Fika is Swedish for coffee break with something sweet to eat with a friend, or a group of friends. At The Foremothers Café we have a nice fika every Thursday. Once you log into ENGAGE you will find "Fika at The Foremothers Cafe" listed on the Events Board in the ENGAGE lobby. There is no password. When it's live you can go right in.
A conversation about Bees with Bernard Fransois
May 19 at 4 pm ET
A talk with conversation with Helen on the Swedish folklore of Rå, the mythological character from Lure of Water and Wood, organized by the British Folklore organization, FolkloreThursday.
On Spatial, register here
May 12: Two Sessions 2 pm ET and 8 pm ET.
Come celebrate four years with us. Special guests and reveals of what's to come.
Pick whichever time zone fits you best, or come to both.
On ENGAGE
A Women's History Month Special with Wiam Abdulghani, human rights advocate
Join us at The Foremothers Cafe on Tuesday, April 28 at 4 pm (Note that the time is earlier than our usual discussions.)
On ENGAGE
Tom will join us to talk about the Oneida Community in\, New York a community that practiced complex marriage where members were free to be intimate with any consenting member, and labor was shared equally between women and men.
Tom will tell us more about this fascinating piece of history while we explore how society shapes our ideas about what's acceptable.
February 3 at 7 pm ET at The Foremothers Cafe on ENGAGE. This event requires a password, please contact Helen ahead of time to reserve your spot and get the password info.
A celebration of The Netherlands' National Holiday Dutch King's Day, led by The Foremothers Cafe's community member, Ruben McCarthy. Saturday April 25, at 4pm ET.
On ENGAGE
Dr. Ella Carlsson will join us at The Foremothers Cafe to talk about her work at the agency, her Mars research and the time she spent at the Mars Simulations in Utah and Canada. January 6 2026
Helen and two other authors are discussing the art of writing Historical Fiction.
In person event at the Book Club Bar in NYC. Wednesday April 22, at 5.30 pm.
Last year we were the first in the world to celebrate Lucia LIVE in VR. Join us this year for what's promising to be even better than last year! DEC 18, at 1 pm ET at The Foremothers Café on ENGAGE
The gallery is open and free to visit on Spatial Create an avatar and visit here
Art about Rå, Helen's protagonist in The Lure of Water and Wood.
Do you sing in Swedish? Comfortable singing solo?
Join our rehearsals for this year's Lucia Concert, which will be held on December 18th at 1 pm ET
Contact Helen to sign up helen@helenerwin.com
Helen will do an in-person talk at EuropeXR in Brussels, Belgium on Wednesday December 9 at 17.00 CET
Please send Helen photos of an item they treasured your foremother treasured and come share her story with us. November 30 1 pm ET
Helen Erwin, Dee Dee Chainey-Jones, Paige Dansinger, Dr. Anju Bhargava
Helen is moderating our panel in The Foremothers Cafe's persistent session on November 11th at 1 pm. Mark your calendars and check back here for exact details closer to the event.
Panel topic:
What solutions can we utilize to create an equitable future for women everywhere?
A participatory panel sparking conversation around more equitable spaces, both in our immersive environments and beyond. How do we bring more women into spaces where equity is the focus not just locally, but globally?VR has people from many different cultures in one space. How do we navigate these differences on a global platform while being inclusive and respectful of each other’s cultural beliefs?
Our Fika is held on Friday instead of Thursday this week to celebrate Halloween. Join us on ENGAGE
Community Discussion with Sara Mapelli Tink, Bee Dancer.
On ENGAGE November 18, 7 pm.
Join Dr. Keith Chan and Helen and discuss our oldest foremother, the woman we are ALL connected to.
Please note that this discussion falls on Thursday this month, not on a Tuesday. Thursday October 23rd.
Friday October 3rd is two years since The Foremothers Cafe moved to the ENGAGE platform. Since it's falling on a Friday, we're celebrating this with a Happy Hour! BYOBaS - Bring Your Own Booze and a Straw if you're in a headset, or just BYOB if you're on a laptop or computer.
Frank White, author of The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution on his inspiration to write his book, and how it inspired the VR Experience The Overview Effect. September 16, 7 pm EST at The Foremothers Cafe on ENGAGE.
Helen is an invited speaker at MDEC Malaysia Digital Economy Cooperation, 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐗𝐑 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐫: 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 and will also be participating in a panel titled: 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐗𝐑/𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞: 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
New Date! June 29 at 5 pm on ENGAGE.
