IN-PERSON: Earth Drum Medicine: Women’s Drum Circle
2026-08-15 12:30 - 14:00, 2026-09-19 12:30 - 14:00, 2026-10-17 12:30 - 14:00, 2026-11-21 12:30 - 14:00, 2026-12-19 12:30 - 14:00, 2027-01-16 12:30 - 14:00, 2027-02-20 12:30 - 14:00, 2027-03-20 12:30 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles) and 15 more dates | East Bay Meditation Center, 285 17th Street, Oakland, CA, 94612, United States
Earth Drum Medicine, Women’s drum circle facilitated by Afefe Oke’ and Rosetta Saunders.
Combining meditation with the powerful practice of drumming, this group will meet at our Webster site on the third Saturday of each month at the EBMC Webster St site, 2406 Webster St., Oakland.
The circle is open to all women-identified folks and gender-expansive folks who identify with women’s community.
While some drums will be provided, you are encouraged to bring your own if you have one!

Third Saturday of each month
12:30pm-2pm
Please arrive early to allow time for parking

All skill levels are welcome! Everyone is welcome regardless of their drum abilities. We sit in a circle and will do what we can to help this with mobility limitations.
To register, or for more information, please contact Afefe Oke’ at ginittaglass at gmail dot com
PLEASE NOTE: There will NOT be a meeting in May 2026. We will resume in June 2026.

In-Person Kapwa Gathering for Filipinx/a/o Practitioners
2026-08-15 15:00 - 17:00, 2026-09-19 15:00 - 17:00, 2026-10-17 15:00 - 17:00, 2026-11-21 15:00 - 17:00, 2026-12-19 15:00 - 17:00
Dear Kapwa Sangha,
You’re invited to a new monthly gathering for self-identifying Filipinx/a/o (including mixed) practitioners offered at EBMC this spring. The intention is to offer a consistent, low-pressure space for practice and community connection.
Gathering Details
Dates:
Third Saturdays
March 21, April 18, and May 16
Time:
3:00–5:00 pm PT
Location:
East Bay Meditation Center
285 17th St, Oakland
Format
– Peer-led meditation or contemplative practice
– Potluck and time for informal connection
Food offerings are completely open. If possible, please label items with ingredients or common allergens (e.g., dairy-free, nuts, gluten).
Accessibility & Care
This gathering will follow EBMC’s existing policies regarding masking, fragrance-free spaces, and accessibility.
Children are welcome. Adults are responsible for any minors they bring. No childcare will be provided.
Attendance
This is an in-person offering; no Zoom option will be available.
Participants are always welcome to just show up. If you plan to attend, you’re also welcome to email me (mpapaya3 at gmail dot com) in advance so I can get a general sense of attendance. You’re welcome to attend one gathering, some, or all of them. Building community happens through presence; through showing up, sitting together, sharing food, and practicing alongside one another over time. This gathering is offered in that spirit, with the hope of creating a space that can be shaped collectively through our participation.

IN PERSON: Kingian Nonviolence Workshop
2026-09-19 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-09-20 10:00 - 17:00
Kingian Nonviolence Workshop
TWO DAYS: Saturday, September 19th & Sunday, September 20th, 2026
10AM – 5PM PT (Time Zone Converter)
With Kazu Haga
Open to all
The center is fragrance-free and wheelchair accessible
N95/KN95 masks strongly encouraged.

Kingian Nonviolence Conflict Reconciliation: Developed by Dr. Bernard LaFayette Jr. and David Jehnsen, two allies of Dr. Martin Luther King, Kingian Nonviolence is sometimes referred to as the “final marching orders of Dr. King.” It is a philosophy that teaches us the depth of nonviolence and conflict transformation.
It teaches us to hold healing and reconciliation as the final goal of any conflict, and also reminds us of the need for justice and accountability as a necessary stepping stone to the Beloved Community.
Whether you are trying to improve conflict in your personal life, cultivate a culture of peace in your school or community, or build a powerful movement for social change, this training can be a transformative tool.

All are welcome! Full participation for both days is required.

Public Transportation/Parking:
– We strongly encourage public transportation/biking/walking since parking in the neighborhood is limited.
– EBMC is 4-5 blocks from 19th Street Bart (about a 7 minute walk).
– EBMC has bike parking inside the center.
– Meter parking is free on Sunday, and enforced Monday-Saturday 8am-6pm.
– There are also garages on Harrison at 15th and on Harrison between 17th and 19th. If you are planning to drive, please allow extra time for parking.

Cost
The teachings are regarded as priceless. So they are offered without a fee. You are invited to support the teachings and our efforts by contributing voluntary donations (the practice of “Dana”) for the expenses of the meditation center and the support of the teachers.
The ticket prices are listed as different tiers with suggested donations based on income ranges. For those who wish to give more, you may choose an “add-on” to your ticket. For those unable to give, there is an option for that.
Note that all financial gifts received here go directly to EBMC, and we invite you to give separately to our teachers, using the information below.

Other ways to give:
To make a gift to sustain the work of East Bay Meditation Center, you may do so via Paypal: paypal.me/eastbaymeditation or our website: eastbaymeditation.org/dana 100% of our programming is sliding scale and no one will ever be turned away for lack of funds.

Please also consider giving a financial gift to our teachers as well, who do not receive a salary for their work, and give their teachings freely to all.
Venmo: @kazuhaga
Paypal: PayPal.me/kazuhaga
kazuhaga.com/support
Please reference “Kingian Nonviolence”.

Thank you for the gifts of your generosity and for supporting the work of East Bay Meditation Center and our beloved teachers who have volunteered their time.

For in-person participation:
For those wishing to practice in person, space will be limited to 60 people to allow ample space for social distancing. Participants are strongly encouraged to wear N95 or KN95 face masks. (N95 face masks will be available at EBMC.) Please note: The teacher may be unmasked while teaching.
To attend in person, you need to be completely free of fragranced body and clothing products — more information and a list of fragrance free products, including those that are especially good for people of color, appears on our website: https://eastbaymeditation.org/resources/fragrance-free-at-ebmc/
East Bay Meditation Center is a scent free / fragrance free space and is wheelchair accessible.

Public Transportation/Parking:
– We strongly encourage public transportation/biking/walking since parking in the neighborhood is limited. Please avoid parking your car on the street in a metered space during this time as it will cause an interrupted retreat experience.
– EBMC is 4-5 blocks from 19th Street Bart (about a 7 minute walk).
– EBMC has bike parking inside the center.
– Please note that parking meters are enforced Monday – Saturday, 8 am – 6 pm.
– Parking on Alice, Jackson and 17th between Alice and Lakeside drive is unmetered and has no time limit on Saturdays. – There are also garages on Harrison at 15th and on Harrison between 17th and 19th. If you are planning to drive, please allow extra time for parking.

Teacher

Kazu Haga is a trainer and practitioner of nonviolence and restorative justice with over 25 years of experience in social movement work. He is a founding core member of the Ahimsa Collective, a Jam facilitator and author of Healing Resistance: A Radically Different Response to Harm and Fierce Vulnerability: Healing from Trauma, Emerging through Collapse. He works with incarcerated people, youth, and activists from around the country. He is a resident of the Canticle Farm community on Lisjan Ohlone land, Oakland, CA, where he lives with his family. You can find out more about his work at www.kazuhaga.com.
