Social Healing
#BreatheWithMe
Self-care is essential to healing individually and as a community.
Our Invitation: This is an invitation designed for persons who identify as Black or African American and are overwhelmed with the injustice of the world – who are ready to create space in their lives for self-care as we fight for justice for all. It provides a safe space in which you can find resonance through life stories and experiences! (plus parallel sessions for Allies).
"Caring for myself is not self-indulgence; it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare."
- Audre L'orde
#BREATHEWITHME to create and sustain a community of care, compassion, and justice.
#BREATHEWITHME to heal the pain of violence, systemic racism, macro and microaggressions
#BREATHEWITHME to address generational and current traumas caused by racial inequity, injustice,
and oppressive systems, institutions, policies, and practices.
#BREATHEWITHME to have clarity of mind, compassion of heart, and strategy in action.
#BREATHEWITHME to take responsibility for our internal change that serves as impetus to social change.
#BREATHEWITHME to stand in solidarity.
FREE! 1 X / Week
To offer an affinity space for people who identify as black/African American and an affinity space for allies. In both spaces, we offer restorative and healing spaces for everyone and equip them with practical self-care tools, such as breathing, meditation, and movement to address stress and trauma. A safe space for sharing and self-care, led by Affinity space facilitators.
Sessions include:
● Open safe space for sharing
● Facilitated discussion
● Breath-work and meditation
WHEN
Wednesdays @ 5pm PST / 8pm EST
REGISTRATION
Black Community: HEALING CONVERSATIONS
Allies: HEALING CONVERSATIONS
FREE through SEPTEMBER
Every emotion has a corresponding pattern of breath. As an example, the rhythm of breath increases automatically as the body tries to deal with any stressful situation. Similarly, our breathing patterns automatically change whenever we feel sadness or depression, anger or fear. The same holds true for positive emotions as well.
SKY Breathing Meditation utilizes specific rhythms of the breath to quickly and easily eliminate stress, revitalize the nervous system, and bring greater clarity and focus to the mind. It does this by taking advantage of the natural connection that already exists between the body, the breath and the mind.
The 3-day, 6-hour, SKY Course is a step-by-step practical approach to making your meditation practice easy, powerful and enjoyable.
WHEN
Friday to Sunday
REGISTRATION
SKY BREATHING MEDITATION COURSES
At the heart of all IAHV and Works of Wonder Programs is the unique Sudarshan Kriya Yoga® or (SKY™) practice, a stress-management rhythmic-breathing technique that participants learn to practice on a daily basis. This unique practice utilizes the efficacy of breathing patterns to lower stress levels, increase coping skills and enhance wellness. Independent research of adults who have learned SKY, have demonstrated that SKY and the accompanying breathing practices (SKY&P) have significantly:
Reduced stress (as indicated by reductions in the stress hormone cortisol and blood lactate levels).
Relieved depression and anxiety.
Increased sense of well being (as indicated by increases in prolactin, a well-being hormone and EEG Alpha) and wellness (as indicated by increased anti-oxidant and Natural Killer Cell production, components of disease prevention and immune function).
In addition, SKY has been shown to enhance brain function in adults. Research has demonstrated that SKY creates a state of calm/relaxation (as measured by EEG Alpha) existing simultaneously with increased concentration and mental focus (measured by EEG Beta). Practitioners of SKY are found to be both alert and relaxed, an optimum condition for learning and achieving.
WORKS OF WONDER
Transforming Conversations that Matter Into Actions that Make a Difference
Works of Wonder International is committed to promoting a sustainable culture of peace by offering programs to eliminate the root causes of stress, anxiety and societal discord. WOW offers practical and proven techniques to the African American community which have been shown to relieve historical and generational trauma as well as creating an inner sense of calm, clarity and overall well being. For more information visit www.worksofwonder.org.
HAITIAN AMERICANS UNITED FOR PROGRESS
The Haitian Americans United for Progress, Inc. (HAUP) is a non-profit community based organization dedicated to empowering and serving the community. HAUP provides a supportive environment through education, training, culture, networking opportunities, and other support services, that allows members of the community to successfully adapt and thrive.
FREEPORT/ROOSEVELT BRANCH #2147The vision of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights without discrimination based on race.
SKY SCHOOLS is a program of IAHV
MISSION:
To create a stress-free, violence-free learning environment that revives the practice of human values in everyday life. These values include a sense of belonging to a common humanity, respect for all people, cultures, and traditions, respect for the natural environment, an attitude of non-violence and an ethic of social service.
By teaching youth, schools staff, & parents healthy strategies to manage stress and emotions, so they may exhibit greater confidence and motivation to succeed in school, as educators and guardians, and make healthy choices when faced with life’s challenges.
JOYOUS LEADER
Joyous Leader sees self-change as the impetus to creating a more peaceful, prosperous, and loving world from the internal to the external. We lead our lives with joy by being consciously present in mind, body, and spirit to the people and the inevitable vicissitudes of life. We consistently use bio-psycho-social-emotional leadership and communication tools to lead our lives with grace, strategy, and style.
BLACK EDUCATORS COMMITTEE, INC.
Black Educators Committee, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit public charity. The Black Educators Committee was established for the purposes of strengthening the relationship between the Educators of Freeport and the community, provide deserving high school seniors with scholarships to assist in their pursuit of higher education, and to organize opportunities in the form of fundraisers to supply scholarship funds. Black Educators Committee seeks to accomplish the following: (a) Engage in community service projects; (b) Sponsor, host and/or participate in events and activities that will provide scholarships to deserving high school seniors; (c) Identify individual groups and/or corporations that have made a significant contribution to the Freeport Community; (d) To foster and improve community relationships.
The International Association for Human Values (IAHV) is a 501(c)3 educational and humanitarian nonprofit that is committed to developing and promoting programs of personal development that encourage the practice of human values in everyday life.
IAHV Core Values:
● All human beings are equal.
● Responsibility and an attitude of selfless service is true empowerment.
● Peace, happiness and compassion are the intrinsic nature of human beings.
● Socio-economic development must be built on human values to be sustainable.
● Incorporation of human values into all aspects of life will ultimately lead to a more peaceful, just and sustainable world.