New Year's Day Yoga & Raw Brunch & Vegan Chai Spice Cake Recipe

"When you are already in Detroit, you don't have to take a bus to get there." ~ Ram Dass “In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy.” ~ William Blake Greetings Detroit and all who grace us here! Welcome to the final Evolve Detroit of 2009. We hope that your holidays have been joyous and filled with warmth. We want to thank you all for your continued support throughout this last year. It's been quite some time since I've had an opportunity to take the time and write a good old fashioned meditative Evolve Detroit. I invite you to take a moment, take a few deep breaths to shift your perspective, reconnect and take-in this edition. We're very honored to share with you. It's not too late to Take a Moment Though I've been busy working on some exciting 2010 projects and spending time with Angela & Aya, I've tried to give myself the time for reflection that the Solstice requests. As the longest night passes many of us are naturally drawn towards inner work but find it hard to ground, let alone meditate. I've often thought the uber- stressed out holiday season designed to get retail back in black, also serves to distract us from exploring the deep mysteries that this season engenders. Whether you live by a linear Gregorian system or a more cyclic Indigenous system, this season calls you to mark the passing, or turning, of time. I share this to encourage an earnest pursuit of taking the time to recognize where you've been and where you're going as the wheel of the year turns. This moment can take a number of forms, from a traditional meditative position to a well bundled up walk. No matter my technique, I find focused breathing helps me to navigate the flood of thoughts I often find upon turning inward. It takes great courage to look inside and even more courage to do so without judgment. Be kind to yourself, but be honest and, most importantly, try to keep it in perspective. At least that's what Angela and I try to keep in mind. I gladly share that we often forget and fall into patterns, but that's a part of the process. Our practice (yoga, our diet and sustainable living in general) serves to bring those patterns into our awareness, we learn to shift perspective and continue to evolve. Huge Thanks Of course, we want to thank everyone who assisted us in 2009. It was a wonderful and intense year for Angela, Aya and I and we wouldn't be here if it were not for the incredible people and communities that have taken us to heart. Thank you all for taking a moment (or many) to help us keep this dream alive! We are excited it walk into 2010 with you. We want to thank MOCAD for hosting two Detroit Evolution events in one week! The MOCAD staff were fantastic and made both the Model D Green Initiatives Talk and their Family Day a pleasure to be involved with. Our thanks to Model D for the invitation to share on an impressive panel representing some of the exciting projects underway in Detroit. This event drew an impressive crowd, especially for the holiday season. We want to thank everyone who took the time to join us. Family Day at MOCAD was a hoot. We had an opportunity to meet other Detroit families, catch up with some friends, and share two Raw Food demos. Thank you all so much! There are so many new events below that I am challenged to mention them all here. Angela recently published her menu for our New Year's Day Live Raw Yoga Music Brunch: Pomegranate Mimosas, Raw Vegan Mango Lassies, Cauliflower Samosa Hash, Daikon & Red Cabbage Slaw, Shitaki Mushroom & Broccoli Quiche with Cashew Macadamia Nut Crust, Baby Gourmet Greens with Tamari Almonds & Sesame Ginger Miso Dressing and Crispy Chocolate & Caramel Bars. We still have space for this class on Friday and would love to spend New Year's Day sharing yoga, Dixon's incredible violin, and Angela's amazing raw food with you. email or call 313.316.1411 to reserve space in this or any of our classes. Did I mention that Angela has included her Chai Spice Cake recipe below? :) We need to kick it up a notch in order for Detroit Evolution to carry on and, as you can see from the offerings below, we're rising to the challenge. We're honored to continue to share our talents with you and, with your continued support, are ready to help make 2010 a year of Health, Joy and Liberation for the people of Detroit and all beings, everywhere. Our Blessings to you and yours. We look forward to sharing with you all again soon. In Health, Joy and Liberation, Gregg for Angela, Aya Eden & Detroit Evolution Aya Eden enjoying his daily sprouts & some new Detroit Evolution design elements. We get a flat of sprouts every week from Raw Detroit Community Farms. Please email if you'd like info on purchasing locally grown sprouts!

