Community Guest DJ: Jackie Rose Drummond

Preferred Name and pronouns: 

Jackie Rose Drummond, They/She, I’ve been adding my middle name more out of respect to my Grandmother/Ancestors and their legacy.

What do you do in the community?

My service to the community is rooted in decolonizing myself and helping others do the same. I focus my effort in the #LANDBACK movement to educate the community on our complex relationship to fibers. I teach community sewing classes at ReCreative Denver (@recreativedenver), our cutie second-hand craft shop/community space in the Sante Fe Arts District (@santafeartsdistrict)!

I’m always practicing Yoga as a means to interact with life! In community, I guide folks through physical movements on mats or in aerial fabrics! I have an affinity for providing hands-on adjustments in classes. I also provide highly individualized bodywork services. My community series Decolonizing Touch with Yoga lives fondly in my heart for all the souls that joined!

My joy is in co-creating welcoming gatherings and collaborating on community programming. Whether I’m involved or there to support these events, reach out! I’m a person that needs to be experienced IRL.

You can check out my website interwoven-llc.com to find details on my projects and what I’m up to.

Just for me? I’ve recently begun dedicating my time to the ocean and swimming, gardening, learning ceramics, practicing pole and dance, knitting, and deepening my loving relationships, 

Tell us more about your background.

I grew up in colorado springs in a catholic bi-racial/mutli-cultural household. It was a hard place to be black and queer (inside & outside of the house) but I’m proud of myself for making it out with the seed of my authenticity in tack. 

As a trauma-survivor, I want to move in trauma-conscience ways and connect with those that aspire to do the same. Our hospitality, our words, our care, our politics matter and it informs who feels like they belong and who does not.

Why does representation matter in your community work?

Something so special to me about connecting with Manos is being able to provide Kemetic Yoga experiences to the community! The Anti-Blackness that this Land was colonized with has erased the African/Kemetic perspective from yoga. The British Empire forced conflict among the most melanated people in the Indus Valley region and developed the caste system to exploit us all instead. The ripples are endless and I feel called to share the root-full information I’ve learned. We have shared culture, food, religion, and thought across land barriers and  now ‘borders’ since the day we were able to conceive them. I hope you have space for remembering how complex Black folks are.

I try to create the circumstances for JOY to arise, but so many of my hobbies are so outwardly occupied by white individuals, especially in denver. People deserve to connect with folks that share the same racial/queer experiences and interests. I believe in the power of affinity groups and work to provide them whenever it aligns. Many white folks are still working on understanding what privilege is and avoiding historical atrocities. Kindly, BIPOC folks need a break from ya’ll sometimes!

What’s one way the community can uplift voices like yours?

Keep me in mind when folks are looking for: 

• Sustainable/Accessible Event Organizing, Trauma-Informed Facilitating/Consulting

• Sewing Gigs (teaching, making, demos, commissions)

• Yoga & Bodywork Services

• My newsletter is the space outside of social media that you can learn more about these activities! Supporting my fellow collaborators & comrades! Join us at Manos Sagrados!!!

BONUS - I am a member of a new-ish organization called S.A.C.R.ed Eco Center (Seeding Ancestoral Community Relationship Education Eco-Center) and we’re looking for investments or partnerships from folks aligned with an anti-colonial ideology. We are desiring support to provide experiences where BIPOC folks learn more about their lineages, have opportunities to be embodied fully and receive indigenous care. We want to hire local folks and keep those dollars in our local BIPOC community as long as possible!

How are you involved with Manos Sagrados? (expand as much as you’d like)

I met Bruce through the BIPOC yoga community in denver - instant intrigue, instant aura! I could feel the intention that she was pouring into the space over years! When it was time, we reconnected standing in Manos and planned to start sharing yoga & movement! I am teaching Kemetic Yoga twice a month (morning flow and evening restorative) and co-creating some joy-filled community gatherings with Bruce - stay tuned!

List your 10 favorite songs:

About this playlist - all these artists are local to denver and I’ve the honor of calling many of them friends & comrades. I love to sing and dance to these bops and I hope I put you on to something. From Soul/Jazz to Grunge and lots in between, we’ve got it right here in our streets.

• Nardis - Off The Cuff (Live at Meadowlark) with Enmanuel Alexander - Electric Guitar, Khalill Brown - Drums, Solomon Chapman - Piano, Synths, Will Gaines - Electric Bass, Parris Fleming - Trumpet

• Booty Call - DZIRAE GOLD

• French 75 - Alex Blocker

• Under These Lights - Kaitlyn Williams

• 120K - Machéte Mouth, Sista KillJoy, Harmony Rose

• BLACK HORSE - N3ptune, Rusty Steve

• Si Se Puede - Los Mocochetes

• $how$toppa - RAREBYRD$

• PRIDE WAS A RIOT (remastered) - Sam Bosch

• Sharper Knife - Cherry Spit