Kaleidoscope Vibrations, LLC
Celebrating that each event or vibration in our lives creates a new beautiful us
Kaleidoscope Vibrations, LLC is dedicated to supporting and creating spaces for individuals to explore and find confidence in their personal identities, those that are permanent and those that shift, and in finding community. We do this work through nonjudgmental workshops, storytelling, reflection, and by connecting people to current and potential communities.
Identity CoachingRelationship to self and our sense of belonging greatly affects our navigation of the world. Coaching can include working to
- develop a confident and positive sense of self
- explore new, emerging, or confusing identities
- understand how our identities influence our world experiences
- claim what is ours and recognize what is not
- find communitySign up HERE
Workshops & Consulting on Building Ethical & Inclusive SpacesWe offer workshops and consultation on
- developing ethical business practices that create supportive and inclusive spaces
- facilitation skills
- diversity and inclusion in the workplace
- creating pleasurable and values based practicesFor consulting work, click hereNew links will be available soon for signature workshops.
Publishing Underrepresented NarrativesKV is excited to offer opportunities for publishing for those with stories to share that don't generally have access to publishing spaces and whose narratives are often left out by mainstream media.We offer hybrid publishing, book production services with our team, book coaching, and business development/growth and publishing workshops and consults.For more information about publishing, click hereFor consulting work, click here
What People Say
Erica Colon, Workshop Attendee"I had the privilege of attending a previous workshop and had so much fun! Also, I got to learn some things about myself in the process! Yael Rosenstock is fun, informative, inclusive, and creates a comfortable atmosphere for all... I highly recommend it!"
Anissa Moody, Associate Professor"I had the pleasure of watching my students blossom and grow right before my eyes as they participated in a workshop led by Yael and hosted by Dr. Aalai. So far the students have shared positive responses, including interests in more training. In this current climate we can't do enough of these [Upstander and Social Identity] trainings."
Dee Yergo, Yoga, Meditation and Mindfulness Teacher/Women's Empowerment Coach"Yael has a warm and engaging style that makes all those who gather in her presence feel welcome and safe. I invited Yael to be a guest speaker in a women's group that I lead on the topic of self pleasure. Her style was unassuming and very well-informed. She quickly had a good sense of the Zoom room and was able to assess everyone's level of comfort and adjust her delivery accordingly. We appreciated her clarity around agreements, which gave the workshop structure without feeling rigid. Her use of the anonymous polls in Zoom was a very helpful tool. She was able to meet everyone where they were at gracefully. The members of the group felt very comfortable to ask questions and engage in discussion. It was a great, educational and fun experience and I would not hesitate to have Yael back as a guest speaker in the future."
Founder & General Team
Yael R Rosenstock Gonzalez, Founder of Kaleidoscope Vibrations, LLC & Co-creator of Diverse Bodies Project and Kaleidoscope Perspectives
(She, her, hers)
At 15 years old, Yael became a teen peer reproductive rights educator and never looked back. Her undergraduate thesis, A Not so Silent Voice for Female Sexuality: Empowering Examples from Literature Cross-Culturally and her Master’s thesis, Dismantling Rape Culture through an Exploration of Consent, Desire, and Pleasure created space for her to explore sexuality, consent, and pleasure through different disciplines. She recently published An Introguide to a Sex Positive You: Lessons, Tips and Tales and is working on a collaborative body positive photo-interview series entitled Diverse Bodies Project. She aspires to be a leading force in ridding the world of sexual violence and replacing it with sexual freedom. That is, freedom to be, feel, abstain, or engage in sexual encounters and be confident in your decisions.
Caroline Rinaldy, Publishing Manager & Overall Rock Star of Kaleidoscope Vibrations, LLC
(She/her/hers)
A child of the diaspora, Caroline is passionate about marginalized narratives and communities, especially queer and BIPOC voices. As a dabbler in too many Adobe products for her own good, Caroline also formats books, edits audio and video, and occasionally draws when she's not busy parenting twin toddlers. You can find her website at ylikeyellow.com. She is based in Queens, New York.
