Dear Cosmos Community,
When I was 16, I was granted $500 for my first creative project — a greeting card company called Illuminati (ok, ignore the name LOL). I had grandiose notions of taking down Hallmark, filling drugstore aisles with cards containing little poems I wrote and cartoons I illustrated on the over. I wanted all my cards to be based on emotions, not holidays, because I wanted to celebrate feelings.
With the money I was granted, I bought a printer and hired my older sister to help with the artwork (thanks sis!). But the value of this grant was actually intangible — it was a sign that my work was worth making, my story worth telling. I was young, shy, a misfit with braces and acne who struggled to believe in herself, but I learned, then, how much life can change when someone believes in you. I dare say, only with that experience did I really begin to believe in myself.
This is the story behind The Care Fund. A long time ago, someone believed in me, and that got me here, to today, to wanting to believe in you. We will make at least 10 grants this round, nearly doubling what we granted in January. I hope you apply 💜
~Karen from The Cosmos~
The Care Fund is a creative aid fund for Asian women storytelling projects, of all mediums, at any stage. Our mission is to support more stories within our beautiful community — and we want to support yours!!
I am tired of filling out page long applications for a chance at funding. I am tired of credentials as gatekeepers!! Our application is JUST TWO QUESTIONS, and we DO NOT ask for any credentials, degrees, social media profiles, or portfolios. All we ask for is the story you want to tell.
There are no strings. You will get the funds by May 25, and then it’s up to you :) Our first grant funded six storytellers from our community, and this time we’re funding 10!! If you applied last time, you can apply again :)
💰 This fund is made 100% of community contributions, the majority of which come from paid subscribers to this newsletter — a virtuous cycle of Asian women supporting each other’s stories. THANK YOU. There is still time to contribute, so if you are able, you can make a one-off donation to @jointhecosmos on venmo or becoming a paid subscriber to this newsletter!
🔮 Funding decisions will be made by The Care Fund Reading Committee, composed entirely of community members. Finally, none of this would be possible without community member and Care Fund Director, Renee (@renlwng) — thank you!
COSMOS MERCH SALE
This is our last merch run (yes, ever). Grab a tote or tee before they’re gone forever! Free shipping on all orders :)
I’m THRILLED to see SO MANY COMMUNITY GATHERINGS this month. What a time to be alive!! I’ve curated a list of #AAPI Heritage Month events organized by The Cosmos and community friends, and I’ll be updating this every week. You can email me events you know of / are organizing at karen@jointhecosmos.com!
I hope to see you at one or a few of these events, but as an introvert, I will also say celebrating from home in your pajamas all month is MORE THAN acceptable :)
Monday, May 2
The Cosmos Care Fund Apps Open!!!
Tuesday, May 3
Yu and Me Books x Permission to Come Home (@asiansformentalhealth)
Get there early!!!
Wednesday, May 4
A special giveaway with Tower28!
I personally have the Milky Lip Jelly in fire, and I can attest that you will want to kiss. Someone. Anyone. Follow @jointhecosmos on IG to be the first to enter our giveaway! :)
Tuesday, May 5-6
Asians in Advertising “Breaking Barriers”
The first-ever summit for AAPI folks in Advertising, Comms, and Media! Cassandra will be leading a Collective Rest session 7 pm ET on May 5!.Tickets are $30 a pop; students can apply for 50% off tickets here.
Wednesday, May 11
Cosmos Reading Series No. 3 at Yu and Me Books (6 PM)
**This is our rescheduled April Reading Series because I got COVID!!!! I am better now, finally** Tickets are by donation -- all proceeds go towards The Care Fund!!!!!
✨THE READERS FOR MAY ✨
Nur Ibrahim is a writer and journalist from Lahore. She is a 2022 AAWW Margins' Fellow, a Lighthouse Book Project Teaching Fellow, and her writing has appeared in collections from Harper Perennial, Catapult, Hachette India, Salmagundi, Platypus Press, and more.
Hua Xi is a writer and artist. Their poems have recently appeared in The New Republic and The Nation. They love oranges.
Katie Gee Salisbury is a writer and photographer based in Brooklyn. She is currently at work on a biography of Anna May Wong, the first Asian American movie star, to be published by Dutton in summer 2023.
Hannah Bae is a Korean American writer, freelance journalist and illustrator living in Brooklyn, NY. She is the 2020 nonfiction winner of the Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers' Award, and she is the recipient of recent residencies, fellowships and teaching opportunities from Ragdale, the Peter Bullough Foundation, Kundiman, the Indiana University Writers' Conference and Asian American Writers' Workshop.
Sunday, May 15
THE COSMOS BOOK CLUB presents: May Book Swap (10:30-12:30 in Prospect Park)
Grab some coffee on your way, bring lots of snacks (since food is a very Asian love language), and come hang with Cosmos community members in the New York area!! Come to talk about books and leave with a new book :)
One reminder for everyone: this is a book swap, not a "get rid of your old and used books " event!! Please be mindful about the books you decide to bring and share, as I’m the one that has to carry stacks of unwanted books out of the park!!!!
*Exact address in the park will ONLY be sent to those who RSVP below!!*
AAPI Care Fair by Soar Over Hate (Columbus Park, Chinatown from 1-4 PM ET)
After Book Swap, head over to Columbus Park for unabashed celebration, communal healing and community safety!! Free stuff includes: puppy therapy, hot meals and snacks from local AAPI businesses, self-defense course, pepper spray + self-defense devices, and lots more. RSVP for programming here!
See you next week!!