Women Hold the Key and Vashon Center for the Arts present-
“Nakeesa Frazier-Jennings: Becoming Soft, After the Strength”
Content Advisory: Mature Themes
An intimate literary performance, community conversation, and guided journaling experience with author and literary artist NaKeesa Frazier-Jennings
Women Hold the Key (WHtK) and Vashon Center for the Arts (VCA) present Becoming Soft, After the Strength: An Evening of Story and What Comes Next on Friday, February 20 at 7:30pm in the atrium of the Katherine L. White Hall, an intimate literary experience centered on storytelling, reflection, and meaningful conversation.
Part cultural conversation and part literary performance, the evening opens with a performance reading of “The Never-Ending Resilience Required to Be Black in America,” originally published in The South Seattle Emerald. In the piece, author and literary artist NaKeesa Frazier-Jennings names the emotional and physical toll of living in a society that continually demands strength from Black people. The program continues with a reading of “Soft,” a deeply personal work tracing her journey toward gentleness and intentional self-care as a necessary response to those same demands. Together, these readings invite audiences into a front-row view of how NaKeesa moved from survival to softness—creating space to consider what comes next when strength is no longer the only option.
These lived experiences form the foundation for an interactive Q&A, welcoming community members into conversation about the importance of self-care beginning as early as possible and continuing through every age and stage of life—for people of all identities, and especially for those from marginalized communities.
The evening concludes with a book signing and time for connection with the author. Seven guided journal editions will be available, including one for kids, one for teens, and five for adults.