Saturday June 21 at 5 pm at The Foremothers Café on ENGAGE
Celebrate Swedish Midsommar, a tradtional Swedish Solstice Festival. Prepare to join on your headset for dancing and on your laptop for a meal. Suggestions, vegetarian or meat meatballs, baby potatoes with butter and chives, and strawberries.
Helen will speak on a panel with Africa VR Center and Campus
Helen hosts The Historical Novel Society at The Foremothers Café for a discussion on time periods and social customs. Join us on ENGAGE. Important: this event is not listed on the ENGAGE schedule: Join by Session ID: 2a0K6 (note the third digit is a zero, not the letter o)
With Dawn Graber Equity Strategist and Leadership Coach
May 14 at 6 pm Helen will present The Foremothers Café in person at NYVR along with The Foremothers Cafe's assistant builder Anita Shenk. Register here.
Evelyn 'Eve' Erwin creates incredible pieces with natural wood as well as intricate works made entirely of pipe cleaners. April 23 10 AM to 10 PM. Meet the artist between 4 and 6 pm.
Helen is hosting Immersive X's X-Nights at The Foremothers Café on February 13 at 2 pm EST (1 pm CST)
Tuesday March 11 at 7 PM ET at The Foremothers Café on ENGAGE
Panel Q&A: Storytelling in the 21st-century. Helen will join John Reppion and Paul Watson in a conversation about Inclusive Storytelling. It's a free event on the Spatial platform, but you need to register through Eventbrite here
Join us on February 11, at 7 pm EST on ENGAGE
Helen is a panelist on the She Summit on January 15th at 2 pm EST - 11 am PST.
Yule Adams Jr. will talk to us about his work at Exalt, an organization that helps youth by elevating expectations of personal success for youth ages 15-19 who’ve been involved in the criminal justice system. At The Foremothers Café in ENGAGE. This discussion may require a password - Stay Tuned for more details. As always our discussions are meant to be relatable to us as well. Even if you're no longer under 19, what have you learned from your own mistakes?
Lucia Choir - Sweden's Dearest Yule Tradition.
Join us at The Foremothers Café on December 10 at 1 pm.
On ENGAGE: Click here for details.
Are you a Swedish singer? Contact us to join our choir.
November 30th was Helen's mother's birthday. To honor her and our community's mothers and grandmothers, we meet once a year on this day to share stories. November 30th at the Foremothers Café at 3 pm Eastern. On ENGAGE
Did you move to another country? Did your ancestors move?
with Immigration Lawyer and Producer of the 14 Time Award Winning Documentary Las Abogadas, Rebecca Eichler.
Join us at The Foremothers Café on November 19, at 7 pm. On ENGAGE, click here.
This event is for registered participants only. You will need a password to enter. Contact me to register.
Women's Solo Travels Throughout History: The power of being a digital nomad today, with Pia Behmuaras. Join us at The Foremothers Café September 24 at 7 pm Eastern on ENGAGE-Click Here
Helen was on a panel talking about creating The Foremothers Café with her World Builder Christi Fenison, moderated by Michelle Deborah Weinsblat-Dane.
Watch here.
How would humanity react? Could we communicate with extraterrestrials? with Ariane Fikki.
Join us at The Foremothers Café on October 15 at 7 pm Eastern, on ENGAGE-Click here
Join Helen in person at the historical bookstore, Commonplace Reader in Yardley, PA. This event has been postponed. Please stay tuned for a new date.
Helen was one of the speakers on a panel about The Future of Community in the Immersive Age of AI. A frank and inspireing conversation with experts from Africa, France and the US.
This was an incredible discussion about how to work together in a global world and aiding each other while respecting our cultural differences. Ruben McCarthy, MSc, Plant Scientist explained that in his work, some crops would benefit societies suffering from the effects of famine tremendously. However, Ruben explained, doing so affects a cultures traditional food culture and everything that's linked with it. This lead to a wonderful and important conversation about cultural understanding and food. How can we relate? Will we give up coffee? Halloween candy?
With Amri B. Johnson and Helen Lundström Erwin
A wonderful discussion on being binational or even multinational. Guests shared their experiences of being Swedish in the Us, French in Mexico, American in Korea, Dutch in the US, or being from a Kenyan Indigenous community while living in Nairobi. Our discussion shifted to a discussion on Blackness in the US verses Europe, to foods we miss and how it's possible to be a global citizen and feel at home everywhere.
Helen joined author Libbie Hawker discussing creativity and innovation, and talking about The Foremothers Cafe's organic way of introducing new readers to Helen's work, and how Libbie's podcast brings readers to her books.
Book Talk on The Lure of Water and Wood via Zoom and Hybrid.
