By: Johanna Abasto, International House Davis
At a time when anxiety, uncertainty, and social divides continue to shape everyday life, International House Davis invites the community to step into a different kind of experience—one centered on connection, creativity, and care. On Wednesday, May 6 from 6:30—8:45p, I-House will host Hope Café, an interactive, art-infused gathering designed to bring people together through music, storytelling, and shared experience.
Hope Café is created and led by jesikah maria ross, I-House’s inaugural Community Engagement Artist in Residence. Over 5 months, ross will bring three Hope Café events to life while working with I-House staff to weave community engagement more deeply into I-House programming. The May 6th event is the first in the 2026 series, creating space for people to connect face-to-face, feel seen and heard, and rediscover a sense of belonging.
Originally piloted in 2025, Hope Café received an overwhelmingly positive response from participants and the broader community. One participant reflected, “I’ve lived in Davis for five years and never felt so connected to the community.”
What to Expect at Hope Café:
The evening is designed to foster authentic human connection, featuring welcoming activities, structured conversations that bring people together in meaningful ways, live music and poetry from local artists, and collaborative artmaking such as poetry, drawing, or murals, all culminating in a shared collective moment of reflection or song.
May’s Hope Café features world jazz duo Nick Carvajal and Jim Frink.
Upcoming events:
Thursday, August 20 from 6:30—9p
Friday, September 25 from 6:30—9p
Tickets and Access:
Hope Café is open to community members ages 14 and older. Tickets are offered on a sliding scale from $10—20. Free tickets are available upon request by contacting office@internationalhousedavis.org.
This program is made possible thanks to the support of the City of Davis Arts & Cultural Affairs Program. Article sponsored by International House Davis.
About jesikah maria ross
jesikah maria ross is an interdisciplinary artist who uses storytelling and participatory media making to catalyze community change. Known for her deep listening and creative facilitation, she designs collaborative processes that mobilize people around shared values and visions. With a career spanning nonprofits, public media, and educational institutions, jesikah has led award-winning projects that reshape how communities collect, tell, and share their own stories.
About International House Davis
International House Davis (I-House) is an international culture center dedicated to nurturing the exchange of arts, culture, and ideas to build a culturally vibrant, globally connected, and inclusive community. People from all over the world come together in our beloved gathering space to celebrate our common humanity, share cultural practices and traditions, engage with our differences, cultivate joy, combat isolation, and foster civic dialogue. At I-House, we believe that culture, community, and fellowship are the lifeblood of a healthy and vibrant city, region, and society.
