Sol Collective

Beads & Beats is a monthly event hosted by the Sol Collective Arts and Cultural Center to provide a safe, supportive, substance-free space to celebrate Indigenous culture and arts. Local Sacramento community members come together to socialize, celebrate their cultures and learn beading techniques from lifetime beadwork artists Corrina Snow, Margarita Behill & Jesse Sanchez.

On the first Friday of each month, Beads & Beats hosts anywhere from 20-60 attendees who work on their projects – including peyote stitch, earrings, appliqué/beaded embroidery, leatherwork and sewing – while enjoying a live DJ and a community potluck dinner. While this began as an event for seasoned beaders, youth in the community expressed an interest in expanding the program to include younger generations! To help make this activity more accessible for all ages, Sol Collective now provides free materials and classes specifically for Indigenous youth (0-24).

This intergenerational space has since become an important gathering for the community, inviting members of all ages and from different traditions to come together in a cultural exchange. In addition to learning from their relatives, youth are also empowered to share their own beadwork and dance traditions with other participants, and to foster conversations about the importance of civic engagement and voting in local elections.