**Yuki Mochi, Digital Creator & Digital Marketing Assistant: a Doer, Kaleidoscope Vibrations, LLC & Sex Positive You **
(He/his/him)
Yuki is a Filipino-Japanese queer photographer, videographer, and also graphic artist based in the Philippines. His daily routine includes listening to local podcasts and music, and he is passionate about film and media, particularly those that handle feminist and equality themes in a dark and gritty way; The Handmaid’s Tale is a particular favorite. And being an avid fan of Drag Race, he is planning his full drag debut someday.
Publishing Team
Editors
Christine Ramkarran (she/her)
Chrissy graduated CUNY Queens College in 2018 with a Bachelor’s in English. She wrote, edited, and self-published her debut collection of poetry, Relic, in 2017. She has served as an editor for Yael Rosenstock’s An Intro-Guide to a Sex Positive You: Lessons, Tales, and Tips, published in 2018, as well as Dr. Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz's Love from the Vortex & Other Poems, published in 2020. She has also written and edited content for Belladonna* Literary Press and Freemuse. She currently works full-time as the New York Partnerships and Volunteer Engagement Manager for America Needs You, an organization that is geared towards career readiness for first generation, low-income college students.
Katherine Kolios (she, her)
Raised by a mother with a PhD in Linguistics, we were corrected at the dinner table. It was annoying. In turn, I corrected my friends at the lunch table, at recess, and after school. That was also annoying. In the end, I've stopped correcting people in social settings and turned that nit-picky nature to editing everything from application essays and resumes to doctoral theses, journal articles and books. Correcting people on the playground could be considered not just annoying but disrespectful. In contrast, editing someone's work is an act of respect - for the person, for their ideas, and for the value of communication. I cherish the opportunity to dig into someone's work and to dig around in their brain, in an effort to bring greater depth and clarity to their words and, sometimes, to adapt those words to render their ideas more accessible. Language is an unparalleled tool (see: the Tower of Babble, governmental propaganda, kirtan chanting, etc) of power and beauty but even the most proficient writer struggles to edit for herself. Editing requires a certain level of distance that a writer cannot achieve with her own work. I (probably) don't know you -- so I'm perfect! Looking forward to getting to know you through your work and to helping your future-audience get to know you by strengthening your final product.
Formatter
Caroline Rinaldy (she/her)
Caroline is a lifelong multimedia nerd, with her fingers in book design, podcasting, website and graphic design, and more. She has been a digital native since at least a mid-'90s upgrade to a 33kbps modem and, in the many years since, she has brought a tech-savvy, can-do attitude to her work in a variety of industries, from publishing to law and IT.A child of immigrants and mother to twin toddlers, Caroline is passionate about helping marginalized people find voice and find community. She is based in Queens, New York.In addition to offering formatting services for print and ebook, Caroline also serves as Kaleidoscope Vibrations LLC's Publishing Manager and sometimes dabbles in other Adobe apps in her ample spare time. You can find her website at ylikeyellow.com.
Illustrators
Liu Light, they/them
Light is a New York-based artist and multimedia illustrator with a special interest in children's books and manga. They have illustrated numerous children's books written by youth and young adults for educational nonprofits such as Shout Mouse Press, REACH Incorporated, and Rainbow Puppet Productions. They create manga, art books, music, poetry, and performance as part of their personal artistic practice, which features a strong interest in both traditional and experimental storytelling.You can see Light's work on their website, liulight.com
Nine McClain (if using pronouns, they/them)
Nine McClain is a nonbinary comic book artist, and recent graduate of Queens College with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Through the medium of sequential art, Nine documents the navigation of difficult conversations such as mental illness in academia, professional achievement versus personal fulfillment, and the struggle of true self-definition.You can see Nine's work on Nine's website, Ninelikethenumber
Partners & Co-Developers
Jonathan Baron, Co-creator of Diverse Bodies Project
(He/him/his)
Jonathan Baron is a multidisciplinary artist from Queens, New York. Jonathan is pursuing a BFA in Studio Art at Queens College, where he also received a fellowship in Social Organizing from the Center for Ethnic, Racial, and Religious Understanding. Jonathan’s art practice investigates social communication and interpersonal relations.