December 29th, 2009 Evolve Detroit is published as needed by Detroit Evolution and is dedicated to Health, Joy & Liberation. Our Community Keeps Growing! Subscribers this week: 1113 Please share Evolve Detroit and encourage your friends, family and community to subscribe. Enter your email & look for a confirmation in your inbox: Follow us on twitter & facebook! For more information please contact: Detroit Evolution http://detroitevolution.com 313.316.1411 info@detroitevolution.com We are pleased to share that people interested in growing Transition Detroit have been coming together recently. If you'd like to help Transition in Detroit please join our facebook page and email Gregg. Visit TRANSITION MICHIGAN

Detroit Evolution evolvedetroit evolvedetroit the new Evolve Detroit is live & features Angela's Chai Spice Cake recipe! http://ping.fm/x4k6f about 1 hour ago reply evolvedetroit Good Morning Detroit! It's early & I'm settling into work. Get your RSVPs in for our Yoga Brunch on Friday! http://ping.fm/OCOlQ 8 hours ago reply evolvedetroit gorgeous twilight in Detroit, stunning! 18 hours ago reply evolvedetroit must... finish... Evolve... Detroit... 22 hours ago reply Join the conversation Detroit Evolution also offers Private Kitchen Classes Personal Chef Service Catering for any sized event Nutritional Counseling Private Yoga & Meditation Instruction Massage & Bodywork Sessions Sustainability Workshops Motivational Presentations Please contact info@detroitevolution.com or call 313.316.1411 for a personalized quote or our hourly rates. We actively pursue trade/bartering and will gladly offer a sliding scale for those in need. Please help us Evolve! Now that we have settled into our new home in N. Corktown we are once again expanding our offerings and events. If you have found value in our work, whether through a tasty hand-crafted lunch, a meaningful yoga class, or one of our awareness raising movie nights, please consider helping us to offset the cost of our offerings. By doing so you'll assist us to lay the foundation for the next phase of our work.		Weekly Ongoing Events: Wednesdays: Detroit Permaculture Study Group & Workshop Every Wednesday, 6-8pm - Participatory & FREE! Location: Spirit of Hope Church 1519 Martin Luther King, Detroit 48208 The Detroit Permaculture Study Group and Workshop has started again for the winter. We meet on Wednesday nights from 6-8 pm. On the 3rd Wednesday of the month we try to attend Detroit Abides Movie night. We will be reading, "The Transition Handbook: From Oil Dependency To Local Resilience" by Rob Hopkins. Thursdays: Community-Based Yoga with Gregg Newsom Beginning January 14th & then every Thursday, 6:30 - 8pm - Donation Based Location: Spirit of Hope Church 1519 Martin Luther King, Detroit 48208 Evolutionary Yoga returns to Detroit thanks to the Spirit of Hope Church and all of our dedicated students who have continued to support and encourage our efforts to share yoga in Detroit. Please park in the gated lot behind the church and enter through the back door into the basement. We will be practicing in the 3rd floor gym. Please give yourself extra time if you are new to this location. Call 313.316.1411 if you need assistance. This phone will be on until we begin class promptly at 6:30p These secrets of yoga are within the hearts of everyone. ~Yoga Rahasya III.29 Our Community-Based Yoga sessions are always dedicated to the health, joy and liberation of all beings. Special attention is paid to the act of practicing yoga in Detroit and sharing the personal change achieved in yoga with change in the community. Our classes are taught specifically for the students in attendance. Yoga is first and foremost about the breath and does not refer to our experience or physical flexibility. We strive to find common ground and practice from that point. This practice will benefit those new to yoga and seasoned veterans. Gregg Newsom has studied and practiced yoga since 1994. In 2004, he began to teach at yoga studios and medical centers across the Metro Detroit area. Though teaching many and varied styles of yoga his personal practice is Ashtanga. In 2006, Gregg traveled to Mysore, India to study with Ashtanga guru Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. His time in India enhanced his connection to the traditional practice of yoga and he strives to share this with all of his students. He's also