The Ritual of Braiding

Submitted by the Event Organizer

Braiding hair and telling stories–it’s a classic way to spend an evening. Spend it with us at KQED as we explore the deep cultural significance of braiding across Latine, African, and Indigenous traditions. 

We’ll gather for shared dialogue and live demos where members of the audience will be picked to have their hair braided by the talented braiders on the panel. Participants are invited to engage with these traditions in a way that is respectful, inclusive, and grounded in cultural appreciation.

Hear the powerful stories about how these braiders are using their skills to empower their communities:

Amigas Unidas: A mutual aid collective and grassroots initiative co-founded by Krystal Ramírez and Chelsea Salazar. They host community hair-braiding pop-ups—often referred to as “Braids Against Raids”—to raise direct financial relief and support for immigrant families and street vendors.

Freedom Braiders:  A vocational and therapeutic program that teaches hair braiding to incarcerated women in facilities such as the Santa Rita Jail and San Francisco County Jail.

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.