CULTURE CLASH GALVESTON - May/June 2024

CULTURE CLASH

a venue for Galveston’s free thinkers

LETTER FROM PUBLISHER:

Neurodiversity describes the idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways; there is no one "right" way of thinking, learning, and behaving, and differences are not viewed as deficits.

The word neurodiversity refers to the diversity of all people, but it is often used in the context of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as well as other neurological or developmental conditions such as ADHD or learning disabilities. The neurodiversity movement emerged during the 1990s, aiming to increase the acceptance and inclusion of all people while embracing neurological differences. Now more than ever we see positive conversation around neurodiversity and how to support each other in our journeys.

The fact is that we are all different in many ways and these differences should be celebrated and embarrassed. Gone are the days of one-sizefits-all paradigms and ways of doing things. We now realize that when people take time to understand other's communication and learning styles better, we create more opportunities to connect. By embracing societal differences, we learn to accept each other for who we are and meet each other on a level playing field.

Culture Clash Magazine invites you to take a closer look at neurodivergence and get to know the perspectives of those in your community. This issue encourages you to start a conversation but most of all, we hope you read, enjoy, and share.

Un employ able

BY CHARLOTTE ROSE COYLE

WE ALL NEED MONEY TO LIVE - A FACT OF OUR SOCIETY FOR WHICH I HAVE AN UNENDING AMOUNT OF DISDAIN. We are told we have ‘freedom’ with the underlying message of “work or die.” Finding a job that pays a living wage is difficult already, but for autistic individuals it is a waking nightmare. “Autism unemployment was approximately 85% in 2021, and research shows Autistic individuals face higher unemployment rates and social isolation than other disabilities.”1 85% of all diagnosed autistic individuals are either unemployed or underemployed, meaning they don’t make enough money to live independently. But why are so many autistic adults considered ‘unemployable’? And what does that really mean?

Let’s start by breaking down what an average job looks like. In today’s world, with prices continually rising and wages remaining stagnant, many people are having to work more hours and/or more than one job. According to a 2019 Gallup Poll, 52% percent of full-time workers report working more than 40 hours a week, and 18% work at least 60 hours.2 We rent ourselves out, spend more hours than anything else in our lives toiling away making a profit that will we never see; we are then given a pitiful amount of that pie called a wage, and then expected to buy the goods we need to survive, the goods we as the working class made with our own labor. “Our lives disappear, spent like the money for which we trade them.”3 We comply with this insane cycle that can only be kept up by a staggering amount of cognitive dissonance over and over again, looking forward to when we can retire (maybe) and actually get to enjoy our lives.

Now imagine an autistic individual who has been uncomfortable and often confused in this society since day one. Everything is too bright, too noisy, too much all the time. Our nervous systems are almost always on edge. We experience frequent shutdowns/meltdowns when our nervous system is overwhelmed. We mask to try and seem ‘normal’ and this takes so much energy out of us that we fall into long burnout periods where we barely have the energy to be alive and often can’t even take care of ourselves properly.

The neurodivergent mind does not conform to the compliance model of our society. I am autistic and ADHD, myself. As a kid in school I never had any problem calling out and questioning authority figures. I questioned all of the arbitrary rules at school and refused to follow them if no one offered a good explanation as to why the rule was necessary. This meant I spent a lot of time in the principal’s office and detention. As an adult, these same traits have played out. I have had a lot of jobs for a 25-year-old, none of which I have stayed at for more than a year either because the environment was so unbearable for me that I quit or was fired.

I often hit burnout; I’ve been in a phase of autistic burnout for close to a year now. This is because I have had to muster up energy that I don’t have, put on a fake smile, act like someone other than myself, ignore all of the stimuli that makes me uncomfortable, and try to decode all of this nonsense just to be told I’m difficult, lazy, and that something is wrong with me and I need to be fixed. In our society, it’s acceptable for someone to not be doing well for a little while, but not for years on end lest you become a burden. The result of having an ‘invisible disability’ is that even people who know what is going on don’t fully understand how much we struggle, even when I explain it over and over again.

