Testimonials
Hear From the People I’ve Worked With:
From Teams & Organizations: Custom Facilitation
Deep Creative Flow
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Emotional Grounding
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Transformative Space
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Deep Creative Flow • Emotional Grounding • Transformative Space •
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"I’m so grateful to have experienced Preeti’s workshops alongside my team, and they’ve now become a cornerstone of our admin days. I wholeheartedly recommend them to any organization seeking to foster reflection and connection.”
– Brittany Williams (she/her), B.A., B.C.L/LL.B, Assistant Dean (Students) & Dean’s Lead, Black and Indigenous Flourishing, McGill University
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“Preeti offered our community a refreshing workshop to take us into the new year in such a powerful way. Photography is a powerful medium and having the ability to contextualize photos with words that evoke all the senses helps us enhance our storytelling capacity. We are so grateful to Preeti for offering our community this gift.”
– Danielle Khan Da Silva, Founder & ED of Photographers Without Borders
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"I have witnessed sessions elicit a wide range of emotions, spark generative and critical dialogue, and encourage participants to speak their truths, find their inner voices and explore their creativity."
– Angela Brown, District Mentoring Support Teacher: Vancouver School Board Writing for Wellness Series
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“Preeti is a gifted facilitator who creates intimate, trusting spaces with ease. Her thoughtful prompts invite people to feel deeply seen and to share with authenticity, vulnerability, and joy.”
– Deblekah Guin, Founding Executive Director, Access to Media Education Society (AMES)
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“Preeti did a wonderful job of getting us into our bodies (I had absolutely never thought of writing as a full body experience). She helped me tap into a creative side of myself I am not yet familiar with, but very excited to explore!”
– Write with Preeti: Photographers Without Borders Workshop Participant
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“I’m taking away a sense of community/connectedness, sense of belonging, recognizing its okay not to be perfect/amazing at everything.”
– Monsoon Festival Workshop Participant
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“The meditative approach to writing and storytelling helped me relax and discover how writing and expressing feelings on paper can put me back in touch with my true self and emotions.”
– Write with Preeti: Photographers Without Borders Workshop Participant
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“I have countless pieces to write now! I no longer have an excuse to not write because there’s so much material now! Thank you so very much.”
– Monsoon Festival Workshop Participant
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“Preeti's session was a wonderful opportunity for our team to connect with one another during a challenging time in the office. It helped us to build some morale that has seriously been lacking lately, as well as to give some perspective on what we are all experiencing (both positive and negative).”
– Law Faculty Staff
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"Preeti is a multi-talented, interdisciplinary artist who is intelligent, fierce and committed to artistic experimentation with a deeply, committed social ethos. She is always a joy to be around and is gifted at creating truly inclusive spaces."
— Am Johal, Executive Artistic Director, Indian Summer Festival
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"Preeti is a generous thinker and gracious in her willingness to share time and ideas in a reciprocally nourishing way. What showed up in our public dialogue, as in much of Preeti's written work, is how her intellectual curiosity so often leads us back to considerations of love, and how it might be better understood and practiced."
— Brandon Wint, poet, filmmaker, event producer (Photo by Que Frias)
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"Preeti was a dream to be facilitating my book launch! She made it look easy to keep the momentum progressing all night. I couldn’t have been as calm without her gentle presence. Thank you, Chen kwanmantumi, Hychgaa, U Siyam."
— My Haida name is Kung Jaadee; Moon Woman is what it means. I’m Squamish, Musqueam, Tseilwatuth, Haida, Tlingit and part Hawaiian. I’m a traditional storyteller (32 years)
From the Community: Our Stories, Our Voices
Reclaimed Voice & Confidence
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Deep Connection & Care
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Nourishing Creative Space
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Reclaimed Voice & Confidence • Deep Connection & Care • Nourishing Creative Space •
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“The activities and writing practices/excerpts Preeti prepared each session really resonated with me. I found my voice evolving with each passing week. This was the first time I shared work and I know that it was made possible through this workshop.”
– Mel, Our Stories, Our Voices writer-participant
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“I re-learned/re-membered how inspiration can come when least expected, and how important it is to keep showing up/keeping writing through the muck and stuck feelings.”
— Kaia, Our Stories, Our Voices: Liberation Edition
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“I'm learning about how writing is necessary when doing liberation work - having the outlet to feel, to process, to make sense of, to grieve, to be vulnerable, to hope, to dream - feels like a nourishing gift.”
— Namrata, Our Stories, Our Voices: Liberation Edition
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“I realized that through this kind of writing, I AM connected, and learned how writing can be a pathway for me to connect.”
— Hussein, Our Stories, Our Voices: Liberation Edition
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"Being in OSOV sessions for over a year has helped me find my empowered voice, freed me from my misconceptions about not fitting in, and inspired me to continue my writing in order to publish a chap book. Preeti also inspired me to teach."
