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About the Artist

Oakland’s CWC Writer in Residence at Joaquin Miller Park, Kristen (Baumgardner) Caven educates, entertains, and inspires her audiences with an extraordinary array of books, presentations, performances, and events. The author of seven books, several plays, and an award winning cartoon collection, she applies positive psychology to her work strengthening communities through uplifting artistic expressions.

Here are her books. Here’s more about Kristen.

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Mary Ida

October 21, 2014 Kristen

Mary Ida

playful leadership

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Calendar

Dancetera!

11:00am Tuesdays at the Veteran's Building

Joaquin Miller Reconsidered: A Closer Look at Oakland’s OG Poet

April 24, 2025 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
https://tinyurl.com/ogpoet25

Benefit presentation for the California Writers Club Writer-in-Residence Program at Joaquin Miller Park

See more details

The Winning Family AWESOME AUDIOBOOK Virtual Launch Party!

May 11, 2025 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85072428189?pwd=kuSaytcdy0pGVq9pWOlcXn7c0LhDfL.1

Meeting ID: 850 7242 8189
Passcode: win-win

See more details

"Dinner Table Democracy" - the Politics of Parenting with special guest Steve Zolno

May 25, 2025 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

A conversation with Steve Zolno, author of The Future of Democracy and the Death of Democracy.

See more details

Subscribe to the Park Blog!

As Writer in Residence at Joaquin Miller Park, I head for the hills one day a week to walk, think, and write a blog. I'd love to get your comments!

Sunset Trail: Thistle Warrior
02-05-2025
Live on Notion: Miller Light!
11-19-2024
Melrose Library: Reconsidering Joaquin Miller
10-21-2024
Longing (To Be There)
10-20-2024
California Writers Circle: A Community Kitchen
05-08-2024

SUBSCRIBE to get "Walkin' with Joaquin" as a weekly email!

My Books:

kristen.cavens.imagination

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Let's elect us some Barbara Lee-dership! Here's

Let's elect us some Barbara Lee-dership!

Here's my take on the @oakland candidates. Thank you @theoaklandside et al!

#oaklandmayor
#specialelection

Happy International Women's Day! Spent the day wit

Happy International Women's Day! Spent the day with two treasures: the Honorable Barbara Lee, who I hope Oakland will be wise enough to elect as our next mayor, and the late great Trina Robbins—check out my prized library of her women's herstory titles! Read the fine print of the "Spirit of USA" cartoon, a precursor to Wonder Woman. Those times are back, more later on both of these!

#womencartoonists
#womensherstorymonth
#makingherstory
#wonderwomen
#trinarobbins
#barbaraleeforoakland

Finally getting to the February stack round-up! It

Finally getting to the February stack round-up! It was a month of celebration and consternation. Posting less this month and planning more. The muses have much in store for me (and you!) this year but first? We need to get our country back! But how? The way we do everything: working on it a little or a lot every day!

substack.com/kristencaven

What's great about https://5calls.org/ is they giv

What's great about https://5calls.org/ is they give you a menu of issues to call about and you can pick the ones that are making your head explode.
😵‍💫🤯😡🤬👹
#takeactionnow
#dailyactionplan
#dontbesilent
#savetheeverything

Wannabe revelers! 🥂 Join me in prosecco toas

Wannabe revelers!

🥂

Join me in prosecco toasts to friendship, and all that's good and beautiful,

ON

A LITERARY CRUISE
With Oakland's first Gondoliera!

2 to 3pm Saturday
February 15, 2025

FEATURING

...poetry about Venice and gondolas from Browning and Shelley, etc…. even (yes, really!) our own Joaquin Miller!

PLUS

...readings from my own daring adventure memoir:

TEN DAYS, TEN POUNDS
(Pasta & Prosecco, Caravaggio & Carnevale, Jewels & Justice, Brain Surgery & Butterflies):
What I Gained by Losing It In Italy
and
How I Became a Volcano Goddess!

🌋

(Currently seeking literary representation!)

🎭

Wear your Carnevale beads, masks, wigs or hats...bress warm! It will be beautiful but brisk!

*$liding scale donations*

*Space is limited!*

*Contact me to book!*

📖

#gondolaride
#gondoliera
#oaklandlove
#valentines
#literaryevents#carnevaledreams
#cheaperthanairfaretovenice
#boatlit
#messingaboutinboats
#romanticpoetry💞

What a month that was. January post round-up on Ge

What a month that was. January post round-up on Generous Muse; stop by and say <3!