It is utterly exhausting.

Photos Courtesy of Unsplash

Many autistic individuals are discriminated against because the way we work is different than the ‘neurotypical’ expectation: we have shutdowns/ meltdowns that others refuse to try and understand, we question things that merit questioning, and oftentimes we don’t even get offered the job in the first place because many of the factors used to evaluate job candidates have more to do with adherence to ‘social norms’ than what the job actually entails. We live in an ableist society that doesn’t want to accommodate individuals with different needs. The government makes qualifying for disability benefits extremely difficult, more so if you are high-masking like me (and especially if you are also female).

I encourage you to look into the social model of disability. I also encourage you to learn more about autism and to ask yourself, how can we make life more accessible for everyone? The status quo of trying to force everyone into one way of living and working and then pathologizing them if they can’t fit into that box has to die. I have hope that we will establish new ways of living with a foundation of taking care of each other rather than seeing each other as competition. No one should have to prove their worth. You are worthy. You don’t need a ‘good’ job or a certain amount of money, or a house or anything to prove yourself - you are worthy just for being you. The more we recognize that, the more we can extend that same kindness to others. A better way of life is not only possible but necessary. We will get there.

Love is the Revolution.

3. Crimethinc. Workers’ Collective, Work: Capitalism, Economics, Resistance (CrimethInc. Ex-workers’ Collective; 2019).

Photos Courtesy of Unsplash

MY FRIEND ENCOURAGED ME TO WRITE AN ARTICLE FOR THIS ISSUE ON NEURODIVERSITY AND WHAT GALVESTON IS DOING FOR THIS COMMUNITY, AND MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS “NOT ENOUGH.” I SAY THIS AS A FELLOW NEURODIVERGENT OF THE ADHD FLAVOR AND AS A WORKING MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL IN THIS COMMUNITY.

NOT ENOUGH

By Justine St. Cyr

To start, I have a notso-clinical definition of what it means to be a neurodivergent and why it appears that diagnoses of ADHD, autism, and the like are on the rise. We’re not meant to be put in the boxes that this late-stage capitalistic society has thrown us in and I believe this expansion of us “neurospicy” individuals is nature’s way of creating a new group of humans charged with this leaping-out-of-the-box energy to start a new path and help everyone leave that cardboard prison behind.

Photos Courtesy of Unsplash

But what are we doing with these magical individuals? Are we helping them become the leaders of the new path? Or are we slapping them with a label akin to designating them a broken toy, making them believe they don’t deserve better than a cardboard box? The latter is more aligned with what I have experienced in both of my roles. I had the privilege of not getting my diagnosis until I was an adult, but most of the NDs out there get assigned their labels as children, along with their allotment of guilt and self-doubt. One of my former clients who shares the same label with me was having trouble with anger issues and impulsivity causing problems at school. They came in, as a lot of them do, wary about therapy and in their case, apathetic because, “I’ve had other therapists and none of them could help me.”

“I’ve had other therapists and none of them could help me.”

What I noticed is that a lot of the problems seemed to stem from my client’s lack of self-esteem. They had a 504 in place (a special education plan geared towards giving those with alternative learning styles adaptations to help with learning) but still reported not getting along with other kids their age, and not being understood by their teachers. We bonded over our shared brain chemistry and I shared my perspective of certain aspects of ADHD being akin to superpowers. You get better at listening by playing casual games on your phone and have higher level discussions about mental health with me? Superpower! You have an endless knowledge and desire to learn more about the ins and outs of charter fishing? Superpower! The therapeutic term for this is reframing: finding a new (and ideally more positive – or at least neutral) perspective on negative thoughts we have about ourselves. Where some would see a lack of knowledge on more traditional subjects and not paying attention when someone is talking, we found superpowers. At a certain point my client’s behavior clashed too much with the school’s rules and they now spend their days being homeschooled, around more adults, and learning the business of charter fishing. In this new environment, my client graduated from therapy and his/ her anger and impulsivity dropped from a boil to a manageable simmer, and he/she is now thriving.