been blessed to practice and study with Maju Jois, David Life, Sharon Gannon, Tim Miller and R. Sharath Rangaswamy. Please plan to join us for our first class at Spirit of Hope Church on Thursday, January 14th. January: To register for our NEW YEAR'S DAY Live Raw Yoga Music Brunch please email Gregg or call 313.316.1411 You can also register through Paypal (Please note the $2.50 fee per paypal transaction) New Year's Day Live Raw Yoga Music Brunch Friday, January 1st 9:30am-Noon $40 Location: The Detroit Flyhouse in Eastern Market In the FD Loft Building - 3434 Russell St. Loft #302, Detroit 48207 Share in a 75 minute Evolutionary Yoga session led by Gregg Newsom. This breath centered flowing practice will benefit those new to yoga and seasoned veterans. Our session will feature Live Music from Dixon’s Violin. Described as cosmic gypsy, electronic romanticism and interstellar whalesong, Dixon’s mesmerizing electric violin will provide the perfect accompaniment to our focused breath and movement. After our session we’ll enjoy a local and organic Raw Food Brunch prepared by Angela Newsom. Experience the benefits of Raw Foods and how they assist to balance the body and mind. Over Brunch we’ll share in a Satsang (open discussion) on the benefits of a healthy and humane diet to our practice on and off the mat. Raw Brunch Menu: Pomegranate Mimosas Raw Vegan Mango Lassies Cauliflower Samosa Hash Daikon & Red Cabbage Slaw Shitaki Mushroom & Broccoli Quiche with Cashew Macadamia Nut Crust Baby Gourmet Greens with Tamari Almonds & Sesame Ginger Miso Dressing Crispy Chocolate & Caramel Bars New Year - New (Raw) You! Wednesday January 6th, 6:30-9pm $10 Location: Irene's Myomassology Institute 26061 Franklin Road, Southfield, MI 48033 We're pleased to share that we'll be offering low-cost classes at Irene's once a month! We're very thankful and celebrate our connection to Irene's as it's where Angela and I met. ~G The new year is the perfect time to begin your transition to a raw vegan lifestyle! Angela will show you how to successfully incorporate more raw foods into your diet by sharing basic techniques and tips meant to inspire and empower. Learn how to blend, sprout and dehydrate with confidence! (Don’t fret if you don’t have all of the fancy equipment and gadgets; we always try to have a low-tech option available with each recipe.) Angela will also share her own personal journey to healing physically, mentally and emotionally through diet and how you can also learn to tune into your body and unleash its incredible healing capabilities. Our menu for the evening: Crispy Kale Chips with Spicy Tahini Marinade Curried Sprouted Mung Bean Salad with Butternut Squash & Pecans Borsht Energy Soup with Topping Bar including Raw Sour Cream This class is part of Irene's ongoing Veggie Meet-ups. To save your space in this class please RSVP through meet-up.com Special Guest Stars: Jon Bibbs, Marvwon, RoSpit, and the legendary Songstress… Ortheia Barnes!!! Date: Friday, January 8 Time: 7pm & 8:30 pm performances Venue: The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) Admission: FREE !!! The Monica Blaire Experiment Friday, January 8th 7 & 8:30pm Location: Detroit Institute of Arts From Vegetarian Selectronics: "As a part of their continuing venue for great artists, celebrate the New Year at Friday Night Live! With The Monica Blaire Experiment! "Detroit, Michigan - Dynamic singer, Monica Blaire and the Detroit Institute of Art are collaborating for an evening in celebration of the art of sound. The two will merge for the second installment of Blaire’s avante-garde project: The Monica Blaire Experiment Bridging the Gap: Adventures in Sound Vol. 2. "The DIA, an important cultural landmark in the city of Detroit, will be hosting the free event on January 8, 2010, at 7:00 PM featuring the progressive songstress, Monica Blaire. Her stage presence has always been unique and distinguished for its performance art leanings. This event, however, demarcates her conscious acknowledgement of the audience as participants and a galvanizing influence on her music. The Sound Experiment endeavors to bridge the gap between age demographics by creating a fun and highly interactive experience between Monica Blaire and her patrons." Angela and Gregg LIVE on Lateefah's Health World Live AM 1310 WDTW Wednesday January 9th, 11am-12pm TUNE IN: http://abc.eznettools.net/harmonyheath/ radio_show.html We're excited to visit Lateefah's Health World and share more on our work as Detroit Evolution and healthy living in Detroit. Corktown Community Brunch Sunday, January 17th Location: Brother Nature Produce 2913 Rosa Parks We are pleased to announce the return of our Corktown Community Brunch at the Brother Nature "Farm House." This brunch is intended to bring our community together and provide a space to share information on sustainability and building resilient neighborhoods in Detroit. Joining us for brunch is also a great way to show your support of our work, help us grow and to help lay the foundation for our work in Corktown. We've been inspired by visits to Ann Arbor for Friday Mornings @ Selma and will learn more about their very successful model in the coming weeks by volunteering with them. Please consider helping this concept grow by volunteering! In addition to folks helping with the Brunch, we're looking for assistance with Grant Writing and creating a transparent accounting system. Please call or email Gregg to learn more. Detroit Abides This Month's FREE Movie: Consuming Kids Wednesday, January 20th 7-9pm Location: Eastern Market's Heated Shed 5 Shed 5 is located at the corner of Russell & Alfred This month we are pleased to partner with Detroit Waldorf School to screen this powerful film. It was great to see everyone laugh and learn about the "Shopacalpse" in November. This time around we'll take a more detailed and sobering look at the marketing of mass-consumption to children. Please note that though the shed is heated, it is a large open space and quite drafty. Dressing warm, bringing a blanket and, as always, a few friends is advised. ~G Note: We are actively seeking volunteers to help us keep Detroit Abides up and running. Please call or email Gregg to learn more. Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit, Detroit Evolution, and Eastern Market Corporation come together on the third Wednesday of every month to present Detroit Abides, A Free Sustainability Gathering in Eastern Market's Shed 5. The event features a movie on a sustainable topic, explores the topic at the local level through discussion and support from regional groups and businesses, and creates a space to meet like-minded people from all walks of life & grow an active, healthy community. Raw Fundamentals Sunday, January 23rd, 12:30-3:30pm - $25 Location: The Detroit Flyhouse in Eastern Market In the FD Loft Building - 3434 Russell St. Loft #302, Detroit 48207 Let loving yourself be your new years resolution this year. A part of this is eating more raw foods. Angela will show you how to successfully incorporate more raw foods into your diet by sharing basic techniques and tips meant to inspire and empower. Learn how to blend, sprout and dehydrate with confidence! Our Menu: Super Immune Boosting Green Smoothies Crispy Kale Chips with Spicy Tahini Marinade Curried Sprouted Mung Bean Salad with Butternut Squash & Pecans Borsht Energy Soup with Topping Bar including Raw Sour Cream Crispy Pumpkin Falafel Cakes with Spiced Creamy Cashew Sauce Angela's classes are about much more than just food preparation - meet like minded people, share great food, information and resources! To register please send an email or call 313.316.1411 and leave a voicemail. Angela is also available for private classes and classes geared towards specific dietary concerns. The Future of Food Wednesday January 29th, 6:30-9pm - FREE Location: Detroit Waldorf School I'm pleased to be a part of the post-screening panel. We're honored to share with the Detroit Waldorf community. ~Gregg The Future of Food, a groundbreaking documentary released in 2004, distills the complex technology and key regulatory, legal, ethical, environmental and consumer issues surrounding the troubling changes happening in the food system today—genetically engineered foods, patenting, and the corporatization of food—into terms the average person can easily understand. It empowers consumers to understand the consequences of their food choices on our future. The film screening is a free event, open to the public, for ages 18 and over. Light refreshments will be served before the film and a panel will speak after the film. To reserve seats RSVP to: 313-822-0300 Detroit Waldorf School Outreach Director Melanie Reiser at: www.detroitwaldorf.org SAVE THE DATE: Winter Restoration Workshop January 30th, 12:30-3:30p - $25 Location: The Detroit Flyhouse in Eastern Market In the FD Loft Building - 3434 Russell St. Loft #302, Detroit 48207 (check back for a full class description) A Sacred Sexuality Workshop with our friend Leslie Blackburn of OneSpace January 31st (check back for more details) Location: The Detroit Flyhouse in Eastern Market In the FD Loft Building - 3434 Russell St. Loft #302, Detroit 48207

