to remember the value they bring to your life, your culture, and the people you care about.
So while the holiday rush begins to move the wheels of time with its lightning-swift pace, take a moment to reflect on why you’re moving so quickly in the first place. Breathe, and recall your loved ones and the community for whom you keep trekking forward. Don’t forget that in the midst of all this change, they are there at your back, ready to act as your pillars of support when the road gets bumpy.
We at ASCENDtials do not exist outside this cycle of change. Over the past month there have been many transitions and adjustments within the team, but through the hard work of each individual member, we have managed to weather the storm together. This November, we invite you to not only see the changes happening around you, but to be that change. Lift others up when they are struggling, and ask for help when you cannot make it alone. Face the coming challenges knowing that your community, and the ASCENDtials team, is standing beside you.
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| | | | It’s November! Come out and join us this month for beach and highway cleanups, the ASCENDKemet Collective Certified Farmers' Markets (we have two!), a garden workshop, or a night star party and hike. These activities are great for your well-being and community building! Keep reading for more information and don’t miss out!
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| | | City Heights Farmers’ Market Growth
The City Heights Farmers’ Market is held every Sunday and continues to run smoothly. Our team is dedicated to bringing in quality vendors each week, with a strong focus on recruiting more local farmers to support the community. This effort helps ensure a variety of fresh, locally sourced options for residents, aligning with our mission to empower the community and promote sustainable practices.
Exciting Launch of Downtown Farmers’ Market
We are thrilled to announce the launch of the new Marina District Farmers’ Market on Friday, November 15 at 655 Columbia Street. This new addition extends our reach, allowing us to bring fresh, locally-sourced products to a broader community in the downtown area. We already have several vendors signed up, and we anticipate a strong turnout for this exciting launch! Our goal is to build the downtown market into a weekly event that reflects the energy and diversity of the area, providing a unique market experience to the heart of San Diego.
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|  | Introducing the Marina District Farmers’ Market!
Our second Farmers’ Market starts Friday, November 15th in the Marina District in Downtown San Diego! If you're interested in becoming a vendor, please complete our vendor form! This market boasts beautiful views and captures both residents and tourists with the location. Join us after work, Fridays, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Stay tuned!
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| | |  | Join us as we promote Black-owned businesses!
ASCENDtials is continuing the ASCENDKemet Collective Farmers' Market every Sunday in City Heights. This market provides an excellent opportunity for farmers and small businesses to showcase their products and connect with the community. The next event is on November 10, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (PDT) at 4325 Wightman St., San Diego, CA 92105. The current focus is on recruiting more vendors for the market. Although this is a farmers' market, our vendors are not limited to farmers!
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| | |  | Join us for our Kemetic Yoga Sessions!
Kemetic Yoga is an ancient yoga practice originating from the land of Kemet—a name given to Egypt by its ancient indigenous inhabitants. The practice connects breath and slow movement, guiding the body through poses inspired by the ancient illustrations of Egyptian gods and goddesses. It’s a spiritual practice, moving energy through the body to connect with our higher selves and our ancestors.
Our Kemetic Yoga sessions use our Whiteness to Oneness™ and KOS-Melanin-ology™ curricula at their foundation. We work to dismantle structural inequality and foster constructive dialogue around Blackness. |
| | | A Season of Transitions
By: Mike Umhra, Grant Researcher/Writer Intern
November marks a season of transitions, when the air itself reminds us that change is not only natural but necessary. The cooling days bring new perspectives and possibilities, inviting us to pause, realign, and refocus on what truly matters. At ASCENDtials, this month is about finding our grounding amidst the change—seeing it not as something to resist but as an opportunity to deepen our connections with one another, empowering each of us to take a stronger step into new beginnings.
As we welcome new faces and adjust to the shifts within our team, each change reminds us that growth is a journey we share. Our team members and volunteers, who bring such dedication to ASCENDtials, are the foundation of our work, and we honor their commitment as they align their personal paths with our mission. With each challenge we overcome, we uncover the strength within ourselves and each other, building a community capable of great transformation.
This season of change calls us to do more than just adapt; it challenges us to explore the empowerment that comes from stretching our capacities and expanding our horizons. For all those experiencing shifts—whether in school, work, or personal life—this is a chance to discover resilience and strength you may not have known were there. Step into the unknown, use the discomfort as a tool to overcome barriers and redefine your boundaries, and remember: you don’t have to navigate it alone.
At ASCENDtials, we believe in the power of community to uplift and empower. When we work together, whether on a small project or a larger goal, we create bonds that support and inspire each of us to be our best. Through shared action and collective strength, we foster relationships that shape not only our organization but the wider world.
