marle feed

It's been another day of everything - running around not even hearing the outside world. I have my headphones on. My phone is constantly buzzing in my pocket with notifications,reminding me of the things I need to do, to know, to fill today. It is a matter of trying to detach myself from all the thoughts going through my head. Get the MIND silent, feel my body, the motion of my joints, and the breeze of the wind in the ocean of people and cars.

On the surface, some things always looked the same. The birds sing their heart out awaiting for the worms to come through the earth, just as they always did. The old men still sit at the pub with their coats on sucking on ales. The road are flat and tidy, there are the buggies and their owners, the old ladies with their bags, the impatient children waiting for the bus.

Dr Rob Watson interviewed me as part of Leicester Stories serie #BuildBackBetter in July 2021. Prior to the interview, he sent me few questions for me to prepare the interview and start thinking about what it means to Build Back Better post-pandemic. In the following post, I will take time to answer the questions I was sent and augment my response with some of the reflections I had through the interview. R: I’d like to find out what we are still learning from the experience of the lockdown, particularly here in Leicester? M: At Quetzal, the lockdown taught us and invited us to reflect on the following: What does it take to be a community that is not defined by a set location? What can we do to mobilise our partners, volunteers and collaborators from remote location? What does it takes to disseminate information and make it accessible to people who may not have access to the online world? What other type of event can we develop that keep ourselves and other safe? What special provision ...

  I’d like to find out what we are still learning from the experience of the lockdown, particularly here in Leicester? From Quetzal perspective, the lockdown taught us what it takes to be a community that is not defined by a set location, what can we do to mobilise our partners, volunteers and collaborators from remote location, what it takes to disseminate information and make it accessible to people who may not have access, what other type of event can we develop that keep ourselves and other safe, what special provision do we need to make to support better some female survivors, that crisis are great opportunity to reach greater level of consciousness and how important is to cre about our mental health, then that media are so important social mnedia local media to share informatiom between people I’d like to know what conversations and discussions people living and working in Leicester had during the lockdown, especially when these conversations started to focus on the idea of B...

This week many changes occurred First, I returned to Marle's Feed for updates and writing. Last week, I let go of Instagram to update on my weekly progress to recentralise my thoughts on my main blog. I started this blog back in 2012. There are probably more than 400 entries dealing with projects such as Positive Money and the Money workshop, Footpaths Leicester, The Green Festival of Making and Mending as well as Leicester Fixers, plus plethora of other writings. I did not write much about the Breaking the Silence Initiative at Quetzal. Though I intend to update the blog with past entries.  The return was motivated by conversations with my uncle, Emile Biti Abi, author and thinker, recently published author Joyce Henry and my dear friend and artist Kajal Nisha Patel from Lightseekers. I thought let's consolidate and integrate all my writings on one central platforms. The second important change is dealing with all my emails and online communication with collaborators on the M...

We are working towards harmonisation and alignment at Eugenie Bitty Arts. Though there are pieces within the team that needs to be straighten out further. On my side, the main thing I can do is to trust the process and keep myself grounded in the present. I have been looking for mentors to support this journey. I wrote to SheAfriq. I also received a call from a collaborator who suggested to me a potential mentor. I hope that I will be able to work with them soon. Our main workshop at Villecresnes is being changed and declutered. All this with the goal in mind to accommodate a workshop. Paintings are being selected for our next exhibition in May 2022. We will soon be able to create the appropriate documentation to send to our collaborators. I am looking forward to seeing what are the gifts we will share next year with our visitors. For more information about Eugenie Bitty Arts: www.eugeniebittyarts.com

The man opens the cage to throw a big cat in there. I look at him intrigued. I look closer and see other animals caged including gorillas and orange outan. To my horror, one of the cage I'd open and a big cat is about to escape. I look for help and I see two mens disguised as gorilla taking care of the animals. I told them about the escape. When they look the animal is no longer there. Before I knew someone comes to find us asking us to go as if something terrible just happened and we started running to all our might.

Writing a book for a general audience came into my awareness for few weeks now with friends suggesting to turn my doctorate into a book. Then, I was invited to celebrate a girlfriend birthday in Nottingham. Unable to drive to the destination, I was picked up by a newly published author. We spoke all the way there and back about the process of writing a book and some of steps involved in delivering the written product. In the evening. I discussed some of the elements with another friend who told me that she will help me find the necessary funding to make this happen. My first book is about Leicester Fixers, Repair, the Doctorate and more. I want to be able to raise some funding to continue and expand the development of sustainable communities within Leicester,  Leicestershire and Rutland. Through the book, I want to be able to raise necessary funds to do this. Fingercrossed, this will be possible.  If you would like to support me with this project, please do not hesitate to get...

Eugenie Bitty Arts had a meeting this week to review the success, impacts and key learning from the group exhibition at La Maison Muller. At the results of the discussion, we have decided to organise an exhibition in May 2022 to exhibit a collection of her work in Paris. I trust already that the work we will produce will have great success.  I am inviting all my collaborators to visit her site and subscribe to her newsletter to be the first one to know about the event www.eugeniebittyarts.com 

My uncle and beautiful writer, Emile Biti Abi, writer said "if you write everyday you will write a book" If you write everyday, you probably wrote already many books. Tell me which story are you currently contributing to? 

 Thank you for sending me an invitation to shop at Amazon Smile so that your charity can get pennies out of my purchase. I am appalled by the effort. I will make sure that you know the ten reasons why Amazon Smile does not make me smile. 1) Amazon does not pay their taxes appropriately in the UK to support vital services for people. Their scheme is a pittance compared to what they could contribute to the global society. They send gift hampers to our MPs to get more tax breaks. 2) Out of £1000 purchase, as a charity, you will get only £5. How sad? 3) Amazon subjects workers to poor working condition across the world. How can you as a charity demand social justice and yet spit on your efforts? 4) Your charity is eating away your supporters' desire to give more to you. They will feel like ''oh well I am buying through Amazon Smile so, I do not have to give more. It is another ''slacktivism'' example whereby people become less charitable because they get the fee...