Katherine Kolios, Co-creator of Kaleidoscope Perspectives
(She, her, hers)
Katherine started doing yoga because she needed a reason to move her body. She kept doing yoga because it stilled her mind. She has practiced and taught on four continents and is deeply interested in yogic philosophy and its intersection with other ancient and modern philosophies, both religious and secular. Katherine is a 200 Hour-Certified yoga instructor, currently pursuing her 500 Hour-Certification through Johanna Bell’s Illumina Training program. Her background is primarily in Vinyasa flow with Ashtanga, Iyengar, Hatha, and Tantra influence.
Darren LaRocque, Co-creator of Diverse Bodies Project
(He/him/his)
“The world can be a dark place”. Since his early childhood, Darren understood the unfortunate truth that this place he was to call his home had a few cracks in the pavement. Wars that tear apart nations, natural disasters that ravage communities, children that die of starvation before they even learn the word for “food”. This world can truly seem like the place ashes come to rest. But of course, there was one other lesson he learned. Ashes are the only place… where a phoenix will rise.
Shakun Sethi, Developer of Tickle.Life
(She, her, hers)
Shakun has been an initiator of multiple social impact projects for creating exposure and opportunities to the relevant stakeholders and citizens. Her experience in India and Netherlands led her to realize the importance of an ecosystem to celebrate sexuality and to eradicate the taboo attached. That is how Tickle.Life was born.Tickle.Life is an initiative to encourage acceptance and expression of your sexuality. It is a platform to celebrate unrestrained fantasies and sexual innuendos via discussions. The community is exclusively made up of like-minded people who are judgment-free, where there is no right or wrong way of expressing one’s thoughts. So helping you to remain true to your real self and accepting the world around in a better way. The platform encourages community building by maintaining anonymity and privacy but discourages hookup by providing no way to connect personally on one to one level.
Mishael Sims, Photographer and team member of Diverse Bodies Project
(She, her, hers)
Do what makes you happy they say. Mishael has two eyes to see and yet everything seems to look better through a lens. Something magical happens when she releases the shutter, something her own two eyes cannot do. It makes whatever is on the other side of her lense beautiful. Without editing, just a RAW file of the world captured perfectly. And THAT makes Mishael happy. If it can be seen, it can be captured.
| Date | Event | Speaker/Facilitator | Location | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, March 8th, 2:30pm ET | International Womens' Day - Women and Sex: Let's Talk About Sex | Yael R Rosenstock Gonzalez & many more! | Glowest Podcast | Click HERE |
| Thursday, March 25th, TBD time | Queer & Trans Representations of Body, Sexuality, and Gender in the Diverse Bodies Project | Yael R Rosenstock Gonzalez | IUPI Indianapolis, Indiana | Click HERE |
| Thursday, April 15th, 7:00 - 8:30pm | You Are Enough, Love: Interrogating Your Narrative(s) | Yael R Rosenstock Gonzalez | Center for Sexual Pleasure and Health | Click HERE |
Signature Workshops
A Dialogue about the Sexual Objectification of Racialized People
(60-90 minutes)
In this workshop, Dr. Ashley Townes and I discuss what it means to sexualize or fetishize individuals based on their race, ethnicity, and gender. The intersectionality of race, ethnicity, and gender among Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) is often attached to stereotypes that impact sexual scripts/roles and, therefore, experiences navigating sexual and romantic relationships.
You are Enough, Love: Interrogating Your Narrative
(45-90 minutes)
Finding confidence in our identities and having a sense of belonging can be particularly challenging for those with identities on the margins whether it's because we are straddling two or more cultures or if we feel lacking in one or more identities (e.g. not queer enough, not Latin enough, not trans enough, and so on). This can be due to direct exclusion by those around us, messaging from media representations that don't include our experiences, or generally toxic environments. However, sometimes a major obstacle to finding supportive and loving communities are our own internalized negative narratives or beliefs such as "I'm not _____ enough," "I'm too _____ to belong," and "I'm not worthy.""You Are Enough, Love: Interrogating Your Narrative" is a workshop that invites participants to challenge one of the stories holding them back from feeling connected with community.
