Wild Side Media invites you to choose your own adventure at our curated micro-workshop stations featuring community building, creative mindfulness and networking exercises led by D.C. area entrepreneurs, creators and curators.
This diverse group of local leaders directly supports female, queer and other underrepresented communities in the District through their professional and creative pursuits, and they’ve each crafted a hands-on experience for our attendees that’s authentic to their practice and reflective of their area of interest/expertise.
Our workshop series will be held in La Cosecha’s:
- Balcón, the second-floor gallery event space;
- Galería, the first-floor, open-format kitchen; and
- Estudio, a unique, full-service media lab by the main entrance.
The full ticket price of $5 supports SHE:DC, an initiative powered by Shop Made in DC to illuminate women and nonbinary artists, makers, and creative entrepreneurs.
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Event Host + Curator: Monica Alford
Monica is the CEO and founder of Wild Side Media, a D.C.-based media outlet championing D.C.’s creative community. She curates and programs intentional events around the District, with a focus on creating safe and inclusive spaces that spark joy and foster collaboration. Monica and the Wild Side Media team will help attendees choose their workshop adventure for the evening and be available for creative brainstorms and collaborative conversations.
Experience Engineer: Jen Pape
As the experience engineer for our workshop series, Jen worked closely with Monica to curate a cohesive evening of intentional experiences for our attendees. They will lead one of our micro-workshops.
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WORKSHOPS
Fractals at Play: A Little Art Game Pondering Consciousness
Dive into the spectrum of conscious expression with a fun little art game! Take a fragment of your own imagination and welcome a whole new character utilizing Jen Pape‘s “Favorite Form” (lovingly known as the Jen Pape Shape) as the jumping-off point. While you make your mark, we’ll chit-chat about little things like how we choose to identify in relation to the wholeness of humanity and how we creatively empower ourselves in the process alongside big things like, “What color should this little guy’s hair be?”
Workshop host Jen Pape is a D.C.-based artist focused on how to bring abstract concepts into mental, emotional and physical manifestation.
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Exchange + Elevate
We all have unique skills, resources and knowledge to share, yet opportunities to connect on what we can offer — and what we need — are rare.
Adriana Mendoza and Cee Smith will facilitate an interactive networking activity designed to uncover hidden talents, foster mutual support and build meaningful connections within our community.
This is your chance to offer what you have and ask for what you need — whether it’s a skill, advice, resources or collaboration. You never know who in the room might have exactly what you’re looking for!
Why participate? Expand your network in a way that’s meaningful and reciprocal. Discover unexpected opportunities by sharing what you already have. Ask for help in a space designed to encourage openness and support. Build a culture of resource sharing that can continue beyond this event.
Workshop co-hosts and D.C. entrepreneurs Adriana Mendoza and Cee Smith are the co-owners of Femme Fatale DC, with years of combined experience supporting women and queer artists and makers, helping to bolster the creative, economical ecosystem within our community.
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Mindful Journaling
Each group will receive a group reading, which will be the theme of each journaling session. We will intentionally explore the art of the law of attraction by crafting vision journals with prompts that help us dive deeper into the root of our desires. Each group will have an opportunity to network and share their unique perspective through icebreakers, leaving with a restored passion toward their goals.
Workshop host Ash Espíritu Libre is a psychic clairvoyant who uses divination and spiritual methods of healing to serve our community.
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Group Tarot
If you have cool projects that you would love to grow but have a hard time striking up a conversation at networking events, come join a tarot icebreaking session! In a small group, each participant will receive a quick tarot reading designed to offer guidance on your upcoming projects. You will get a chance to connect with others in the group by sharing more about your work, and walk away ready to dive deeper into those conversations.
Workshop host Skye Marinda is an innovative entrepreneur and event curator creating a fun, witchy and empowered life guided by tarot reading in D.C.
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Dream It, Scheme It, Do It: From Idea to Action, One Step at a Time
In this workshop, Katie Partlow will share insights on how to pitch, plan and perfect your next production, offering practical advice and answering questions for aspiring event producers and artists. Whether you’re dreaming up your first event or looking to level up your next one, this is a chance to learn from someone who’s been in the trenches and knows what it takes to bring ideas to life.
Workshop host Katie Partlow is a seasoned event producer known for curating unforgettable experiences in D.C., from vibrant dance parties to unique community gatherings.
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LIVE PODCAST STUDIO INTERVIEWS
Studio|Couture and Plus Ultra Entertainment will conduct live, on-camera interviews in La Cosecha’s full-service media lab, Estudio. Stop by to share your creative endeavors and what you’re manifesting in 2025. Catch the interviews live on Plus Ultra Entertainment’s Twitch channel.
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GROOVE AS YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF DJ SET
DJ M$NP‘s set will create an inclusive environment encouraging everyone to dance and groove as their authentic selves. M$NP is a D.C.-based DJ, creative and entrepreneur who spent her childhood exploring different communities around the world and now, her eclectic musical taste is a reflection of her life’s experiences.