I love getting to work with kids in this way, getting to be a helping hand out of the box and onto the path, but I still have my challenges. The journey that led me to my diagnosis was still tinged with the notion of figuring out,

“What was wrong with me?”

“Why is it so hard for me to adult?”

“I feel like two kids in a trench coat, calling themselves Mr. Business but still messing everything up.”

I had to reframe as well, but I had the luxury of learning “how” for a living. To all those out there, big and small, with these same thoughts, we have proof that us so-called broken toys can make our mark in Simone Biles, Emma Watson, and Albert Einstein.

To those looking for ways to enrich our community for us neurodivergents, shake things up! Start by trying to reframe your perspectives on us, and then take it to the streets, demand that your local government and schools do better and reframe from “How do I make them fit in with the rest of us?” to “How can we be more inclusive of them?” Be another hand that pulls us out of the boxes so that we all can make those new paths. I love you Galveston, and I believe we can do better if we do it together.

Photos Courtesy of Shutterstock

UNDERSTANDING NEURODIVERSITY

NEUROTYPICAL

NEURODIVERSITY

The natural diversity of all human brains.

Having a normal way of processing sensory, linguistic, and social information.

NEURODIVERSE

A group or people with variations in brain types.

NEURODIVERGENT

An individual person with a variation in brain type.

NEURODIVERSITY PARADIGM

The philosophy of neurodiversity.

NEURODIVERSITY MOVEMENT

The social justice movement.

ATYPICAL

Not typical; not conforming to the type; irregular; abnormal; atypical behavior.

SPECTRUM

Spectrum is used to describe a range of behaviors or actions. It is not limited to a specific set of values.

NEURODIVERSITY RESOURCES

EARLY CHILDHOOD RESOURCES:

EARLY CHILDHOOD INTERVENTION

Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) is a statewide program within the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for families with children birth up to age 3, with developmental delays, disabilities or certain medical diagnoses that may impact development. ECI services support families as they learn how to help their children grow and learn.

ECI offers free screenings and provides services to children 0-3 hhs.texas.gov/ services/disability/early-childhoodintervention-services-eci

CHILD FIND

Child Find refers to the federal requirement under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that all children in need of special education services are identified, located and evaluated. Schools are responsible for conducting Child Find and identifying all IDEA-eligible students that reside in their jurisdiction. Child Find is not a passive activity, but rather an active process.

Ask about the Child Find Program at your local or zoned ISD, free assessment and services for qualifying children ages 3-kindergarten.

ALL AGE

RESOURCES:

ADDITUDE MAGAZINE

ADDitude is required reading for anyone touched by ADHD — plain & simple.

The nation’s leading source of important news, expert advice, and judgment-free understanding for families and adults living with attention deficit disorder.

additudemag.com

UNDERSTOOD.ORG

Understood is a nonprofit dedicated to shaping the world for difference. Providing resources and support so people who learn and think differently can thrive — in school, at work, and throughout life.

Scripts, templates, resources, support and so much more!

understood.org

VIDEO RESOURCES:

HELPFUL BOOKS:

Declarative Language Handbook: Using a Thoughtful Language Style to Help Kids with Social Learning

by Linda K. Murphy

Taking Charge of Adult ADHD: Proven Strategies to Succeed at Work, at Home, and in Relationships

by Russell A. Barkley

Executive Functions: What They Are, How They Work, and Why They Evolved

by Russell A. Barkley

Managing ADHD in School: The Best EvidenceBased Methods for Teachers

by Russell A. Barkley

Taking Charge of ADHD, Third Edition: The Complete, Authoritative Guide for Parents

by Russell A. Barkley

The Out-of-Sync Child, Third Edition: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Differences

(The Out-of-Sync Child Series)   by Carol Stock Kranowitz

NonViolent Communication by Dr. Marshall Rosenberg

@Conscious Discipline Videos @russell barkley phd2023

OCCUPATIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL THERAPY:

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Occupational therapy involves the use of assessment and intervention to develop, recover, or maintain the meaningful activities, or occupations, of individuals, groups, or communities.