If you’d like to follow my work online here’s where you can find me: Marle on Twitter You can follow me  @DrMarle_Di  where I post mainly about Quetzal. Marle on Instagram On my Instagram, @Drmarle.di Marle on Youtube Few videos of projects can be found here

Excerpt: Dr  Marie Lefebvre from Quetzal on the  Decentered Media Podcast  discussed with Jo hn Coster  and  Dr Rob Watson  Community Solutions for breaking the silence about the trauma of childhood sexual abuse. Click here to listen the podcast  Together, on the podcast, we explored how through creative storytelling, each one of us in our own capacity can help in breaking the silence about childhood sexual abuse and empower people to eventually find their voice and contribute to our community and society. With the extended lockdown happening in Leicester, it is primordial than each of us find ways to communicate valuable information to people that will support their mental and physical health, to empower each one of us with strength to voice our needs and concerns. At Quetzal, we deliver counselling services to support women in breaking the bars and psychological cages of the trauma of childhood sexual abuse. A part of my job at ...

A reflection from a Mixed Raced Black Post-Doctorate who started since July 2019  a discussion with her academic institution about race-based trauma and the experience of BAME academics, and how the murder of George Floyd prompted more actions and reflections on the role of university in supporting BAME staff and students as her first attempt for a  productive  exchange failed through. When George Floyd died, the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement grew, all the news and social media platforms became a constant noise of information related to systemic racism, police brutality and wishes for a better world. I wondered what would be my role and contribution. I am very fortunate to work for a  trauma-informed charity in Leicester  that trains and informs their staff and volunteers about how events outside of our control can trigger emotions around unprocessed trauma. So, my first move was to take care of my mental health. Subsequently, I chose not to attend any...

The message of the Week To Support the Transition towards an Happy Sustainable World, Be a Better Friend

Starseeds.Cyclo is a community of individuals starting their journey in aligning themselves with their higher purpose and healing timelines. They do this by Reading birth chart and having astrological consultation Sharing rituals and messages for significant astrological events sharing items that support healing sharing information and knowledge that support healing (books, content and information) organising events with practitioners that support healing, organising gathering that supports healing making referrals to practitioners that supports healing coaching individuals in their journey towards healing organising training that support healing Few Questions to answer in following posts How did StarSeed Cyclo started? Starseeds started with drawing and doodle of cyclops. . We were also reading astrology, numerology, feng-shui and chinese astrology for a while as well as drawing cards but we did not as such use or share our gifts and messages on any platform. Then a significant event ...

A year of new beginnings. I will align myself fully to my creative power and welcome abundance within my life.  What will be 2020 for you? Picture: lavender bags. The lavender comes from my mother garden, she handsew the bags using some cotton strips that was gifted to her from Korogo residents in ivory Coast. They pick spin and weave cotton. As she sew she meditates on colonisation, nature and progress. So much in a mixed ish items. She then had a leather string and a wooden bead. 

Week 1 - 7 Update What Happened this week I sold two headphone, a art case and a top I hared my blogpost with everyone I know Kajal is more than happy to collaborate with me I have relisted some items close some cases as well I have asked on waste not want not if anyone got some plastic bags or envelops for packaging. Kajal responded to me letting me know that she may have what I am looking for.Great news. I have learnt about parcel2go because of a nice customers who happened to buy quite a lot of items through my shops I also ask for people for a lot of different items for my packaging and there are happy to give it to me for free. What do I need to do I really need to actually to get the suitcase from M. car Week 25-31 March Update What happened this week? I have packed all my items and made some card to go with it. I finished my thesis. I am not ready to bring it all in. I sold quite a lot of items: a suit, skirt, saree, the washing machine bolt, the b...

MeganMakesGood Hens & Parrots ''To be a successful ethical entrepreneur, you need a Genuine Love for People''  Laura Santamaria from Sublime Magazine What happened this week? This week, I went to the Artisans of Market Harborough Fair in the Old Grammar School with Jill from Megan Makes Good . The day was absolutely gorgeous, the sun was high, the sky was blue, and the city was buzzing with activity. We arrived at the fair and Jill set up with another nine people in the room while inviting me to have a walk around town. When I came back, beautiful items made up by the different artists filled the room. As the day went on, there were different energies on display in the room. Some people were more disappointed than others on how well the event went and pondered who is the primary beneficiary of the fair (i.e., the organiser or the trader). On my side, the day was absolutely fabulous. I met wonderful people in and outside of the fair. There is a church ...

Message of the week Always Expect the Unexpected What happens this week with the Purge? I sold a lip butter set, a suit and a skirt. I received a bid on a T-shirt, a trouser and a dress. I received a warm message from Jill, owner of MeganMakesGood about the shop. She found my blog through my FB. It warmed my heart. First, because it is nice to receive some feedback from you do, Two, I did not know anyone would read about what I do on FB. I packed my good and made on more cyclop card for it and went to the shop. I spoke with my friend designer Zosia about developing the visual design of the shop I received a message about purchasing one of my dress and send it to Mauritius - Oulala I smiled, can you imagine me selling a £1 dress and send it to Mauritius... Total sale this week: £19 Number of Visits on Blog: (I Don't Know) The total page view of the blog is 12,747 What am I going to Improve on? How can I organise my packaging better? Create a space in the ...