HYBRID: Maintaining the Calm Within the Storm: Anxiety in Times of Elections
3 Fridays: October 11th 2024, November 15th 2024, January 24th 2025
12:00 – 1:30 PM PT (Time Zone Converter)
with Kinshasa Bennett, Renata Moreira, Andrés González, & Anjali Sawhney
Closed Captioning Provided on Zoom
N95/KN95 Masks Required at EBMC
This will be a 3-part series where we have stationary practice, dharma talks, and discussion as related to using the dharma and mindfulness to relate differently to anxiety as it arises in the mind and body (physical, emotional and energetic) in times of elections. We ask participants to attend all sessions if possible. This series will advance the principles of Engaged Buddhism and address current concerns.
Open to all who are interested and no experience necessary.
NOTE: Due to limited resources, we will ONLY run these meetings hybrid IF we get at least 20 in-person sign-ups. If a meeting has fewer than 20 in-person sign-ups, we will notify all registrants to meet online only (at least 24 hours in advance). Thank you!
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 will be asked 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
East Bay Meditation Center is a scent free / fragrance free space and is wheelchair accessible.
For Zoom participation, these are our Universal Access Guidelines:
– Please do not use virtual or blurred backgrounds
– Please keep your camera still when it’s turned on
– Please say your name when you speak
– Facilitators will attempt to read any comments in the chat out loud
– Please mute when you’re not speaking.
Teaching Team
Kinshasa (she/her). Queer, African-American listener, healer, learner. 15 years of experience as a psychologist by day. 46 years as a student of life. Currently integrating sitting, dancing, praying, and vocal meditation practices. Exploring sacred reciprocity in relations with all beings. Incorporating ritual, indigeneity, and authenticity into my (spiritual) life. Launched from EBMC in 2009 and Spirit Rock in 2011 into the spheres of Buddhism, ancestral knowledge, and plant medicine. My formal training includes graduating from the EBMC Spiritual Teacher and Leadership training program in 2023. You may find me watching women’s sports, exploring the community by foot, or dancing in my living room.
Renata Moreira, M.A.S.T, CCHT (She/they/Ela/Elu) is a queer mixed race lifelong educator of Indigenous Xucuru Kariri and Portuguese ancestries. She brings 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, development and strategic communications to the intersections of trauma-informed care, mindfulness, and culture making. This dynamic first generation immigrant mama is connected to an eclectic lineage of spiritual wisdom and earth keepers across the Americas. Currently, Renata serves as a social impact and wellness consultant, transpersonal therapist, and mindfulness teacher. She has brought a passionate Metta praxis to countless educational, public, and private sectors since 2012; always holding the firm belief that all people within systems can liberate themselves towards the rise of a more loving and just world for all beings. She is certified as an MBSR instructor, is a graduate of EBMC’s Pita Program, and has served EBMC as Transition Director. When not co-creating beloved communities, cultivating medicinal allies, or geeking out on somatics and liberation, Renata can be found dancing with her 8 yr old magickal daughter and cooking up new ways to play into healing. Connect with Renata via renatametta | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree
Andrés González, MSW (he/they/él) is a queer, two-spirit Mestizo with primarily Yaqui, Mexican, Spanish, & Scottish ancestries. He’s also a transracial adoptee, connected to a lineage of indigenous adoptees separated from family, land, & culture by way of the U.S. child welfare system. Andrés’ lived experience integrating these many worlds has informed his path as a curandero, dharma teacher, and healing-justice practitioner. Trained in harm reduction as a psychotherapist, he holds a masters degree in social work. He is also a graduate of East Bay Meditation Center’s two-year Spiritual Teacher & Leadership Training and the 2023-2024 Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics’ certification program in psychedelic facilitation. Andrés resides on Yokuts’ land (aka Bakersfield, CA) and lovingly traverses life with his adored service dog, Junior.
Anjali Sawhney (she/her/s) is a Certified Integral Life Coach and a trained international Leadership Embodiment Teacher (somatic coaching based on Aikido & Mindfulness). Anjali has coached & facilitated somatics & mindfulness workshops in the non-profit, corporate, and educational sectors including the Richmond Community Foundation, California Endowment, UCSF & City of San Francisco. Anjali also serves directly with untapped BIPOC students, those unhoused, and those in recovery by providing coaching, counseling & series workshops through various non-profits as well as independently. She is currently on the EBMC Program Committee and Leadership Sangha (Board). She is passionate about rallying people through community & spirituality as well as street protests for equity & systemic change, is in awe of nature & live music, & on rare occasions is allowed to groove with her children, Aanika and Jai.
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. Please scroll through the entire menu to see all the options. 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.
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.
To offer a gift to the teachers for their teachings, please do so via:
Venmo: @Kinshasa-Bennett
(the teachers will share the gifts with each other)
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.