BodyLove
A series of workshops and retreats dedicated to empowering explorations of body and self.BodyLove: Vulva Edition
Full day nude workshop that inspires
- Body positivity
- Increased familiarity with own body and comfort with those of others
- Exploration of sexuality through conversation
- Connection with other people with vulvas
- Confronting socialization
- Low-risk vulnerabilityBodyLove: Short Series
Two-three hour workshops that engage the arts. Workshops include:Molding Ourselves: Explore self and body through the tactile experience of sculpture.Using our Words: Explore self and body through the transformative power of words.
Movement: Explore self and body through experimenting with the shapes and rhythms of our movements.Body Painting: Explore self and body through body as brush.
Kaleidoscope Perspectives
KALEIDOSCOPE PERSPECTIVES is designed to help reconnect you with your mind, body, and heart, to listen better and to live better. We offer a series of retreats to help you develop the tools needed to shift your life -- to recognize where you are, where you want to go, and how to get there. Each retreat offers a difference focus including relationship to body, mental health, sexual energy, and friendships.Developed in collaboration with Katherine KoliosCLICK HERE TO VISIT SITE
Sex Positive You a branch of Kaleidoscope Vibrations, LLC offers workshops across different topics related to sex and body including the following:Anatomy
Arousal
Body Positivity
Bystander/Upstander
Consent and Respecting Boundaries
Desire and Pleasure
Healthy Relationships
Sexual Identity
Social Identity
Menstruation
Partnering Styles (Monogamy & Polyamory)
Shifting for Change
Workshop DevelopmentChild Friendly Options available for all topics in italics
Available Books
Acts of Liberation, by Ebony I. Green
Building your life on false foundations is a common mistake we all make, although at the time, we are unaware of the lasting damage this will do. Acts of Liberation introduces the unique ideology of Tower Moments, what they are, how they shape our lives, how to resolve and how to heal those moments to achieve our true purpose.Through Dr. Green's journey, the reader is shown how being honest with yourself by uncovering your truths about value, worth, and intellect either provides or denies opportunities for growing into your best-self.With thought-provoking questions at the end of each chapter, you will discover what lies within yourself and how you too can confront your Tower Moments.You, as the reader, will learn to:
- Identify what tower moments are
- Recognize how to interpret tower moments
- Recognize what moment leads us to make these interpretations
- Understand how tower moments lead us to life purposeAvailable for purchase at Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon! You can also support your local bookseller by requesting that they order it for you!
Wholesale purchases also available through IngramSpark.
Equitable By Design, by Dr. Yvette C. Latunde
Equitable by Design: A Guide to Utilizing the Abundance of Resources Within Black Families and Communities to Support Students examines the possibilities for building more equitable, culturally informed, and evidence-based partnerships among Black families, communities, and schools. The processes and practices recommended in this guide are grounded in theory. That theory is translated into evidence-based practices associated with improved student outcomes for Black students.This guide also recognizes and respects "other ways of knowing," or people's lived experiences, understanding that science is still catching up on its knowledge of what works for historically marginalized groups. This book invites participation in creating welcoming environments for Black families and their children. It provides processes that begin with the abundance within families and communities in mind, transfers power, builds capacity, and fosters collective responsibility and collective decision-making. These processes offer the possibilities for increasing the safety and belonging of Black families and students, improving student learning and well-being, transforming systems within schools, and developing strategic partnerships that build upon the knowledge, expertise, and experiences of Black people.Available for purchase at Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena, Bookshop.org, and Amazon! Wholesale purchases available through IngramSpark.
Ebook purchases available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever you get your ebooks.
Endorsements and Reviews for Equitable By Design"A brilliant piece of work with actionable insights to achieve Black student success informed by real insight of Black families."
— Melessa Hamilton, Middle School Teacher, African American Parent Council Member"This interactive, user-friendly guidebook is an essential tool for all school systems. This guidebook is grounded in sound theoretical frameworks and guiding principles. Educators will be empowered and equipped to take an asset-based approach to strengthening relationships with Black families and authentically engaging them as true partners in their children’s education."
— Cynthia Glover-Woods, Member, California State Board of Education"a practical guide for educators, community members, and parents to evaluate their policies and practices and co-create new processes with families in order to ensure Black students’ success."