Occupational therapy is often thought of a “workplace therapy” but it is truly a quality of life therapy, ranging from understanding social norms, executive functioning support, to fine motor skills. Research your local clinics.

ABA THERAPY (APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS THERAPY)

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy is a scientific method of observing behavior, teaching new social skills and decreasing any problem behavior (tantrums, hitting, screaming, etc.) in those with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

New to Houston/Galveston area, Galliant Care where children receive ABA in their natural environment with the assistance of a registered behavioral therapist supervised by a Board Certified Behavioral Analyst (BCBA) galliantcare.com

@Amen Clinic

BRAIN UNPLUGGED

BY ROBERT DEAN

I KNOW MY BRAIN ISN’T NORMAL. Do I think I’m neurodivergent? No. But whatever’s going on up isn’t programmed like the “average bear.” Some wired like a drunk hillbilly that gets the job done. When was a kid, they told my mom I was crazy smart, but 3rd grade hit, I was held back. Can I do math? Nope. count on my fingers and use a tip calculator everywhere. Hence, the whole holding-me-back thing in school. I could rip through Stephen King’s IT by 10 years old potato tomato.

I’ll also not sleep if there’s something important to do in the morning. I’ll keep freaking out that I didn’t hear my alarm clock when, in fact, I’ve probably set four alarms just to be safe. Money management? Forget it. If I were good with money, I wouldn’t owe every creditor this side of the Mississippi a sawbuck (I blame COVID for much of this, but I digress).

Instead of being able to do things like paint houses or sell iPhones, my mind moves through places I feel the need to write down, think about, or obsess over. Something will get stuck in my head, a word, a thought, a painting, a song lyric, and I’ll over analyze it; I’ll strip it apart until it’s a fragment in my mind. Rarely is my head quiet. There is always information moving, something being written in my subconscious, an idea brewing. Think of an old-timey newsreel: there’s always a guitar riff, a random memory, or an idea that if I don’t scribble it down immediately, it’ll be lost forever. My phone is a library of notes, and I constantly mine them for essays and stories. Even my drunk thoughts have provided something tangible despite the half-cocked premise and horrific spelling.

To noise, I enjoy clothes dishes, cook. mind why party boogie can sure to thoughts cabal in show, standing

My I’ve argument, not point to about and a have because want just I hate am meeting probably a

Photos Courtesy of Unsplash

My girlfriend and I were walking through the Austin Antique Mall recently (which is now scheduled to close; yay for family entertainment mixed with a sprinkle of capitalism). As we moved through the stacks of junk mixed with tokens from past eras, the place was a museum to the haunted. Things persist long after we’re gone if they’re made well enough, which I can’t say for humanity. Passing through the various enclaves of stuff, I picked up a pile of old photos, mainly from the 60s and 70s: family portraits, candid shots of couples being goofy, pictures of grandparents in their absolute best, sipping highballs back before Kennedy got doubletapped, children looking fly in their brown trousers, and families smiling at a wedding. All these moments in time were captured; they lived in photo books, in shoe boxes. As the years went by, those people faded from memory and what was once a cherished moment was now relegated to a guy in an antique mall in Central Texas holding them after having Tex-Mex with his significant other on a Monday afternoon.

THE FRAGILITY OF LIFE IS SO ROOTED IN THE PRESENCE OF THE MIND, OF EXPERIENCE, THAT IT CAN ALL BE SNAPPED AND FORGOTTEN.

That’s the stuff my brain fixates on, rather than who’s on the Masked Singer.

The world is complex, hard, and weird. People judge; they make assumptions about what we’re worth all the time. Some of us are held together by emotional duct tape, and others by way of therapy and medication, but at least we’re talking about it. Back in the day, we swept life under the rug, demanding we all “rub a little dirt on it” and move on; whereas now, everything ain’t perfect, but at least if someone can’t make eye contact, we know they’re not a serial killer and probably just really into trains.

