Preambles of a workshop

The workshop was scheduled for 6pm, in the last week of November. Night had already fallen and a cold and thin drizzle made it quite drowsy. But it was the most important evening for our group. We would finally prototype the service we created with Harlem’s organizations. So we had to shake the lethargy and stress of organizing everything out of our bodies and make the experience a success.

The six of us arrived at La Casa Azul a beautiful and intimate bookstore in East Harlem dedicated to Latino literature and community gatherings. We were received by Aurora, the founder of the space. She took us downstairs, to the basement where we were to hold the event. The space was cozy and the lack of windows made us forget about the annoying weather outside. We arranged the tables, the seats, the materials, and the food. I remember being concerned about the food. Last time we visited Exodus, they had fried chicken, cake and sweet iced tea for snack. Would our carrots and crackers with hummus and whole grain cookies seem meagre for them?

The participants arrived. Six people from five organizations. Two of them we already knew: Thomas, from Exodus, and Reverend Williams. Suddenly, a well-known feeling returned to my body: a mix of anxiety and excitement when you first test your ideas. Also the feeling that people gave their time without much in exchange, and now you have to make their time worthwhile.