— Dr. Rema Vassar, Associate Professor of Leadership and Counseling, Eastern Michigan UniversityThis is a must-read resource book for anyone interested in helping Black and African American children reach their full academic potential.
— Dr. Greg Richardson, Director, Watson and Associates Literacy Center, California State University
The Peace Chronicles, by Dr. Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz
Official Peace and Love from the Vortex merchandise
available at Threadless!Sign up for the Love from the Vortex Newsletter
for the latest news.
The Peace Chronicles is poet and scholar-activist Dr. Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz’s second full-length collection. Documenting her last moments in the Vortex, the book moves from a searing betrayal by Tyrone (Love from the Vortex & Other Poems) to her equanimity with it. The poems also record her peacemaking with her father, the tireless work of her ancestors, and celebrates the freedom that brings her tranquility, contentment and joy.In this sophomore collection, readers are carried along a journey that asks: How can we learn from pain that grips us tightly? When does a moment seat itself between two halves of our lives, and when do we actually notice? When time is not a sufficient healer, what language allows us to fill our wounds with light, knowing they may never fully close? Where does love go to be laid to rest and when it rises again, do we name it resurrection, awakening, or reimagining?With endorsements by Mahogany L. Browne, Rio Cortez, Micah Bournes, and more!Available for purchase at Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon! You can also support your local bookseller by requesting that they order it for you!
Wholesale purchases also available through IngramSpark.Look forward to the Audible album later this year!
Endorsements and Reviews for The Peace Chronicles"Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz is a lighthouse. These poems are psalms and serve as brilliant beams to bring her readers safely home."
—Mahogany L. Browne, Author of Chlorine Sky & i remember death by its proximity to what i love most"a remarkable journey through healing and revelation. These poems are dazzling lyrical meditations that leave the reader breathless."
—Rio Cortez, New York Times best selling author of The ABCs of Black History
Love from the Vortex & Other Poems, by Dr. Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz
Love from the Vortex & Other Poems is poet and scholar-activist Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz’s first full-length collection. An archeological exploration of love and intimacy, the book charts her journey of finding and losing love over the span of three decades with six men who came into her life at various times. Sealey-Ruiz offers a universal take on what can happen when one seeks love and connection with others, and the lessons that follow when the connection and love are lost. Revealing moments of happiness, fantasy, frustration, and eventually the dissolution of relationships, the book moves beyond these anticipated stages to moments of grace and beauty that come with the discovery and practice of self-love, and a fuller understanding of what it means to truly love someone as you love yourself.Available for purchase at Word Up Books in NYC, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and Amazon! You can also support your local bookseller by requesting that they order it for you!
Wholesale purchases also available through IngramSpark.Audiobook now available!
Purchase on Audible or Amazon
Amazon bestseller on the African American Poetry list
BookClubz Book of the Month October 2020 for RomanceOfficial Love from the Vortex merchandise
available at ThreadlessSign up for the Love from the Vortex Newsletter
for the latest news.