— My name is Jaskamal. I am Bengali, disabled, non-binary, and a part time sewing instructor
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“Letting go in writing has helped - letting go of expectations placed on myself or placed on me. I felt like I couldn't access creative parts, but letting go has helped clarify a lot.”
– Our Stories, Our Voices: Liberation Edition participant
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“I learned how one word, one phrase, or one sentence can open your memories. I felt inspired as a writer. I loved to see young women so empowered and talented.”
– Marcia Lopez, Our Stories, Our Voices writer-participant
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“I learnt a lot about facilitation itself, and how virtual spaces can be so beautiful and powerful. Thank you for how you held the space, how you moved us through the heavy and the light, the joy and the grief.”
– Nimra, Our Stories, Our Voices participant
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“Gratitude for the space and for everyone's stories and vulnerability and possibility of what happens when you question and explore.”
– Our Stories, Our Voices: Liberation Edition participant
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“From the very first meeting, I was especially grateful for Preeti's acknowledgement of repair as part of being in community with one another, as I have not seen enough of that in writing spaces. I appreciated Preeti's reminder to write about topics that we had the capacity to delve into at that time, as I am trying to be more intentional about that in my writing practice. I learned that it is possible to lead with integrity as a writing workshop facilitator.”
– Krystal Kavita Jagoo, Our Stories, Our Voices writer-participant
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“I learnt that I have a lot of shame around creative work, specifically when it comes to writing. I also uncovered feelings of imposter syndrome while sharing, but listening to all the beautiful writing through the weeks inspired me and I feel reassured - I do want to deepen my writing practice instead of avoiding it! I also got really clear about what topics I want to explore through writing.”
– Our Stories, Our Voices: Liberation Edition participant
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“Working with Preeti is opening yourself up to compassion, kindness, a sense of belonging and deepening a relationship with yourself and your voice. What a gift to be in community with her and to be guided by her warm and generous spirit. She helped me see myself and others with kinder eyes, with a wider smile and to approach the page with courage. I especially loved having a one-on-one session during this course and have such gratitude for how deeply encouraged I felt by our meeting.”
– Heather, Our Stories, Our Voices writer-participant
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“I learned more about my process, how much I need to get through overthinking to access my creative thoughts. It was such a beautiful encouraging space to get better at sharing my writing. And it was such good medicine to be able to be with this group with their beauty, care and vulnerability.”
— Our Stories, Our Voices: Liberation Edition participant
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“I am carrying with me the feeling of being in community, and I will continue to use my writing and other shared spaces as spaces of resistance. I was also able to explore resistance from a place of softness, which I feel like most Black American Women don’t get to enjoy.”
— D. Aliesh, Our Stories, Our Voices: Liberation Edition
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“I found the time given for check in and centering was valuable. The ease and flow of the sessions was enjoyable, and I never felt rushed at any point, which is very important for people with Autism. The transitions in and out of free writing and speaking were smooth, and that was so calming."
– Our Stories, Our Voices writer-participant
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“Having, every week, a safe space with no judgement, and an invitation to write that which was at the forefront of our minds and hearts, enabled me to feel like I had a meaningful connection for that period of time. I also felt more confident to express myself openly, which resulted in me feeling less lonely.”
– Our Stories, Our Voices writer-participant
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“I love words, but didn't feel like I had the container to truly connect with writing or develop any relationship with a writing practice before. I learned a lot from our experience of reading and listening together and how fluid it felt to let it unfold and reveal different parts of itself. There’s such richness and depth in every word if you give it space to show you some of what it's doing. This workshop was my first entry point- I feel I have learned a lot about how to trust, let go, hold on.”
– Our Stories, Our Voices: writer- participant
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“loved the prompts, the flexibility to various different types of writing styles, words of affirmation, different entry points for different writing styles, softness around sharing (it didn't feel like folks were being forced to share), the grounding exercises, the space to also discuss and talk about politics <3”
– Our Stories, Our Voices writer-participant
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“I loved this workshop!! Preeti created an amazing space for me (us) where I felt comfortable enough to write and share anything I wrote. I never share what I write with others; that’s partly because I barely write. I’m a storyteller, and I just finished my 30th year of telling stories. I don’t read my work; I perform traditional legends, and I share my peoples’ history. This workshop helped me to relax, and share feelings, or what I touched, tasted, not just what I thought. I have tools I can use to help me when I am stumped; questions I can ask myself to prompt further writing. I loved this workshop so much! What I’m writing isn’t perfect, but I’m writing-which is what I wasn’t doing before. I am most grateful for this opportunity to be part of this session. I truly didn’t want it to end! I must write more, and I wish to write a little something -even everyday. Haw’aa! Hychgaa!! Osiem!! Thank you!!”
