as a black, agender/queer person and arcology advocate, it is critical that my work around building sustainable, and self-reliant communities be centered around the safety and universal equity of qtbipoc. building these communities is the way we can push the movement for qtbipoc equity and rights forward. Rarely in the urban cities and communities we occupy do we see the holistic valuing of our lives and experiences, especially among our political representatives. what I seek to cultivate with like-minded community members are safe havens where qtbipoc and allied folx who value our humanity within their own praxis, can live, work, leisure, create, organize, lead, parent, and have respite.
a figure modeling session for black/brown lgbtqia+ folks to draw the human body. mopé will be facilitating and modeling. the first 15 minutes will be an introduction. followed by 15 minutes of short poses and a final 30 minute pose. be prepared with your tools of interest.
in this workshop, participants will hear the experiences of intersex people through storytelling, quotes, videos, and art. (most materials provided by an intersex youth organization called interact). banti jaswal will cover the basics of what intersex is and share what intersex youth are fighting for. banti is a member of interact (a national advocacy organization of intersex youth). they have also been the keynote speaker at glsen massachusetts fall conference, they have worked with the glsen shine team, and had an essay and comic published in an international journal “youth & i” (a collection of writings and art by intersex youth). they have also been quoted in teenvogue, interviewed, and on various social media outlets. they love being an advocate for greater understanding and acceptance of intersex people.
live performance + q&a with stephanie gayle. stephanie gayle (formerly known as steph, the sapphic songstress) is a singer/songwriter/producer/fine artist from p.g. county, maryland. she began writing music at the tender age of 8, and began producing her own music at age 16. by 18, she decided to move to New York to get her degree in fine arts and simultaneously pursue her music career. since then, stephanie has performed frequently around new york city and across the u.s.
disability inclusion a series that highlights non neurotypical behavior for black & brown lgbtqia+ people who are on the spectrum or have learning disabilities. we will be focused and highlighting people with disabilities who are black and brown and have done the work to pave the way for the disability community as a whole!
restorative yoga incorporates meditation, yoga, and the use of props to encourage the body to actively rest and restore. restorative yoga relieves stress, anxiety and improves sleep. To participate, you will need two pillows, two blankets and a yoga mat.
we will be learning tools for assertiveness and how to honor our intuition. empowering us to speak and move in ways that protect and nurture ourselves. we will continue (or start) the process of uprooting toxic conditioning and replacing it with love, healing, and transformation. we will also use meditation to ground and gently connect with our bodies in consensual ways.
mirrored fatality performs their sonic metamorphosis container, COCOON WEBS. mirrored fatality's COCOON WEBS EP is a ferocious affirmation of chaos to harness our ancestral power, primal spirit, collective fury, and interconnectedness to our multiverse in a world numbing us with toxic forces. BLOOM, UTOPIA, INVALIDATION, and EARTHBODY(S) are restorative anthems to sustain us through the revolution. they will have participants co-create a community altar, co-reflect, and co-listen together as a community. each of mirrored fatality’s songs is a tool for participants to ground ancestrally, move through feelings of invalidation as QTBIPOC, cathartically release remnants imprinted by systemic and intergenerational trauma, and imagine visions towards QTBIPOC liberation and land justice.
oil pastels have been a savior for me in this rough year. making art that reflects myself and my people brings me so much joy. join me as I make a new piece and draw your own if you want.
using 4 or 5 pre shuffled decks jayden avery will go through each of the 12 zodiac signs. they will pull a card from each deck to paint a storyline for each sun sign. after explaining the energies we are working with for the full moon, they will close with answering any questions.
transonia will lead the audience in mediation techniques, share poetry, and give some tips based on their best practices for staying sane and practicing self-care. they will discuss their shifting views of their own gender. transonia will also explore how they turn from institutionalized art to community building and how to balance their personal well being with the needs of the community.
jordiana is a healing artist focussing on self magic as it pertains to community both physically and digitally! join jordiana as they talk about the new moon, rituals around the lunar cycle, and herbology! Come with any questions you may have!
during this live, we will make a community collage as we open the discussion to the ways that art can be used as a tool for activism and a way for those to show up for causes in a time of covid
we will dive into the historical legacies of queer organizing that inform our own work, and share strategies that you could use in your own movement building.
this very special iteration of club cosmos --the cosmic wellness workshop founded by vie darling in 2018 -- will focus on spiritual abolition & what that means to them. together we will explore what spiritual abolition is, how to practice shadow work, and in what ways a cosmic wellness practice can help lay some integral groundwork for tapping into your holistic liberation. please bring a journal & your birth chart, and be prepared to go deep.