Endorsements and Reviews for Love from the Vortex & Other Poems"Sealey-Ruiz opens a world to us in which we are reminded of the importance of speaking truthfully- with both love and rage-- about our past and the lovers and loved ones who bring us to the present-- and home"
—Jacqueline Woodson, Red at the Bone"raised glass to the glorious risk-and-recovery of life"
—Adam Falkner, The Willies
Luna, Yes!/!Luna, Si!, by Jessica Gonzalez
While the world may not understand Luna, her sister Cassie knows her better than anyone. She knows Luna’s favorite food, her favorite song, and her favorite dance move. Luna knows how to make Cassie laugh and her favorite ice cream. They may not be able to share secrets like some siblings, but they share something far more important--a sister bond.El mundo no entiende a Luna, pero su hermana, Cassie la conoce mejor que nadie. Cassie sabe cuál es la comida favorita, la canción favorita, y el baile favorito de Luna. Luna sabe cómo hacer reír a Cassie y cuál es su sabor de helado favorito. Aunque no puedan compartir secretos como otros hermanas, comparten algo mucho más importante: un vínculo único de hermandad.Luna, Yes!/!Luna, Si!, by Jessica Gonzalez, is the first Spanish/English bilingual children’s book about sisters and autism!Available for purchase at Word Up Books in NYC, Bookshop.org, and Amazon. You can also support your local bookseller by requesting that they order it for you!Contact info.kvibrations@gmail.com
to order directly through us (pick up available in New York City & Bloomington, Indiana, delivery extra)
An Intro-Guide to a Sex Positive You: Lessons, Tales, and Tips,
by Yael R. Gonzalez Rosenstock
Are you looking to find sexually or romantically compatible partners? Do you ever feel unsure about making a move or how to express new things you want to try? Do you wish you knew more ways to connect with yourself or your partner? Yael uses stories from her own life, as well as those from guest contributors, to illustrate methods and concepts for living a sex-positive, and sexually fulfilling, life.Part I of the intro-guide helps you develop self-awareness through an exploration of sexual identities and preferences. This awareness is good for personal development as well as to prepare you for finding compatible sexual and romantic matches while avoiding those that could lead to negative experiences.Part II concentrates on communication and consent: how to develop the tools necessary to voice your desires and boundaries while respecting those of others.Lastly, Part III provides a brief overview of ‘need to know’ material as well as recommendations for exploration and discovery.Available for purchase at Word Up Books in NYC, Bookshop.org, and Amazon. You can also support your local bookseller by requesting that they order it for you!
Letters to My Sisters & Brothers, by Nelson O.O. Zounlome
What People Are Saying About This BookMore purchase information can be found at letterstomysistersandbrothers.com
Letters To My Sisters & Brothers: Practical Advice to Successfully Navigate Academia is a workbook specifically designed with culturally relevant advice and evidence-based exercises to help students of color thrive.Students of color face several obstacles while in college and/or graduate school: low levels of institutional support, discrimination, and feeling unwelcome on campus. These factors negatively impact students' academic performance, mental health, retention, and graduation rates. Completing this workbook is a pivotal step towards overcoming these barriers and achieving academic success.Inside this workbook, readers will find: 1) Culturally relevant advice from current students of color, 2)Evidence-based activities to help put their guidance into practice, and 3) Coloring pages for additional self-care.Letters contains a collection of online responses from a survey of current undergraduate and graduate students of color across the United States who were asked to provide advice to incoming students of color on how to navigate higher education. These students offer their insight, experiences, and encouragement to aid you along your academic journey. Accompanying their testimonies, the end of each section contains an activity created to better put their advice into practice.Available for purchase at Bookshop.org and Amazon
in Paperback or Ebook. You can also support your local bookseller by requesting that they order it for you!
Upcoming Books
Sofia's Superpower
by Arielle Rosenstock
Bilingual children's book about a little girl with anxietyDiverse Bodies Project Coffee Table Book
Jon Baron, Darren LaRocque, Mishael Sims, & Yael Rosenstock
Opportunities for publishing
1. We accept requests to publish short works that consider multiple and/or intersecting identities. If your cover letter is accepted, you will be invited to send your full work for submission and will receive one of the following four responses:
(1) Ready to publish (may or may not include minimal edits)
(2) Willing to publish with minor editing
(3) Major editing required to be considered.
(4) Does not fall under KV, LLC Publishing topics2. We accept cover letters for almost completed full-length fiction and non-fiction work that considers multiple and/or intersecting identities. If your cover letter is accepted, you will be invited to send your full work for submission and will receive one of the following four responses:
(1) Ready to publish (may or may not include minimal edits)
(2) Willing to publish with minor editing
(3) Major editing required to be considered.
(4) Does not fall under KV, LLC Publishing topics3. Current Anthologies with open calls. Check this page for announcements.
Latinidad
Deadline: OngoingLatindad (en español)
Deadline: OngoingSexual Identity Narratives
Deadline: Ongoing
We offer Hybrid Publishing Contracts & Production Contracts with the following:
- ISBN (which allows for distribution with major distributors including Amazon)
- Editing
- Developmental Editing: An in-depth review of the document in its entirety from cover to
cover. Includes content revisions and complete copy editing services.- Copy Editing: Correcting errors of grammar, style, repetition, word usage, jargon, and
one major content revision.- Proofreading: Minor errors are corrected in areas of grammar, capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and word usage.
