Kensington Library is pleased to welcome Farida Ruhul of the Bangladeshi Ladies Club and writer Roohi Choudhry for a special craft and writing workshop: Stitching Community: Telling Stories through Embroidery and Writing.
In this workshop, participants will learn traditional kantha running stitch embroidery. Together, we will weave stories about home and belonging with our neighbors. Embroidery instructor Farida Ruhul and writer Roohi Choudhry will guide us through the first half of the session stitching and chatting together. Afterwards, we will write and share stories. This is a bilingual program open to Bangla and English speakers.
Craft and writing supplies will be provided. All experience levels welcome. Please RSVP in advance!
PARTICIPANTS
Roohi Choudhry is a writer, teaching artist, and researcher. Born in Pakistan and raised in southern Africa, she now calls Kensington home. She holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Michigan, was awarded a New York Foundation for the Arts fellowship and facilitates writing workshops for community organizations. Her debut novel, Outside Women, (University Press of Kentucky, 2025) is set in South Africa, Pakistan and New York City across the span of a century and was described as “riveting… an incisive story of how change happens” by Publishers’ Weekly.
Farida Ruhul has been a dedicated Teacher Assistant at New York City Public Schools since 2012, where she plays a vital role in supporting students’ educational growth. In addition to her work in education, she serves as the Treasurer for the Bangladeshi Ladies Club, contributing to the empowerment and development of her community. Originally from Bangladesh, Farida is passionate about fostering cultural exchange and building connections between Bangladeshi and American traditions. She has led workshops on Nakshi Kantha at institutions such as the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Pratt Institute, in collaboration with the Bangladeshi Ladies Club, where she shared the rich cultural history and artistic traditions of this iconic Bengali craft. She is also an accomplished artist with a deep love for sewing, including embroidery, knitting, crocheting, and various arts and crafts, for which she has received numerous awards. Through her work and creative talents, she continues to inspire and uplift those around her.
This event is supported in part by public funds from New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council and a grant from Brooklyn Org.
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06/09/2026 05:30 pm06/09/2026 07:30 pmAmerica/New_YorkStitching Community: Telling Stories through Embroidery and Writing with Farida Ruhul and Roohi Choudhry <p><strong>Kensington Library is pleased to welcome Farida Ruhul of the Bangladeshi Ladies Club and writer Roohi Choudhry for a special craft and writing workshop: </strong><em><strong>Stitching Community: Telling Stories through Embroidery and Writing</strong></em><strong>. </strong></p><p>In this workshop, participants will learn traditional kantha running stitch embroidery. Together, we will weave stories about home and belonging with our neighbors. Embroidery instructor Farida Ruhul and writer Roohi Choudhry will guide us through the first half of the session stitching and chatting together. Afterwards, we will write and share stories. This is a bilingual program open to Bangla and English speakers. </p><p><strong>Craft and writing supplies will be provided. All experience levels welcome. Please RSVP in advance! </strong></p><hr><p><strong>PARTICIPANTS</strong></p><div><div><strong>Roohi Choudhry</strong> is a writer, teaching artist, and researcher. Born in Pakistan and raised in southern Africa, she now calls Kensington home. She holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Michigan, was awarded a New York Foundation for the Arts…Brooklyn Public Library - Kensington LibraryMM/DD/YYYY60