Photos Courtesy of Unsplash

Chapter Meeting

Second Thursday of Each Month at Beerfoot Brewery @ 6PM

WORLD IN MY HANDS KAI SYNG TAN

Featured Artist

MAGIC CARPET

BY SHANLEY CHIEN PIERCE

AT FIRST GLANCE,  KAI SYNG TAN’S COLORFUL TAPESTRY MAGIC CARPET (2017) IS AN EXPLOSION OF COLORS, PATTERNS, AND MOTIFS THAT DRAWS YOU INTO A MEANDERING LABYRINTH OF DESIGNS.

Your eyes wander from the woven daguerreotype portrait of mathematician Ada Lovelace to a river of text that flows throughout the tapestry. Large written words (like “chimera,” “toes,” and “making”) in shades of purple and pink interpose parts of a scribbled poem (“I run and run and let out an earthshattering roar”). As you follow the sinuous current of words and imagery to the other side of the tapestry, your eyes flit from highway signs to a depiction of My Little Pony peeking out from beneath a large, monstrouslooking octopus with the head of a cat.

Taking in this polychromatic tapestry feels like an electric, psychedelic trip. The free-flowing movement doesn’t follow a prescribed path or logical sequence. Instead, it entices your mind to journey through the looking glass, taking a whimsical visual and mental adventure filled with tumultuous energy, playful metaphors, and thoughtprovoking perspectives. Blink, and you might miss something.

Beneath the mesmerizing facade is a glimpse into the mind of an artist with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder, known commonly as ADHD. Yet her artwork doesn’t tell the story of disorder, but, rather, represents a celebration of diversity.

Tan is one of several artists who uses art to explore the liminal thresholds of human consciousness, and who have found comfort in creating.

Tan challenges viewers to embrace the ambiguity of liminal thinking and explore the richness of neurodivergent perspectives.

THIS ARTICLE IS PART OF THE SERIES  ART AND MIND, WHICH EXPLORES HOW THE ACT OF CREATING ART INFLUENCES THE WAY OUR BRAINS FUNCTION, AND VICE VERSA.

KAI SYNG TAN

Photos Courtesy of Artist

MY EYEDENTITY

STUDENT SUBMISSION

It

|

BY MOYA HUDSON

WAS THE SECOND WEEK OF MY JUNIOR YEAR AND MY ENGLISH TEACHER HAD ASSIGNED US TO DEFINE OUR IDENTITY. I like to think I have everything figured out, but wrapping my big personality into a legible sentence was daunting. My name is Moya Joyce Hudson and I’m a white 15-year-old girl from eastern Texas. Both of my parents work their 9 to 5 jobs while I pursue a successful high school career in a comfortable lifestyle. I come back to school with plenty of summer vacation tales from extravagant places every year and have plenty of clothes. That’s what people see, at least. Not that this idea of me is incorrect, but it surely wasn’t my identity. According to Webster.com, the meaning of “identity” is the “distinguishing character or personality of an individual: individuality.”

At this, I turned to my classmate.

“WHAT DO YOU SEE WHEN YOU THINK OF ME?” WE WERE CLOSE; I TRUSTED HER VIEW OF ME.

“YOU’RE A PRETTY DEEP AND INTERESTING PERSON, MOYA. YOU HAVE VALUES SO DIFFERENT FROM PEOPLE WHO LOOK THE WAY YOU DO” SHE STATED.

“HOW DO YOU MEAN?”

I UTTERED, BUT SHE DIDN’T ANSWER.

We both knew what she meant. In my short-lived life, I have been prided by my differences, and have known that I identify with the traveler (my socio-economic status), the confident woman (my gender), and the Buddhist (my religion). To the naked eye, you can observe that my phone is the latest edition and I own a collection of valuable things. You would see my pale complexion and my nice clothes and you, too, would believe my story was complete.

You can trust my word when I say I don’t act my part. From an early age, my parents were straight with me about the world I lived in. My mother and father have given me an abundance of great qualities. They both are the foundation of who I am now and set the standards for who I want to grow to be. The trait that is the most important to me and my mom that I possess, is confidence. Ingrained into my head is the sound of my mom passionately articulating confidence in me from an early age: “be bold.” I am never afraid to ask questions or challenge others. I speak up for myself and others and never shy away from confrontation. My confidence goes deeper than making friends and asking for help; it fights for equal treatment. The confidence that is so ingrained in me tells me to dive into situations that women are told to shy away from. It allows me to stand my ground when I’m told I’m working beyond my abilities or that I am not where I belong. My female confidence defines me day after day, as I press boundaries and carve new roads for what I am capable of as an upcoming woman.