- Illustration
- Formatting
- Advertising at our Events and on Website
- Business Development & Marketing Brainstorming/Planning Sessions
Love from the Vortex & Other Poems
by Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz
Bestseller on Amazon's African American Poetry List
Love from the Vortex & Other Poems is poet and scholar-activist Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz’s first full-length collection. An archeological exploration of love and intimacy, the book charts her journey of finding and losing love over the span of three decades with six men who came into her life at various times. Sealey-Ruiz offers a universal take on what can happen when one seeks love and connection with others, and the lessons that follow when the connection and love are lost. Revealing moments of happiness, fantasy, frustration, and eventually the dissolution of relationships, the book moves beyond these anticipated stages to moments of grace and beauty that come with the discovery and practice of self-love, and a fuller understanding of what it means to truly love someone as you love yourself.Available for purchase at Word Up Books in NYC, Bookshop.org, and Amazon!
Wholesale purchases also available through IngramSpark.
Features
Bookclubz Book of the Month (includes discussion guide!) - October 2020
Calendar
| Event | Location | Date | RSVP/More Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Book Signing | Teachers College, Columbia University | TBA | Click HERE |
| Book Signing | Teachers College, Columbia University | TBA | Click HERE |
| Keynote | TBA | TBA | Click HERE |
DIVERSE BODIES PROJECTOur mission is to celebrate diverse bodies.Our first step is to photograph and interview the amazing people in NYC and the surrounding area. We ask them to share their experiences of their body, their relationship with it, and their relationship to society. We want to explore bodies for all they can be, beyond and inclusive of the sexual.We will be creating a book of images and interviews. You can apply through the link below. We welcome persons of all shapes, backgrounds, ages, ability statuses, gender identities, etc.Models decide what to have photographed, whether to include their face, and whether to use their real name or a pseudonym. There are femme and masculine photographers and interviewers so models may choose who they would like in the room.If you have any questions, email diversebodiesproject@gmail.comLike us on FacebookFollow us on Instagram
Love from the Vortex & Other Poems, by Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz
Love from the Vortex & Other Poems is poet and scholar-activist Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz’s first full-length collection. An archeological exploration of love and intimacy, the book charts her journey of finding and losing love over the span of three decades with six men who came into her life at various times. Sealey-Ruiz offers a universal take on what can happen when one seeks love and connection with others, and the lessons that follow when the connection and love are lost. Revealing moments of happiness, fantasy, frustration, and eventually the dissolution of relationships, the book moves beyond these anticipated stages to moments of grace and beauty that come with the discovery and practice of self-love, and a fuller understanding of what it means to truly love someone as you love yourself.Available for purchase at Word Up Books in NYC, Bookshop.org, and Amazon!
Wholesale purchases also available through IngramSpark.Audiobook now available!
Purchase on Audible or Amazon
Amazon bestseller on the African American Poetry list
BookClubz Book of the Month October 2020 for RomanceOfficial Love from the Vortex merchandise
available at ThreadlessSign up for the Love from the Vortex Newsletter
for the latest news.