— Kungjaadee, author and storyteller, Our Stories, Our Voices writer-participant
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“One of my intentions of this workshop was to get inspired to start a larger writing project that has been calling me for years. And I feel that happened. And I am so grateful. I've been writing for an hour every day for the past week! I've got about 5000 words already! I'm STOKED. Thanks so much for creating a safe, inspired space! I challenged myself in writing about hard things, plus writing within structures. I felt seen, welcome, and deeply appreciated. The safety that grew in the group with each session. I am learning to include that I am queer in my writing bio. That is the first time I have ever done that. :) I am learning to trust belonging, it's not something that is familiar to me, and it is rooted in old, matrilineal trauma.”
– Our Stories, Our Voices: Queer & Desi Edition participant
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“I started doing these workshops with Preeti in law school and continued after I graduated. These workshops helped me reconnect with my voice. I think because we already have such an affinity with words as lawyers, these workshops can be especially illuminating and fruitful. We write so much in law school, but we forget how to use writing to express ourselves creatively, or to explore who we are more deeply. The more I practiced with Preeti, using the amazing tools and exercises she came up with, the more fun I had and the more I discovered. The point for me was not to write something amazing, it was to allow myself to use writing as an outlet, to see that it could provide a creative space away from the rigid rules of legal writing. Not only did this leave me feeling more balanced, it also provided me with a really lovely community of people trying to use writing to strike a similar balance in their lives.”
– Our Stories, Our Voices: BIPOC Edition participant
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"What worked best for me was the pedagogy of openness and curiosity, always affirming and inviting the cohort to be affirming and supportive, showing by example what that looks like. I love that she always gave a secondary prompt to say, if this does not resonate with you, then you may write about xyz (that you want to write about). That was very comforting. Each week the structure was similar. There was a pattern that was rooted in care, knowledge of how and what writers would need, and how to facilitate the learning of skills, knowledge and tools. The 2 hours at first I thought would feel very long, but the way Preeti facilitated, the time went so quickly!"
— Our Stories, Our Voices: Liberation Edition participant
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“I learned that I don't need to be in great pain to write a good story or poem. This helped me exercise my writing muscle and I am so much more confident to pick up a pen at any given moment and write!! I was blocking myself creatively by thinking that good writing was only when I transmuted my pain into a poem. This mindset shift is helping me resume my journey as a poet!”
— Tarin Shultana Oli Ahmed, Our Stories, Our Voices writer-participant
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“I really loved the guidance and the prompts. I typically would never think that a simple prompt would allow me to access such rich stories that live within me. I look at my notebook and I am so impressed at all I wrote and it's specifically because of such great prompts. I also loved the pacing of the workshop. I initially thought two hours would take forever but because of how the workshop is designed, it went by so fast - a good mixture of the grounding exercise, the little association game, and then the prompts. sharing it with people and hearing what they had written also felt so special. I loved this community!”
– Our Stories, Our Voices writer-participant
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“I absolutely loved hearing everyone's voices and stories. The space you held made me and everyone else (I think) feel safe enough to be vulnerable. When we are allowed to speak our deepest truths and hear the deepest truths of others is where true transformation can happen.”
– Ashley Downend, Our Stories, Our Voices writer-participant
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“I’m carrying connection and community through this space; how we can integrate the political and personal and unpack how they are never separate. I’m carrying the power of vulnerability and what that does to open heart space and unblock--how unblocking here also unblocks elsewhere.”
– Our Stories, Our Voices: Queer & Desi Edition participant
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“I have learnt the power of writing in community- it opened up other layers of writing that went beyond what I was familiar with. I have learnt that I can write from a place of joy, and belonging and in conversation with mundane happenings of my day. I am carrying the lightness of this practice with me.”
– Claire Louise, Our Stories, Our Voices writer-participant
From Writers: Creative Writing Drop-Ins
Safe, Affirming Space
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Creativity Reawakened
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Writing Without Pressure
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Safe, Affirming Space • Creativity Reawakened • Writing Without Pressure •
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“I couldn't think of a better way to kick-start my day than writing with Preeti. She brings care and love to everything she touches.”
– Kai Fig Taddei, Write with Preeti: Find Your Flow workshop participant
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“This morning was a breath of fresh air. Preeti welcomes us all in with a generosity that feels like home. So much gratitude.”
– Write with Preeti: Find Your Flow workshop participant
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“What a gift this time with Preeti was! I felt my creativity start to bubble again and I'm excited to take what I experienced and let it guide my writing.“
– Write with Preeti: Find Your Flow workshop participant
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“This workshop was just what I needed this morning. I've been exploring curiosity, joy, delight, and pleasure these past few months and though, at times, uncomfortable for me, it helped me think and experience more deeply these feelings that often elude me.”
