Dear Mama, What does it mean to make it home, to create a place of rest and reprieve, joy and sanctuary, an archive of your children's treasures? What happens when you can't make it home, return to your place of rest and reprieve, joy and sanctuary, a reflection of your taste and intention? What happens when the archive of your children's treasure, what they left behind to be kept safe, is incinerated, covered in ash and your community physically fractured? In this episode, Staci Mitchell, a mother of 3 who was born and raised in Altadena, CA, and our very own Thea Monyee recount the night the Los Angeles fires ravaged their community, watching their city burn, and the creative rebirth they've experienced in the wake of this nightmare. In this episode, we talk: ✨Mothering through displacement ✨Gentrification and anti-blackness amid natural disaster ✨The expectation of normalcy while healing from trauma precious commodities PLUS: We meet Thea's new dog, Remy, have a church meeting during our Church announcements segment about boycotting and Black women minding their Black business, and in our Black Mama Say segment, each of us shares the word that will guide us through the year. 💗Black Mama Magic Card Deck: Card #16 "Impossible You" 💗 ABOUT STACI MITCHELL: The Fierce Creative With Healing Tendencies; Pan-African Studies Scholar, Theatre & Performance Artist born in LA and raised in Altadena, California. Her epistemological and pedagogical focus balances on womanism and the complex of Black\woman identity and its performativity. Staci has performed on and written for the Los Angeles theatre stage, been featured in independent film, on television, voiceover and audiobook narration. Staci is also a certified Ayurvedic yoga teacher specializing in meditation. She approaches all of these practices with deep appreciation and acknowledgment of her Afrikan ancestors who helped shape the science. Help Staci Rebuild EPISODES MENTIONED/RELEVANT TO THIS EPISODE: 🎙️DBM Episode 42: Honoring Your Body, Creativity, and Embracing Motherhood on Your Own Terms featuring Staci Mitchell ✨PATREON BONUS CONTENT - Pre-Show Shenanigans✨ 🔗 Connect with Dem Black Mamas: Email List | BluSky | Instagram | Patreon | YouTube 🗣️Engage: This is a conversation. Speak back to us! Share your thoughts about the episode using the hashtag #DemBlackMamas, DM us or email us at magic@demblackmamas.com. For all links, full show notes & transcript, check out our website: demblackmamas.com