Luna, Yes!/!Luna, Si!, by Jessica Gonzalez
While the world may not understand Luna, her sister Cassie knows her better than anyone. She knows Luna’s favorite food, her favorite song, and her favorite dance move. Luna knows how to make Cassie laugh and her favorite ice cream. They may not be able to share secrets like some siblings, but they share something far more important--a sister bond.El mundo no entiende a Luna, pero su hermana, Cassie la conoce mejor que nadie. Cassie sabe cuál es la comida favorita, la canción favorita, y el baile favorito de Luna. Luna sabe cómo hacer reír a Cassie y cuál es su sabor de helado favorito. Aunque no puedan compartir secretos como otros hermanas, comparten algo mucho más importante: un vínculo único de hermandad.Luna, Yes!/!Luna, Si!, by Jessica Gonzalez, is the first Spanish/English bilingual children’s book about sisters and autism!Available for purchase at Word Up Books in NYC, Bookshop.org, and AmazonContact info.kvibrations@gmail.com
to order directly through us (pick up available in New York City & Bloomington, Indiana, delivery extra)
An Intro-Guide to a Sex Positive You: Lessons, Tales, and Tips,
by Yael R. Gonzalez Rosenstock
Are you looking to find sexually or romantically compatible partners? Do you ever feel unsure about making a move or how to express new things you want to try? Do you wish you knew more ways to connect with yourself or your partner? Yael uses stories from her own life, as well as those from guest contributors, to illustrate methods and concepts for living a sex-positive, and sexually fulfilling, life.Part I of the intro-guide helps you develop self-awareness through an exploration of sexual identities and preferences. This awareness is good for personal development as well as to prepare you for finding compatible sexual and romantic matches while avoiding those that could lead to negative experiences.Part II concentrates on communication and consent: how to develop the tools necessary to voice your desires and boundaries while respecting those of others.Lastly, Part III provides a brief overview of ‘need to know’ material as well as recommendations for exploration and discovery.Available for purchase at Word Up Books in NYC, Bookshop.org, and Amazon
Featured in Sex Positive Families' Book Resources
Featured in Bookriot's 28 Sex Positive Books for Curious Readers of All Ages
Reviews
"I loved the inclusivity shown in this book. I love how relatable and open this was was also. When I read it I felt that it was okay not to know some of what was being expressed because of how open and positive An Intro-Guide to a Sex Positive You was, in addition I loved the addition of the the interactive activities in the book that allowed you to explore yourself.""... The author is candid, knowledgeable and affirming. It’s like talking to your best friend who is not only supportive and non-judgmental, but also knows her stuff. As a therapist, I have recommended this book to a few of my clients and will continue to do so. If only this book were around twenty+ years ago… ""A rare blend of vulnerable, personal truth-telling combined with real professionalism and expertise. Yael's commitment to exploring the intersection of identity, sexuality, and interpersonal relationships (her own, yours, everyone's!) makes you feel like you're talking with a friend - who just happens to also be an expert."
Order now
To order a signed edition of Yael's first book, click the buy now button below. The $17.55 cost includes tax and shipping & handling
only for addresses within the United States
Click HERE to order a copy of Intro-guide to a Sex Positive You: Lessons, Tales, and Tips on Amazon
Kindle $7.99To order a regular copy (not signed), click the buy now button below. The $13 cost includes shipping & handling. *only for addresses within the United States
Letters to My Sisters & Brothers: Practical Advice to Successfully Navigate Academia as a Student of Color, by Nelson O.O. Zounlome
Letters To My Sisters & Brothers: Practical Advice to Successfully Navigate Academia is a workbook specifically designed with culturally relevant advice and evidence-based exercises to help students of color thrive.Students of color face several obstacles while in college and/or graduate school: low levels of institutional support, discrimination, and feeling unwelcome on campus. These factors negatively impact students' academic performance, mental health, retention, and graduation rates. Completing this workbook is a pivotal step towards overcoming these barriers and achieving academic success.Inside this workbook, readers will find: 1) Culturally relevant advice from current students of color, 2) Evidence-based activities to help put their guidance into practice, and 3) Coloring pages for additional self-care.Available for purchase at Amazon
in Paperback or EbookMore purchase information can be found at letterstomysistersandbrothers.com
Diverse Bodies Project
The Diverse Bodies Project is a photo-interview series celebrating diverse bodies! The project seeks to broaden our view of what is beautiful and delve into the ways we see ourselves and others. The team intentionally brings together queer, straight, young, old, different races, body types, nationalities, and more to create an inclusive project focused on highlighting that diversity includes us all. Each individual interview delves into the relationship and unique experiences that the participants have with their bodies to create a project highlighting both the physical and the internal.Pre-Order HERE
To reserve space in a workshop, visit the Contact Us form and send us a message detailing which workshop you are interested in attending (which topic, date if applicable, and how many people).If you would like Yael to run a workshop at your location, use the Contact Us form to request more information. Please send desired date(s), workshop type & length, location with cross-streets, and budget for event. We use a sliding scale for community events.
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