metamorphosis is an unapologetic act of faith. queer trans people of color are often cast out of spiritual spaces due to embracing their authentic identities. witness a performance which reclaims and rebirths spirituality within qt communities through spoken word, poetry, and music. cross a rainbow bridge which interconnects spirituality and sexuality. Ignite and TRANSform.
caring for myself is not an act of self indulgence; it is an act of self preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” - audre lorde
this session focuses on healing and art as a way to liberate ourselves in order to advocate for the liberation of all oppressed peoples. by recognizing the ways in which forces like white supremacy, patriarchy, and capitalism impact our self image, self esteem, and sense of self we start to detach our value and notions of desirability to the systems that marginalize us in the first place. highlighting art as my preferred means of expression, i will discuss the importance of treating our personal battles with anxiety over productivity, value, and worth as part of a collective struggle for liberation. black mental health is not up for debate. necessary materials: pen and paper, and a willingness to indulge in self love!
stemming from spanish harlem, black trans sister libby leola is a poet, former rave baby, and daughter of the sun. aside from polishing an original sound behind the scenes, on a mixer, liberty attempts to execute a sound collage of metapositivity, always ready to assure that we’re all delicately connected.
jordan hope miller is a healer, psychic, and spiritual mentor. jordan will be offering a free oracle card reading using his deck 33 masters that he created in june of 2020 for the first half of the session. so, bring your questions or feel free to receive a general message from Spirit. for the second half of the live he will be sending reiki through using his voice and chanting to shift collective trauma and promote personal health and balance.
fuck, it feels good is a generative thought space exploring sensuality and erotica. the purpose of the discussion is to bring participants into more thoughtful and engaged sensual practice. the materials necessary for this live session are: IG live, a notebook, a pen, writing samples, and a candle.
metaphors and zines can be useful, playful and pleasurable tools for checking in with yourself, especially when embodiment is difficult. in this workshop we'll hold space for creating and dreaming ourselves as planets, terrains, ecosystems, creatures, flowers, while reflecting on what aggravates and nourishes our systems. we'll fold zines, do a grounding meditation, and create check-in zines that we can look back on to help ground our bodyminds. participants will need a piece of paper, something to write with, and whatever embellishments and art supplies they may desire!
to the voices of the wounded who harbor a fear to expose their vulnerabilities; I see you. you deserve to be heard. healing through Writing & Community will offer a communal (safe) space for our fellow Black and POC family to render their feelings through poetry or prose, and release toxicity from their bodies that plague them so. join me in celebrating the works of our most treasured writers who came before us, as we then shift the conversation to explore the depths of our inner beings yearning to heal.
zion will be offering a collective healing divination ritual that includes:: water scrying (channeling messages through water), a tarot/oracle card reading, and one or more guided meditations. please bring your intentions, your magic, and any crystals you feel called to.
fitness instructor, bodybuilder, and drag queen, miss toto, will be leading a strength training workshop! in this workshop, you will not only learn proper form in how to build strength for defense safely at home, but additionally get in a great workout!
we will be discussing and sharing self-care techniques people can do when feeling overwhelmed, triggered or a chronic sense of unwellness. we will be incorporating some grounding techniques people can take with them everywhere and tips on how to perform them well. just bring your lovely selves to the session!
a live, intimate performance in reflection of 5 years creating original music, dance, movement and spoken word. an idea born during the premier release Urgency produced by Byrell the Great, he suggested the EP title, Adjusting My Crown, which slowly became an exploration of self worth, racism, love, sex and gender to the LP it is today. a reflection of the trans experience during a Trump era, in a pre COVID world, this work pays homage to trans life, brings shame to trans murder and encourages femme resilience.
this class is suitable for beginners and all levels. expect a gentle practice to help us ground and settle our nervous systems. leucas will guide us through somatic experiencing to build resources that will support us in staying connected to our own body, heart and soul while facilitating more release.
a lot is happening around us y'all. our first official winter since the pandemic, changing of offices after the election and all it has entailed, and mass existential crises?! who can catch their breath?!
many of us realize that we have tied our identities to our jobs and tied our success to how much we went out and socialized. as a result, many of us are having major identity crises. during this takeover, we will share the tea + drink some tea.
tips and tricks on how folks are coping, healing and growing during this time. september will share some ways they have been affording grace and forgiveness as times are changing.