Angela is honored to share her recipes. We'd appreciate your feedback and healthy success stories. For more information or to learn about our Healthy Catering please email angela@detroitevolution.com Chai Spice Cake with Vegan Butter-cream Frosting – makes one double layer 9 inch cake This chai spice cake is our most popular holiday dessert! It looks beautiful and is absolutely delicious! This one is a promised hit at any gathering. Get creative and design your own special cake, but I really love adding shredded coconut flakes and whole pecans to the top of mine. You could even try adding nuts, carrot or dried fruit into the batter of the cake too! photo by Ed Knight silentgiants.com 2 c. hemp, almond or oat milk 3 Chai spice tea bags (I like yogi tea brand or yerba mate) 1½ c. raw cane sugar 1 c. vanilla coconut milk yogurt ½ c. grapeseed or sunflower oil 2 tsp. vanilla 22/3 c. whole wheat or spelt pastry flour 2½ tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. sea salt Preheat oven to 350˚ In a small saucepan, heat the hemp milk until almost boiling; add tea bags, cover and remove from heat. Let the tea mixture steep for 10 minutes. When you are ready to use, remove the tea bags, squeezing out remaining liquid. In a blender or large bowl whisk together oil, yogurt, sugar, vanilla and tea mixture until smooth. In a separate bowl add the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk to combine, activating the baking powder and soda. Add the dry mixture to the wet and mix well. Cut rounds to fit into the bottom of two 9-inch cake pans out of parchment paper. Put a drop of oil in the bottom of both pans and use a towel to spread the oil around the bottom and sides. Place the parchment rounds inside the pans. Pour the batter evenly between both pans. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean. Remove from oven, slide a knife around the edges of cakes and set aside to cool completely. Remove each cake from its pan, wrap in plastic wrap and freeze until you are ready to assemble and frost your cake. Vegan butter-cream frosting: 1 c. vegan butter, softened (2 sticks) ½ c. hemp milk 6 c. powdered sugar 2 tsp. vanilla In a large bowl with a hand blender cream the butter. Slowly add the powdered sugar and milk. Add the vanilla. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to thicken a little before use. Chai Spice Cake with Vegan Butter-cream Frosting Recipe by Detroit Evolution is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License

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US Social Forum Detroit, June 22-26, 2010 The US Social Forum is a movement building process. It is not a conference but it is a space to come up with the peoples’ solutions to the economic and ecological crisis. The USSF is the next most important step in our struggle to build a powerful multi-racial, multi-sectoral, inter-generational, diverse, inclusive, internationalist movement that transforms this country, and changes history. We must declare what we want our world to look like and we must start planning the path to get there. The USSF provides spaces to learn from each other’s experiences and struggles, share our analysis of the problems our communities face, build relationships, and align with our international brothers and sisters to strategize how to reclaim our world. The purpose of the USSF is to effectively and affirmatively articulate the values and strategies of a growing and vibrant movement for justice in the United States. Those who build towards and participate in the USSF are no longer interested in simply stating what social justice movements “stand-against,” rather we see ourselves as part of new movements that reach beyond national borders, that practice democracy at all levels, and understand that neo-liberalism abroad and here in the US is not the solution. The USSF provides a first major step towards such articulation of what we stand for.

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