EYEDENTITY

Buddhism plays a huge role in my life and how I live it. I believe not to be good for the sake of entering a heavenly afterlife, but to do good for the wellbeing of those around me and myself. I was raised to never hate those for who they are or what they do. In this, you could say that my values are truly and fundamentally purer than the stereotypical person of my complexion and economic status. The stereotype for someone like me suggests that I should be materialistic, bratty, and unwise; and in a society like ours, where those who are wealthy and in the majority have opportunities to possess more and think less, that stereotype may be well-deserved. But my friend had seen and acknowledged my true nature; my identification with living life through Buddhist methods and values. I choose enlightenment, joy, and adventure over financial success any day. It is this urge that makes me, me.

Following the conversation my classmate and I shared, my brain began to wander. How else did perception falsify my identity? There are conversations from which I was excluded, simply because my family has beaten the system. When it came to my thoughts on the economic status of the world or the fundamental elements of other cultures, my vote was considered biased. I was on the opposite side of the line and, because of that, there was no way I could understand the other side. But the truth is that little is foreign to me. My experience and level of understanding are more profound than most people in America. My extravagant vacations are less about vacation and more about opportunity. My parents value showing me the world to expose me to how others live, what others value, and how to prosper among people of different backgrounds. I’ve befriended women from the Philippines and have heard childhood stories from Jamaica residents and been mistaken as local in Scotland and each time it was astounding to me.

Graphics Courtesy of Corinne Tamayo

Seeing the world, not as a tourist, but as an open-minded adventurer, is what defines my values. Traveling is my past; it is what I value now most in the present and it is what I plan to do with my future. The moments I get to connect worlds and take the time to understand what makes us different are the moments I learned the most. My parents have given me opportunities to see the world in ways I couldn’t learn about from Google Photos or a newspaper column and they have granted me the wisdom to respect more around me and think profoundly about ways I can help make this world a better place. A traveler is who I am, and it gives me the perceptiveness to be active in my community and considerate to more situations.

I think often back to the time my classmate ignited my keen thoughts on how perception impacts my identity. If I could return to this moment, I might ask my classmate whether or not she thinks most people define others by what they see with their naked eye. Contrary to stereotypes I’ve received from my perceived image, I am found to be a thoughtful and solicitous individual who is attentive to how I make others feel and how I affect the world. Through my Buddhist practices, I view others with compassion, find deep value in meaningful connections, and give attention to the livelihood of me and all those around me. I value happiness and chase new experiences with an open mindset. Various travels and various places have allowed me to create unique perspectives. They allow me to think indifferently and be familiar with things that would otherwise be foreign. I have been given the strength to be outspoken in my female skin and have been defined by my parent’s love every day.

My identity is clear to me,

even if others cannot see past my complexion and socioeconomic status. By staying true to myself and my values, I have built an identity relying on my life’s values, my security with my femininity, and my esoteric experiences as a traveler, which is heavenly guided by my socioeconomic status.

Graphics Courtesy of Corinne Tamayo

May pulse

May - June 2024 Calendar of Events

LA

IZQUIERDA SURF AND MUSIC FESTIVAL

May 3 - 5

Beach Central - 2102 Seawall Blvd.

Surf and music for everyone! Surfing competitions to sand castle building competitions, there is something for all ages. LaIzquierdaFest.org

YAGA’S WILD GAME & BBQ COOK-OFF

May 10 - 11

Moody Gardens Hotel - 7 Hope Blvd.

Benefiting the Yaga’s Children’s Fund, the cook-off will be held Friday & Saturday. All proceeds from this annual event benefit various children’s charities of Galveston County.

