About Meghna

Dr. Meghna Bhat (she/her) is an award‑winning creative disruptor, storyteller, culture change consultant, and interdisciplinary feminist educator based in California. As a first‑generation South Asian immigrant, she is dedicated to building safe, healthy, and thriving communities through arts, culture, and collective care. Her lived experiences with gender violence, immigrant hustles, and mental and chronic health challenges inform her healing‑centered storytelling practice, which emphasizes dignity, agency, and cultural nuance.

Classes

The current class descriptions below are to give scholarship applicants an idea of what topics each instructor will be covering. These are NOT finalized descriptions, they are to give prospective scholarship applicants a sense of what will be available. Finalized descriptions, schedules, and links are forthcoming.

Please remember to check back frequently for more detailed updates on class dates, times, or registration links. If you have questions about a particular class, please contact the instructor directly.

Mapping Your Story: Building an Authentic Artist Brand (VIRTUAL)

Artists often know what they create, but not always how to talk about why they create it. This interactive course uses story mapping and identity mapping to help artists clarify the experiences, values, and cultural influences that shape their creative voice. Through trauma‑informed and culturally responsive facilitation, participating artists will explore the personal, community‑rooted, and social‑justice‑driven narratives that inform their work — and learn how to translate those insights into clear, compelling public communication.

Using guided prompts and reflective exercises, participants will practice ways to transform their maps into practical communication tools (i.e., stronger bios, artist statements, project descriptions, and messaging for websites, social media, and grant applications). Grounded in emotional safety, anti‑oppressive language, and clarity — supporting artists who work with sensitive or identity‑based themes to speak about their work with nuance and confidence. Students are highly encouraged to engage with peers, participate in creative mapping, and be fully present throughout the session.

Primary takeaways: 

• Draft a working story map to outline their creative journey. 
• Build a narrative framework for use across public‑facing platforms. 
• Use identity‑mapping to shape deliverables and strengthen artistic identity.

Format and frequency:

• A two‑session course via Zoom, each session lasting 2 hours, total 4 hours of instruction 
• The 2-session (parts) course will be offered in: February 2027, April 2027, and June 2027

REGISTRATION COMING SOON

Please contact the instructor if you have any questions.

Mapping Your Story: Building an Authentic Artist Brand (IN-PERSON)

Artists often know what they create, but not always how to talk about why they create it. This interactive course uses story mapping and identity mapping to help artists clarify the experiences, values, and cultural influences that shape their creative voice. Through trauma‑informed and culturally responsive facilitation, participating artists will explore the personal, community‑rooted, and social‑justice‑driven narratives that inform their work — and learn how to translate those insights into clear, compelling public communication.

Using guided prompts and reflective exercises, participants will practice ways to transform their maps into practical communication tools (i.e., stronger bios, artist statements, project descriptions, and messaging for websites, social media, and grant applications). Grounded in emotional safety, anti‑oppressive language, and clarity — supporting artists who work with sensitive or identity‑based themes to speak about their work with nuance and confidence. Students are highly encouraged to engage with peers, participate in creative mapping, and be fully present throughout the session.

Primary takeaways:

• Draft a working story map to outline their creative journey. 
• Build a narrative framework for use across public‑facing platforms. 
• Use identity‑mapping to shape deliverables and strengthen artistic identity.

Format and frequency:

• Two sessions per course, in‑person [TBD Sacramento region] *Format may change to virtual if venue availability changes. 
• Each session lasts 2 hours, total 4 hours of instruction. 
• The course will tentatively be offered in May 2027 and August 2027.

REGISTRATION OPENING SOON

Please contact the instructor if you have questions.

Healing‑Centered Creative Practice for Social Justice Artists (VIRTUAL)

This interactive course supports social justice–oriented artists in developing a sustainable, values‑based creative practice aligned with Entrepreneurship & Business Skills and Career Planning. Through trauma‑informed and culturally responsive facilitation, participants explore how their lived experiences, cultural identities, and community histories shape their artistic purpose and long‑term career direction.

Artists engage in values‑mapping and guided reflection to clarify the social issues and commitments that inform their work. The session emphasizes internal grounding, emotional safety, and resilience — helping artists strengthen purpose and alignment in their creative lives. As part of their entrepreneurial development, participants learn values‑based strategies for identifying organizations and creative spaces that genuinely practice DEI, accountability, and courageous dialogue, rather than simply signaling inclusion. Students are highly encouraged to engage with peers, participate in creative mapping, and be fully present throughout the session.

Primary takeaways:

• Create a creative care plan to support a sustainable, healing‑centered practice. 
• Clarify values and commitments that guide their socially conscious creative career. 
• Ground artistic identity in authenticity and purpose using a values‑driven narrative framework.

Format and frequency:

• A two‑session course via Zoom, with each session lasting 1.5 hours,  total 3 hours of instruction. 
• The 2-session (parts) course will be offered in: February 2027, April 2027, and June 2027

REGISTRATION OPENING SOON.

Please contact the instructor if you have any questions.