We Are All The River:
An Afternoon of Community Storytelling
Sunday, November 23, 2025 | 12:00 pm-3:00 pm
River Center | 11605 Old Friant Road, Fresno, CA 93730
Come together for an afternoon of poetry, guided workshops, and community sharing alongside the San Joaquin River. Share your stories of connection to the river and hear special readings from current and former Fresno Poets Laureate Aideed Medina and Joseph Rios. Please bring a picnic lunch, writing materials, and your stories!
This FREE event is brought to you by the California State Parks Watershed Program in collaboration with the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust, with support from the Fresno Arts Council. For more information, contact: [email protected] or [email protected]
All ages welcome. No registration is required. Please review the event schedule below. You can make a selection for the guided workshop you’d like to participate on the day of the event.
Event Schedule
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12:00 pm-12:30 pm
Check in and Welcome
Bring your own picnic lunch to enjoy on the grounds of the River Center.
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12:30 pm-2:00 pm
Guided Workshops
Reflect on your personal connection to the San Joaquin River through poetry, nature journaling, or explore the local flora and fauna on a naturalist-led walk.
(Please come prepared with your own notebook or other creative materials appropriate for the activity of your choice.)
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2:00 pm-3:00 pm
River Reflections & Reading by Poets Laureate
Hear from community partners — including California State Parks, the Fresno Arts Council, and the San Joaquin River Parkway — and enjoy special readings by the current and former Fresno Poets Laureate Aideed Medina and Joseph Rios.
Guided Workshop Descriptions
● Poetry Workshop: Share your stories of the San Joaquin through poetry. No experience needed! Bring a notepad/pen. If it’s not comfortable for you to sit on the ground outdoors, you may wish to bring a lightweight folding stool or chair that’s easy for you to carry.
● Nature Journal Workshop: Find a “sit-spot” and capture observations of the river habitat through words and images. Bring your own journal or sketchbook and pens/pencils.If it’s not comfortable for you to sit on the ground outdoors, you may wish to bring a lightweight folding stool or chair that’s easy for you to carry.
● Nature Walk: Join a naturalist for a guided exploration of local plants and animals that live near the river, and learn something new about your watershed. No materials required, but you may wish to bring binoculars and comfortable walking shoes.
