A Daylong for self-identified Men of Color
Led by EBMC’s Men of Color Deep Refuge Group
Kevin R. Martin, Raul Betancourt, Jonathan Relucio, Dennis Somera, Bong Lau and Sarwang Parikh
In our annual daylong, we gather as self-identified men of color to explore our diverse experiences through the theme of Visibilizing Our Invisible Wounds. We will come into awareness of our personal and collective wounds through guided meditation, mindful movement, experiential exercises and facilitated discussion. Navigating the world, we recognize we cannot do this work alone; therefore, we invite you to join us in sacred community as we collectively connect and cultivate a deeper understanding of what it means to be mindful men of color.
Part of our work as self-identified men of color is to unlearn and heal from the violence of systemic oppression, especially the toxic masculinity perpetuated by patriarchy. In a society that often invisibilizes and targets us, we are summoned to strengthen our courage to bring the light of loving awareness to heal these internalized wounds. So we gather to learn from one another the skillful means necessary to transform harmful habit-patterns that perpetuate suffering; to steep ourselves in compassionate practices that build pathways towards liberation and remind ourselves: we are already whole, we are already free.
A core part of this daylong explores the benefits of cultivating movement/walking meditation practices in a peer-led practice container. This practice is designed to explore our fears and desires of being witnessed, publically, as individual and collective bodies by making the invisible, visible. We will follow a predetermined route for our movement/walking practice through public parts of Oakland. This event is designed to be inclusive of all self-identified men of color regardless of sexuality, gender expression, and/or physical ability. We value our intersectional identities and we hope that you will join us for this event!
In order to increase inclusivity and accessibility of this event by our disabled brothers of color, we invite those with ambulatory [walking] restrictions to contact us in advance for additional information and support, such as, hosting a more stationary meditation practice in a public space at the end of the route.
You are requested to bring your own bagged lunch for this event. EBMC has a community kitchen available for use with tea, water, a refrigerator and microwave available.