TEJANO FOOD DEMONSTRATION & TASTING

May 16

The Bryan Museum - 1315 21st St. In conjunction with the Bryan’s special exhibit Tejanos of Revolutionary Texas, Victoria Elizondo, renowned chef and owner of Cochinita & Co, will present a cooking demonstration of traditional Tejano foods.

DRAG QUEEN BINGO AT BAR 43

May 22

Bar 43 - 4302 Ave. S

Drag Queen Bingo hosted by Carly Davin Nation. 5 rounds of Bingo and exciting performances in between games. Free to play & every winner receives a prize.

June

GALVESTON ISLAND REVUE WEEKEND

June 7 - 9

Island Wide Event

Based on Island events from summer seasons past, like the Pageant of Pulchritude and Splash Day, the Galveston Island Revue features classic cars, vintage vendors, live music, and the crowd-favorite Bathing Beauties contest. More info galvestonhistory.org/ events/galveston-island-beach-revue

BATHING BEAUTIES CONTEST

June 8

Saengerfest Park - 2302 The Strand Vintage bathing suit contest, Vendor Market, and Classic Car Show FREE and open to the public

GALVESTON BEACH FAMILY CHALLENGE

June 9

Stewart Beach - 201 Seawall Blvd.

The event is FREE and participants will have a chance to win up to $2,000 in prizes! Register ahead of time at galvestonchallenge.com/registration/

HAPPY JUNETEENTH!

See our full Juneteenth Calendar, next page.

MAKE ART

GALVESTON ARTS CENTER KIDS SUMMER CAMP

Summer Splash of Color

June 3 - 6

Creative Ways

June 10 - 13

Art & Science Fusion

June 17 - 20

ECO-Art

June 24 - 27

Digital Art Morning

July 8 - 11

Sawdust Squad

July 15 - 18

Mixed Media Afternoon

July 15 - 18

Ceramics Camp

July 29 - Aug 1

Mindful Expressions

July 29 - Aug 1

Kinder Camp

Aug 5 - 8

galvestonartscenter.org

GALVESTON’S JUNETEENTH EVENT CALENDAR

SPONSORED BY

JUNETEENTH INC. SCHOLARSHIP GALA

Old Central Cultural Center

2627 Avenue M

6:00 PM to 7:00 PM

June 02

This annual scholarship gala celebrates the heritage of Juneteenth in Galveston. The event will raise funds for local scholarships and crown the 2024 Miss Juneteenth.

DONATION BASED EVENT

27TH ANNUAL JUNETEENTH BANQUET

Old Central Cultural Center

2627 Avenue M

7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

June 13

10TH ANNUAL JUNETEENTH GALA CELEBRATION

Ashton Villa Ballroom

2328 Broadway

A table of 8 will cost $400 and individual tickets are $40. Contact Pete Henley at (409) 392-0317 for tickets.

June 05

27th Annual Juneteenth Banquet with special guest speaker Texas State Senator Mayes Middleton.

Ticket Price: $40 Each | Reserved Table for 8 $400 Contact (409) 392-0317 for ticket purchase.

EMANCIPATION CELEBRATION

The Grand 1894 Opera House

2020 Postoffice St.

6:00 PM to 10:00 PM

June 08

The event will honor pioneers on the national and local level who have made their mark by fighting for freedom, equality, and justice for African Americans. This recognition will be highlighted with awards, and gospel performances from local, regional, and national talent.

Ticket Price: $20-$55

June 14

2ND ANNUAL JUNETEENTH COMEDY FEST

Galveston Island Convention Center

5600 Seawall Blvd

7:00 PM to 11:30 PM

Enjoy an All-Star lineup of some of comedy’s national touring headliners from around the country. This event will be filled with laughs and entertainment celebrating Juneteenth at the Galveston Island Convention Center.

PRICE UNKNOWN

JUNETEENTH PARADE & PICNIC

2601 Avenue H

1:00 PM to 5:00 PM

June 15

Annual Historic Parade celebrating the Legacy of Juneteenth followed by a picnic at Wright Cuney Park.

