Earthly Reads: Céline Semaan on A Woman is a School /S1:4
A stone formation juts from the center of the black and white photo with small boulders and gravel laying at the foot.
Join us for the fourth episode of our new Earthly Reads series. In this episode, we are joined by Céline Semaan, founder of Slow Factory and author of A Woman is a School.
Sharing stories from her childhood in Lebanon and across her lifelong work towards justice, Céline gives us a look at what it means to be a hakawati (storyteller). Céline asks listeners what it means to have faith in times of crisis, how to commit to your morals in the face of suppression, and what it can mean to use learning as a tool for liberation. This conversation is a reminder of that reflection and memoir play in service to creating systemic change.
Earthly Reads is a podcast series and online book study featuring conversations with some of our favorite authors including adrienne maree brown, Marcia Bjornerud, Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Prentis Hemphill, Tricia Hersey, and Céline Semaan. This episode is just a small glimpse into some of the incredible live conversations that will take place throughout the book study. To access the full 60 minute episode join us on Patreon or the Earthly Reads Book Study.
“You said I am strong, but honestly, I am the softest. I am not strong. I am the mushiest person because that’s the skill — it’s to stay soft in this fight. It’s to stay open, to remain in faith, to have faith, even though everything points against that direction. ”
Céline Semaan
Céline Semaan is a Lebanese-Canadian designer, writer, artist, speaker, and advocate working at the intersection of environmental and social justice. Céline is the founder of Slow Factory, a 501c3 public service organization addressing the intersecting crises of climate justice and social inequity — filling the gap for climate adaptation and preparedness, building community power through open education, narrative change and regenerative design. Céline writes for New York Mag: The Cut, Elle, Refinery29, Huffington Post, among other publications. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, CNN Vogue, Refinery29, Scientific American, Fast Company, Teen Vogue and many other outlets. Her first book, “A Woman is a School,” was released this September as the first book in Slow Factory's book imprint Books for Collective Liberation.
A Woman is a School
A Woman is a School is the first memoir and cultural anthropological book by Slow Factory founder, Céline Semaan. As a war-survivor and former child refugee sharing endangered and discredited ancestral knowledge of the Global South, particularly tales from Lebanon from 1948 to 2023-the book follows the tradition of the hakawati, the storytellers of the Levant. Holding Indigenous knowledge and wisdom, Céline Semaan, a hakawati herself, documents what she has witnessed throughout her life and the lives of her family members, sharing her upbringing and cultures of resistance.
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♫ The music featured in this series is “Point Dume” by More Eaze, “Live at LTMOITDUAT 10.14.23” by Ohma, “A Prayer in my Pocket” by Cole Pulice, and “Be A Dreamer” by Maylee Todd from the compilation Staying: Leaving Records Aid to Artists Impacted by the Los Angeles Wildfires courtesy of our partner Leaving Records. Compilation proceeds are directed back into the community of artists and families impacted by the fires. Learn more at staying.bandcamp.com.
Earthly Reads
Book Study
6 live, online salons with authors adrienne maree brown, Prentis Hemphill, Tricia Hersey, Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Céline Semaan, and Marcia Bjornerud and host Ayana Young discussing their new books. Featuring live music (courtesy of Living Earth), embodiment practices, and Q&A with the Authors
For The Wild Study Notes for each book
Music playlists to study and move to
Access to the extended versions of the Authors’ new podcast episodes
A Practice & Resource Guide to take your studies further
Community Discussion group
More!
Earthly Reads Episode Series
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For The Wild is a slow media organization dreaming towards a world of grounded justice and reciprocity. Our work highlights impactful storytelling and deeply-felt meaning making as balms for these times. If you want to explore our work, please become a monthly sustaining member through our Patreon or consider making a one-time donation directly to us through our website. To stay up-to-date on our work, sign up for our newsletter.