Conversation on writing and Swedish History with the international SWEA community.
Art Exhibition at The Foremothers Café: A different view, by Leslie Dahlqvist. Leslie's weaves are inspired by nature. Leslie's art drew a big crowd, including a group of international VR students.
click here to join.
This conversation turned out to be one of our most cherished and created a buzz that lasted for weeks. Imposter Syndrome is something we have all felt, but talking about it made us feel stronger and we realized it's truly not that we're not qualified, it's just that our insecurities make themselves known.
Dot Cannon is the Host and Founder of the Over Coffee® Podcast
Book Launch of Helen's new Historical Fantasy Novel, The Lure of Water and Wood at The Foremothers Cafe. A great evening which included an introduction by Helen's husband and tours on Näcken's flying violin!
January 6 - 2024 on Zoom. Please email me at press@helenerwin.com for details.
The Foremothers Café's Re-Opening on the ENGAGE platform.
Watch the celebration here
Our Annual Traditional Swedish Lucia Concert December 13. When possible we watch Sweden's Official Concert together.
Our Annual Event on November 30th Send us your photos of your own mothers and grandmothers and lets celebrate them together.
Helen was on a panel with XR Women at VRTO-Virtual Reality Toronto - Spacial Media World Conference in 2023
Dr. Louise Edwards told us about her science trip to Norway, her VR Game inspired by it, and of Orca culture and social customs. This event took place in Spatial. While most of our Foremothers Café discussions are not recorded since many of our conversations are very personal in nature, this event was recorded. You can watch it here Dr. Louise Edwards is a Scientist and and Educator as well as an XR Developer and Explorer
Celebrations included Pride Month, A talk about Orca Whales, Sweden's 500th Birthday, and Swedish Midsummer Celebration. Midsummer included a performance with Alexandra Hummingson, singing the traditional Swedish folk song: Uti vår hage.
Helen hosted an XR Women event at The Foremothers Cafe, talking about her journey as an immigrant, leaving Sweden and finding a home in New York while still staying connected to her homeland, and what VR does to keep the connection strong.
The Foremothers Café's first home was taken from us when the beloved Altspace Platform died. A devastating blow not only to The Foremothers Café but to all our neighboring worlds on Altspace. We shared our grief and to talked about new platforms and new worlds to build elsewhere.
Marge Ginsburg shared her experience with creating a family through adoption. Helen spoke of her inspiration and family history which inspired the adoption and adoptee stories in Sour Milk in Sheep’s Wool.
A Hybrid Zoom Event with the Swedish American Community in Upstate New York. Members were especially interested reading and discussing Sour Milk in Sheep's Wool's Swedish women's history. Many felt inspired to share their own history as well.
Swedish painter Sidsel Cook, exhibited her beautiful paintings at The Foremothers Cafe. Her paintings of Eartha Kitt and Swedish Lucia were two of the highlights.
Our Annual Lucia Celebration (2022)
Helen spoke about how her novel Sour Milk in Sheep's Wool inspired The Foremothers Cafe.
November 30th was Helen's mother's birthday. In her, and all our mothers' and grandmothers' honor, we meet on this day to celebrate their lives.
A conversation about Menopause and how to celebrate this new stage of life. With Tricia Blake, Founder and CEO of My Third Bloom.
The Foremothers Cafe's very first discussion was only months after Roe v. Wade was overturned. Dr. Joanne Popinska spoke about her Award Winning XR Movie, The Choice.
The Grand Opening of The Foremothers Cafe. Altspace is where it all started back on May 12th 2022.
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Sour Milk in Sheep's Wool's Book Signing at the charming Commonplace Reader bookstore in Yardley, PA
This was during the pandemic and Helen signed books on the porch.
Helen spoke about Sour Milk in Sheep's Wool with the Swedish American Museum's Genealogy Group
January 29th - 1 pm CST Online Details here.
Zoom Discussion with readers. Many readers felt inspired to share stories about their own families and the secrets families keep.
Helen did a presentation of Sour Milk in Sheep's Wool, the storyline and its women's history.
Interview and Q&A with the Swedish Women's Educational Association
A week of celebrations started on Sept 10th 2021 to celebrate Swedish women's first time at the voting booth. Zoom Party with a Musical Performance by Aurora Tantoco then two different dates for Sour Milk in Sheep's Wool Discussions.
Photo, Swedish women heading to the voting booth Sept 1921. Image credit: Riksarkivet.
Launch Party and signing Cafe Reggio, Greenwich Village, July 21st 2021.
Celebration of Sour Milk in Sheep's Wool's first year at The Foremothers Cafe!