Parade Route: Starts at 26th and Avenue H – Ends at 41st and Avenue H Picnic will immediately follow at Wright Cuney Park (718 41st Street).

Parade: 1PM - 2PM | Picnic: 2PM - 5PM

FREE and open to the public

JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL & CELEBRATION

Menard Park

2222 28th St.

12:00 PM to 8:00 PM

June 15

Enjoy food, vendors and music celebrating the birthplace of Juneteenth. Crowning ceremony for 2024 Galveston County Lil Mr. Juneteenth Prince and Lil Ms. Juneteenth Princess and Father of the Year Award.

FREE and open to the public

45TH ANNUAL AL EDWARDS JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

Ashton Villa

2328 Broadway

10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

June 19

Local elected officials and family members will be present at Ashton Villa to pay homage to former State Representative Al Edwards.

FREE and open to the public

JUNETEENTH FAMILY FUN DAY AT REEDY CHAPEL AME

Reedy Chapel AME Church | 2015 Broadway Ave J

1:00 PM to 6:00 PM

June 19

EMANCIPATION MARCH

Reedy Chapel AME Church

2013 Broadway Avenue

6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Take part in the historic reenactment march to the Galveston Courthouse to hear General Order No. 3; declaring “all slaves are free!”

5:45PM - Leave to assemble at the Old Galveston Customs and Court. House Town Crier by Tanya Debose. Reading of General Order No. 3 by The Buffalo Soldiers. Emancipation March to Reedy Chapel followed by an Emancipation Service

FREE and open to the public

June 21

AN EVENING WITH THE KINSEYS

June 19

Come to see the history with guided tours of Reedy Chapel AME, “a national historic landmark,” and an emancipation march to end the day! Food, games, and activities will be available leading to the Emancipation March. Kids will have indoor and outdoor activities available while parents can enjoy the vendors and dance with live entertainment!

FREE and open to the public

Rosenberg Library

2310 Sealy Avenue

5:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Lecture and book signing. The Galveston & Texas History Center (GTHC) will make available original documents in their collection related to slavery and Juneteenth.

FREE and open to the public, seating is limited

people of GALVESTON

I have a son who had a rough birth and as a result, he has Tourette Syndrome. He says things involuntarily, he’s embarrassed about it. He manages to keep it restrained.

To me, neurodivergence means the way that your brain is wired, and how you process things you encounter. Just the way you receive information, the way you interpret it, and the way you’re spitting it back out at someone. So a neurodivergent could be ADD, ADHD, autistic, dyslexic, or any combination of these.

WHAT DOES NEURODIVERGENT MEAN TO YOU AND WHAT IS YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH NEURODIVERGENCE?

BY DAVE WARNER

Neurodivergence simply means that people approach things in their own way, and that they receive things in their own way. That is, you know, one of those things that make us all unique and great.

SCOTT BIESER AUTHOR/ARTIST

MALLORY HARPER PHOTOGRAPHER

RICK HARPER

Well the term neurodiversity is fairly new to me so I can’t say that I’m an expert on, but the first thing that comes to mind is that we’re all a little neurodivergent. I mean all of our brains work differently, all of our brains are wired differently. We have so much conditioning put upon us, so how do we even define, truly define neurodivergence or neurodiversity? We’re all neurodivergent in my mind.

DAVE BACA RETIRED LIBRARY DIRECTOR

I have had a lot of experience with neurodivergent students. I just recently retired from a university system [where I] was director of a library, so we were having a lot of students that were coming in that were just all types. We had to make sure that we were serving each and every one of those students. So we’ve done a lot of training on neurodiversity and kind of what some of the aspects are and what to look for, the kinds of questions to ask, and just really being able to provide services that they need where they are, you know, where they are in their lives, what’s going on with them and being able to do that.

TAYLOR MADE CARETAKER

I’m an autism specialist, my job is to help students become more socially adaptable, to be comfortable in their surroundings, and to ensure they feel as normal and socially adapt as possible. And I just want them to experience the same life as everyone else gets to and feel as different as they are, cause everyone’s different in their own way shape, or form, so there’s no reason for them to feel different than anyone else.