The Braid

Meet writer Mariposa (Kimberly) Dueñas! ✍🏼🦋

Mariposa is a California-born community leader, storyteller, and social impact builder whose work lives at the intersection of ancestral wisdom and regenerative futures. A graduate of American Jewish University and valedictorian of her class, she is a Pomegranate Prize recipient, Schusterman ROI community member, and founding member and director of learning at Jewtina y Co., where she’s built transformative programming at the intersection of Latin and Jewish identity. 

In recent years, Mariposa returned to El Salvador alongside her father, Solomon—who founded and ran a beloved bakery in Orange County—in pursuit of return, rerooting, and a mission to support local farming families and communities. From that homecoming, “Yugo Colectivo” was born — a father-daughter initiative and collective of local farmers growing ancestral foods and plants, including cacao, coffee, and corn. 🌽 🌱 🍃

Today, living between California and El Salvador, she leads wellness retreats to weave together ancestral storytelling, agriculture, and healing. 

We’re honored to share Mariposa and her father Solomon’s story “A Journey of Return” performed by Zoë Hall and Marcelo Tubert in our current Salon show “L’Chaim America!” - a celebration of our nation’s 250th birthday. 🎉

Through poignant and humorous contemporary stories, the show illuminates the richness and diversity of Jewish experience, and the America we hold in our hearts. 🫶

At a time when the world feels intent on dividing us, this show offers a meaningful respite from the rhetoric. We look forward to seeing you there!  For the full schedule and tickets 🎟️ visit the-braid.org/calendar

For the full schedule and tickets, visit https://the-braid.org/calendar/

Meet writer Emily Bowen Cohen! ✍🏼

Emily is a Los Angeles-based artist, who creates comics that explore intersectional identity. She is Jewish and a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, and uses personal experience to tell stories that examine contemporary American and Jewish culture.  

A graduate of Harvard University, Emily grew up in rural Oklahoma and spent her teenage years in suburban New Jersey. Emily’s graphic novel, “Two Tribes” is published by Heartdrum, HarperCollins’ Native-focused imprint. 

The Braid is honored and excited to present Emily’s story “Rooted Here” performed by Zoë Hall and Kimberly Green in our current Salon show “L’Chaim America!” - a celebration of our nation’s 250th birthday. 🎉

Through poignant and humorous contemporary stories, the show illuminates the richness and diversity of Jewish experience, and the America we hold in our hearts.

At a time when the world feels intent on dividing us, this show offers a meaningful respite from the rhetoric. We look forward to seeing you there!  🎭 For the full schedule and tickets, visit https://the-braid.org/calendar/  🎟️

Meet Writer David Chiu! ✍🏼

David Chiu is not only a writer, but also a full-time staff member at The Braid, where he serves as Communications and Marketing Manager. A proud Jew of Color of Litvak and Cantonese heritage, David’s journey with The Braid began as a writer for our landmark show “True Colors.” An alumnus of The Braid’s NEXT Emerging Artists Fellowship, he has written for numerous Salon Theatre productions and has also served as a literary curator/adaptor, director, and dramaturg on a wide range of Braid projects.

David also produced The Braid’s acclaimed Salon Theatre show “What Do I Do with All This Heritage?” — the first-ever theatre production centered on Asian Jewish stories — as well as The Braid’s digital content studio, StoryNosh, including its “Tastes of Tradition” series. He currently produces The Braid’s Candlelight Storytelling series for young professionals.✨

Beyond The Braid, David serves as Vice President of Social Justice at Temple Isaiah of Los Angeles and was honored with its 2019 Emerging Leader Award. He is also a board member of California Interfaith Power & Light and an LA Community Leader for The LUNAR Collective.   .jews

We are thrilled to bring David’s story -, “The Greatest Blessing” - to The Braid stage as part of “L’Chaim America!” — a celebration of our nation’s 250th birthday. Through poignant and humorous contemporary stories, the show illuminates the richness and diversity of Jewish experience — and the America we hold in our hearts.

At a time when the world feels intent on dividing us, this show offers a meaningful respite from the rhetoric. We look forward to seeing you there!

For the full schedule and tickets, visit https://the-braid.org/calendar/ 🎟️

Meet Actor Kimberly Green!  🎭

Kimberly is a Korean/Puerto Rican actress and dancer born in Seoul, Korea. A longtime member of The Braid, Kimberly is The Braid’s “Abby Freeman Artist-in-Residence” and has appeared in over ten productions, including “True Colors” and “What Do I Do With All This Heritage?”

Her stage work includes roles at the Group Repertory Theatre, Road Theatre, Odyssey Theatre, Smart Phone Theatre, and Red Door Jukebox. Her screen credits include The Company You Keep (ABC), Lucifer (Fox), The Young and the Restless (CBS), The Hot Chick, and the award-winning indie Alone Time, as well as national campaigns for Dunkin’ Donuts and Target. 

Kimberly will be performing in several pieces in our upcoming Salon Show, “L’Chaim America!” - a celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday. Through true contemporary stories, this show illuminates the richness and diversity of the America we know in our hearts.  

When the world is trying to divide us, this poignant and humorous show gives us a respite from the rhetoric—join us!

For the full schedule, and tickets, visit https://the-braid.org/calendar/