#itgirl
#cliothemuse
#audiobook
#goals
#newcar
#itselectric
#waronamerica

Vroom...@doncaven in Daytona reports that these ra

Vroom...@doncaven in Daytona reports that these racecars are running on ethanol (vegan 😅) gas and some are hybrids and next year hydrogen!!

#somegoodnews
#racecarsgozoom
#endfossilfuels

My first post of the year includes an entire class

My first post of the year includes an entire classic movie you can watch!

Catch up on what you missed at https://kristencaven.substack.com/. The Museletter is a place of somewhat conststent beauty, delight, consideration, love, and humor. I could use more ❤️s in 2025 if your thumbs are up for it.

Ha ha...the episode of Friends where Phoebe's "Sme

Ha ha...the episode of Friends where Phoebe's "Smelly Cat" video comes out...now we know that Fluffy had a big Hollywood career before retiring to our back yard! 😅

#Friends
#Phoebe
#Smellycat
#Nebelung

Fun pilgrimage to the @deyoungmuseum today to wors

Fun pilgrimage to the @deyoungmuseum today to worship the talent and influence of Tamara de Lempicka. Fellow Art Deco fans creating their own artistic presence was half the fun! I was wowed by the depths of her less iconic works. And how goosebumpy that she painted Susan Sarandon before she was even born!!

#tamaradelempicka
#artdecosocietyofcalifornia
#susansarandon

My favorite color is when you mix cranberry sauce

My favorite color is when you mix cranberry sauce and yams together. There's no name for it, when orange and red come together like that, but a search for "peach sunset" brought up a lot of yummy colors and memories that approach the sweet and savory and tart flavor.

Substack round-up from the past few emotional roll

Substack round-up from the past few emotional rollercoaster weeks.

#dayofthechild
#monsterinchief
#millerlight
#100yearsago
#generousmuse

So much fun to lady up today at the annual tiara b

So much fun to lady up today at the annual tiara brunch and swear in the new Miss Art Deco, Emma, who's just the loveliest thing! (And aren't we all?!) I became an accidental beauty queen when The Art Deco Society chose me (moi?) way back in the 20th century. There are now nearly 30 Decobelle delegates to this not-so-secret sisterhood of dazzling dames and glammy hams with secret superpowers....and a shared sash!

What do Whitman, Hawthorne, Longfellow, Heine, Bro

What do Whitman, Hawthorne, Longfellow, Heine, Browning, Wilde, Noguchi, Lillie Langtry, Kinputash, Gertrude Boyle, and so many others that don't fit in one Insta post have in common?

They're all @fojmp - Friends of Joaquin MIller.

Come learn more about Oakland's OG poet & environmentalist tonight at the @oaklibrary Fall Lecture Series!

6-7pm at the Melrose Branch
4805 Foothill Boulevard
Oakland CA 94601

Burritos afterwards at @elpaisaoakland

with @cwcberkeley

@all4millsnow @themillsinstitute @millsquarterly @

@all4millsnow @themillsinstitute @millsquarterly @_savemills @millscollegemagic @womensmarch @lwvoakland

I made a meme. Biting nails. Making calls.

I made a meme. Biting nails. Making calls.

Can you even tell the difference? My paper beard (

Can you even tell the difference? My paper beard (inspired by childhood me) is made of poetry. 😂

Fun Halloween costume in anticipation of my talk on Joaquin Miller on 11/13 at Melrose (Branch) Library about #joaquinmiller—an endless source of amusement—and discovery.

Happy Halloween!

Instagram post 17997240488701728

Instagram post 17997240488701728

When you meet an amazing candidate the day after y

When you meet an amazing candidate the day after you vote! 😭 But I can introduce YOU to @sasha4oakland, who got up and danced a Chileno at the school's multicultural festival. (Yes I also taught the polka lol! She helped me realize I too am a culture keeper ❤️)

Sasha's culture is fascinating. She's from a region in Mexico where escaped African slaves settled. There's little written history but it's all in the dance! You've seen the Spanish flamenco stomp but have you ever seen West African moves to Mexican music? Awesome! Sasha grew up DACA in Oakland and the minute she naturalized she ran for office. Keep your eye on this one! She might be on your ballot!

#costachica
#localpolitics
#dayofthedead
#chilena
#newleaders
#oaklandvotes
#oaklandvoterguide

@flabulous.vitality

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