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| | | |  | Join us as we gaze upon the night sky!
This monthly experiential session explores the night sky and the celestial events that connect us to the concept of a “universe” so that we gain a better understanding of our place in it. This helps us establish a better connection with all that is below, so that we are more inclined to express our appreciation and protect and preserve what it does for us. This experience also allows for physical, mental, and spiritual wellness through brisk walking, hiking, exploring the land, viewing and listening to animals, and observing the night sky.
Join us on Saturday, November 9, 7:00 p.m. at 12620 Wildcat Canyon Rd. in Lakeside, where a group of galaxy lovers will gather to explore the night sky together.
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| | | Garden Workshop with Kenyatta! |
|  | Join us as we discover the secrets to a thriving garden! The fall garden workshop will equip you with the knowledge and skills to make the most of your garden during the autumn months. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a complete beginner, there's something for everyone. Join us on Saturday, November 23 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Sweetwater Community Garden and learn sustainable gardening practices from your teacher, Kenyatta Parker.
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| | | Community Partnerships in our Programming |
| | Our Environmental Programs
Highway and beach cleanups are crucial endeavors for maintaining a clean and healthy environment. And, join our Garden Project to grow fresh, healthy foods for you and your family.
Highway cleanups allow groups or individuals to take responsibility for cleaning specific stretches of highway. This helps improve roadside aesthetics and keep drivers safe. Through programs like Adopt-A-Highway, ASCENDtials has adopted nine highways of San Diego for the cleanup mission.
Beach cleanups function similarly, enabling groups to take care of designated areas of Black’s Beach and Silver Strand Beach. This protects marine life and enhances the beach experience for visitors, all the while preventing plastic pollution from entering the ocean.
The Garden Project promotes eco-friendly gardening methods that benefit both your produce and the environment. This initiative is a program that promotes sustainable gardening practices and the joys of connecting with nature. Through our Garden Workshops, led by Kenyatta Parker, we encourage families to cultivate their own pesticide-free fruits, vegetables, herbs, and plants.
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| | Service Learning Internship Program Expansion
We are pleased to welcome a new cohort of service-learning interns from California State University, Monterey Bay. These students bring fresh perspectives and hands-on support to our team, contributing to both operational efficiencies and community engagement initiatives. Their involvement underscores our commitment to experiential learning and provides students with meaningful opportunities to work directly in sustainable business and community development settings.
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|  | Join us as we give back to our community!
If you are interested in becoming an intern or volunteer in our Service Learning program, or if you want to find more information, please follow the link below!
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| | | | | |  | Join us as we make waves for a cleaner, happier beach! By taking part in any Climate Cares Beach Cleanup event, you not only help our coastline and the amazing marine life that calls it home, but you also earn a heartfelt letter of appreciation for good vibes that last the entire day.
ASCENDtials is leading the charge to clean Silver Strand Beach from 10:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (PDT) on the second Saturday of each month. November 9 is our next cleanup date! Find us at Parking Lot 2 at the Cays Park exit for the Silver Strand Beach in Coronado.
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| | | NOVEMBER HIGHWAY CLEANUPS! |
| | |  | Join us as we care for the nature surrounding Route 75! Coronado Route 75 north and southbound near the famous Coronado Hotel is an important part of our highway cleanup rotation! Come lend a hand in sprucing up Route 75 and taking care of our community. We will meet from 9:15 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (PDT) on Saturday, November 16.
Plan to meet in front of 1701 Strand Way at the Bluewater Grill Boathouse parking lot at 9:15 a.m. (PDT). Sign up with the link below to receive more information.
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| | | |  | Join us as we care for our beautiful adopted highway!
Come lend a hand in sprucing up Highway 5 North on the last Friday of each month! We will meet on Friday, November 22, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (PDT). We will meet in the Autozone parking lot at 5:00 p.m. (PDT). All volunteers will receive a brief orientation before the cleanup begins!
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Join the ASCENDtials Team! |
| |  | |  | | | |  | | |  | | | |  | If you share ASCENDtials' principles and want to show your support, make a tax-deductible gift by clicking on the button below. Donations can be made yearly, monthly, or as a one-time contribution. Any amount will be greatly appreciated. |
| | | | About ASCENDtials
Celebrating 10 years in 2024, ASCENDtials enhances critical consciousness by offering intelligent, all-encompassing educational tools, materials, and training courses that are preventative, prepare, inculcate, and reinforce a greater sense of self and community, a Oneness that increases capacity, and environmental care.
This newsletter is a collaborative effort by ASCENDtials' volunteers and interns. Assembled by the Publishing team. Thank you to all our contributors!
Nonprofit 501(c)(3)
Tax ID:47-2451577 |
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