Meals and Maps
is a network-building activity involving small group meals based in our homes that focus on amplifying growth for any of our practices and mixing our networks.
Kumu.io Meals and Maps LA Network, 2024
Meals and Maps Guide
The network intention is to connect lands + bodies + Los Angeles through homes, meals and digital mapping. With devotion to this activity, we believe we will strengthen a network of practitioners who value ethical engagement with lands in the Los Angeles region.
The network’s working name is Meals and Maps
Meals and Maps grows from recent work with the Los Angeles Social Practice Network (LASPN)
The network-building can grow from valuing a home-based meal as a place to seek and offer nourishment.
The meal can be an opportunity to connect with people in the region that a participant may know or not know.
Meal size is recommended at 20 participants or less, including co-hosts, though in time, a larger gathering such as a reunion, marketplace or tune-up can be possible.
Network members can participate in as many meals as they wish.
Meals can be purchased or homemade by co-hosts.
Meals are based in homes, and can be in person or through remote connection such as online video conferencing.
Meals could be a food-based artwork or be located within an art installation.
Tanda money pool or another form of currency exchange can be part of the meal.
Small group meals can be made simultaneously with any co-host combination from the core group, with the option to communicate remotely to connect the meals.
Meals can periodically occur at non-home sites with careful design to prioritize the sensation of a home-based meal.
Media documentation of some type will occur during meals to record responses for network map and create a feedback loop on the experience.
Meals and Maps Network map is being produced for online-sharing.
Drawing by Derek Prado, 2019
We want to build this network to align our empathy as a way of building power.
Our core intentions are to move from:
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fragility –> sustainability
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transactional –> developmental
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traumatic –> transformative
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1-on-1’s –> small groups
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siloed –> overlapping
Our network-building strategy based in empathy includes:
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visualizing
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gathering
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expanding
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strengthening
Strategy and
Intention
Steps for making
Meals and Maps
1 Form a core group.
Develop a home-based meal by pairing with at least one other member from the core group or a previous Meals and Maps. Invite enough guests so there is at least as many new participants from a range of networks as there are current network members present at the meal.
2 Consider identifying a framing question for the meal.
Question could be based in at least one of the co-host’s practice.
Artwork or cultural practice by co-host could be shared to ask questions, though balance sharing with the following questions.
3 As part of the meal, ask these questions in any order with a core group member identified to document responses:
Practice-strengthening:
What support do you want to strengthen your practice?
What strength from your practice do you want to offer our networks?
Network-sharing:
Who are 3 people you might like to invite to a future meal?
What are 3 networks you participate in that you would consider sharing?
Would you be willing to co-host a meal, online or in person?
4 Add responses to network map through the network weaver, co-hosts or participants to expand core group.
5 Use map and networking experience to explore offering and receiving support within the network.
Meals and Maps Sessions
9th+Broadway Loft, DTLA
December 8, 2019
Co-hosts- Sara Daleiden and Teresa Flores
Participants- Raul Paulino Baltazar, Jeanette Degollado, Bill Kelley Jr., Nikki Luna Paz, Derek Prado and Kade Twist
Cooking Show
Zoom
January 3, 2021
Co-hosts- Sara Daleiden, Teresa Flores, Alan Nakagawa
Participants- Salvador De la Torre, Linda Pollack,
Spaghetti Dinner 9th & Broadway
June 25, 2022
Co-hosts- Sara Daleiden, Jeanette Degollado
Participants- Jeanette Degollado, Camilo Cruz, Emilliano Lopez, Sara Daleiden
Quarantine Zoom
May 13, 2020
Co-hosts- Sara Daleiden and Teresa Flores
Participants- Mike Blockstein, Reanne Estrada and Pranay Reddy
Empanada Baking Zoom
February 7, 2021
Co-hosts- Leonardo Bravo, Sara Daleiden, Teresa Flores
Participants- Sharon Barnes, Asuka Hisa, Reina Imagawa, Chinwe Okuna, Richard Prantis, Matt Stromberg, Rossen Ventzislavov
Portraits +Fine Art+ LaLa's Empanadas
September 2, 2024
Co-hosts- Sara Daleiden, Jeanette Degollado
Participants- Jeanette Degollado, Camilo Cruz, Emilliano Lopez, Annette Kim, Rocio Cumplido, Stella Cheung, Sara Daleiden
9th and Broadway Meal
Gallery
Portriats + Fine Art + Lala's Empanadas
Guisados Quarantine Zoom
Alan Nakagawa's Cooking Show
Spaghetti Dinner 9th & Broadway
Want to host or join a meal?
Want to learn more?
Portrait of Bill Kelley Jr., by Raul Baltazar, 2019