Radically Reimagining Healing for Racial Stress and Trauma

Considering the effects of oppressive systems on the mind, body, and soul, how do those hurt by oppression heal? How do we deconstruct systems of oppression while simultaneously reconstructing systems of support that cultivate individual and community wellbeing? How can we respond to racism and oppression in restorative ways? What does healing look like for people of color? That is what we hope to explore in this panel discussion featuring Dr. Gail Parker, Dr. Zuleka Henderson, JaLisa Williams, and Asia Dorsey, moderated by Ozy Aloziem. This conversation will invite you to reimagine what healing looks like for racialized people using a variety of traditional and indigenous practices.

Registration is required below, and we will send you the event link.

This program will take place on Zoom.

Gail Parker, Ph.D. CIAYT, E-RYT 500 is an author, psychologist, educator, and certified yoga therapist. She serves as President of the Black Yoga Teachers Alliance Board of Directors. She is the author of Restorative Yoga for Ethnic and Race-Based Stress and Trauma, and Transforming Ethnic and Race-Based Traumatic Stress With Yoga (coming November, 2021).

Dr. Zuleka R. Henderson is a lecturer at the Columbia University School of Social Work. She is a licensed social worker from Brooklyn, NY whose practice experience includes delivering school and community-based mental health services using African-centered wellness models. Grounded in the theories of historical trauma and healing-centered practice, her research coalesces around trauma, mental health, and conceptualizations of healing for Black people across generations. Currently, Dr. Henderson’s focus is on translating African-centered conceptualizations of wellness into community-based mental health spaces for Black people who do not see traditional clinical services as an option for healing.

Asia Dorsey writes Afrofutures into existence by reweaving Black bodies into relationship with the earth through the fabric of food. She studied food and sociology at New York University but extended her education to include public health nutrition in Accra Ghana, seed sovereignty in Northern India with Vandana Shiva, and biological agriculture centering ancestral nutrition with Kay Baxter in New Zealand. After healing her depression with Bones, Bugs and Botany Asia brought fourth the Five Points Fermentation Company in 2016 to bring probiotics to the people. As a bioregional herbalist apprenticing with Herbal Elder Susun Weed, organizational ecologist with Regenerate Change  and permaculture instructor, with the  Denver Permaculture Guild , Asia deciphers and reintegrates the sacred instructions of microorganism, plants and animals to bring the patterns of ecosystems into our people systems. You can find her curating educational programs at the  Seeds of Power Unity Farm  bone-deep in soil, balancing botanical chaos long enough, for her people,to rise together in power and step into the wholeness that is their birthright. Join in and support her creations at  Patreon  and on  Instagram. 

JaLisa Williams, LCSW is a fierce therapist, educator, and curator who has worked to create intentional spaces and conversations regarding self-care, diversity, and liberation. Within both roles as an educator and therapist, JaLisa enjoys the ability to help others grow within themselves and their understanding of the world. As a college professor, she challenges conventional ways of teaching by engaging students in experiences that shift their perspective and understandings of their own social positioning. Once she started to claim her power in creating space, she began her business Soulflower Experiences, where she cultivates space in the community to ground people in goodness, love, and light. Find her on Instagram @SoulflowerExperiences to keep yourself updated on the events that she has manifested to fruition or email at soulflower.jw@gmail.com for booking inquiries. #NamasteFam

Ozy Aloziem is an Igbo social worker deeply committed to collective liberation and social justice.  Originally raised on Omaha land, she has been a visitor on Arapaho, Cheyenne and Ute territories since 2015. Ozy is the Denver Public Library's first Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Manager. She also serves as a racial equity & racial healing consultant for several organizations across the nation.  In her free time she enjoys collaboratively curating creative spaces and content for diasporic healing.