– Write with Preeti: Find Your Flow workshop participant
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“What a fantastic session! I was incredibly nervous coming into this, and after years of feeling stuck or unmotivated to write I am really delighted with what I put down on the page. The prompts were a perfect challenge, and I really enjoyed pulling them together and building on them over the hour. I can't wait to attend another session and to continue writing. <3”
— Write with Preeti: Find Your Flow workshop participant
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"In a short period of time we were able to develop a healthy sense of community, and everyone's mood was boosted by the writing and sharing, as well as by Preeti's energy. I will take more sessions with Preeti in the future.”
– Martina McGowan, Write with Preeti: Find Your Flow workshop participant
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“The care that Preeti takes with each participant to meet us where we are is so nourishing and encouraging. I love this community of voices and receivers.”
– Write with Preeti: Find Your Flow workshop participant
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“I felt safe and accepted. I took away a draft to work on later and the sweet vibes from the group.“
– Monica, Write with Preeti: Find Your Flow workshop participant
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“What a gift to spend my Sunday morning with Preeti, to be seen, heard and affirmed in the words I'm putting on the page. I can't express how much I needed this today. Thank you so much, Preeti.”
– Write with Preeti: Find Your Flow workshop participant
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“I'm always in awe of how open and caring everyone is in these workshops. People make themselves so vulnerable in sharing a part of themselves and it's a beautiful thing to witness and to take part in that experience.”
– Write with Preeti: Find Your Flow workshop participant
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“Preeti concisely provided the set-up, jumped into the heart of the workshop, and created many opportunities for all voices to be heard. The exercises were meaningful and accessible.”
– Write with Preeti: Find Your Flow workshop participant
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“As a novice writer, it was super helpful to see another way to go about things rather than just sitting and forcing something to come to page. A really good experience for me and I will be back!”
– Rob Haney, Write with Preeti: Find Your Flow workshop participant
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“It was very freeing to put words down on the page and not have them continue rattling inside me. I felt lighter after the workshop. Thank you so much for making that possible.”
– Write with Preeti: Find Your Flow workshop participant
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“I continue to process turmoil through art and writing. Preeti's safe space and welcoming community lead me towards a light I know I can rediscover.”
– Write with Preeti: Find Your Flow workshop participant
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“As artists, we often wait for inspiration to strike which is noble, but there's such an importance in just putting butt in seat and fingers on keyboard to have the muse meet us. This particular workshop encouraged my intentionality.”
– Write with Preeti: Find Your Flow workshop participant
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“My writing has been limited to academic and expository formats for decades. I don't offer myself the time or permission to express emotions, be vulnerable, share lived and felt experiences or be creative in my writing. Preeti skillfully and thoughtfully creates a safe, respectful and inclusive space that honours my hesitant, cautious and self-edited voice and provides opportunities for deep reflection, exploration, curiosity and forgiveness. I leave the sessions feeling uplifted, valued, seen and heard and with a strong desire to share my unedited voice. These sessions have been a profound part of my self-care and soul care.”
– Angela, Write with Preeti: Find Your Flow workshop participant
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“I was in awe of the fact that I heard echoes of my own sorrow and grief in the words of fellow participants and, having started the workshop feeling separate and disconnected, was made aware of the invisible web that connected us all along. A wonderful sense of community. Preeti did a wonderful job creating a space for everyone to feel welcome. I loved the different invitations for expression, whether it was writing in the chat, or verbal expression.“
– Gina, Write with Preeti: Find Your Flow workshop participant
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“I didn't know what to expect and I didn't expect to feel so safe. Thank you for that. I loved how you structured the workshop, with free associations, a freewrite, a break, some prompts about wild and powerful, then the poem that brings those ideas together, and time for us to bring all that we had done up to then together. I'll be returning to those prompts! Loved your acknowledgments, loved what you shared. I was nervous about sharing what I wrote, and about responding to what others wrote, but you created this safe space where when the time came I didn't hesitate. I couldn't have asked for a better first experience with this type of workshop. Thank you!”
– Ramira Alamilla, Write with Preeti: Find Your Flow workshop participant
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“I walked into the workshop feeling stressed and anxious but left with a sense of calm and a renewed sense of curiosity for words and the human experience.”
– Write with Preeti: Find Your Flow workshop participant
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“This is my second time attending, and I am blown away by the grace, care, and wisdom Preeti brings as a facilitator and guide. She weaves together mindfulness, embodied learning, and practical prompts that have transformed my relationship with writing after a nearly decade-long drought. I finally feel as though my creativity is getting to a place of flow, and I don't think I would have been able to get to this point without these sessions.”
– Katia Tynan, Write with Preeti: Find Your Flow workshop participant
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“I feel something brewing from this workshop that feels like the beginning of reclaiming parts of myself I love and missed. Thank you.”
– Marianna, Write with Preeti: Find Your Flow workshop participant