Leaders of Color Lean Into Their Healing
In December 2023, EJUSA was honored to host a healing retreat for allies and partners in the fight for justice. Members of the Leaders of Color (LOC) within the death penalty movement, came together for support and fellowship in their healing. Cohabitating space in a beautiful home overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, collectively they exhaled. Exploring healing through culinary, ancestral and therapeutic avenues. Connecting the dots with smells and moods, teas and health, validation and resilience with a sprinkle of VIPcare. Enjoying homemade meals and breaking bread together while wiping each other’s tears through some intense emotional sessions. A support group leaning on their individual and collective traumas. Heavy work demands heavy care, it was time to invest in us.
As a member of this group myself, I understand the need of creating a wellness infrastructure that supports the needs of the advocates doing the heavy work of those condemned by a harmful justice system.Creating spaces for those carrying the additional burden of protecting and empowering their impacted communities is a must. We cannot ignore the compounded grief and trauma of our own village. It was time to find ways to pour into them with the love and tools necessary to support their healing.
“This experience was life-changing”- Sheri Dickerson
I am a part of an amazing team at EJUSA supporting partners within the violence prevention movement space. Creating spaces for partners to workshop their healing needs. What does healing justice look like for the community of healers advocating for our most vulnerable and ignored? How do we provide care for our mental, physical and emotional wellness? What tips and tools can we provide? It’s an honor to explore this healing justice journey together with our fierce allies of the movement work. Healing justice is an investment in our care and I’m all in.
Leaders of Color Continued Care Takeaways
- We dis-empower disinformation and narratives that harm our community. Our community, our stories and our narratives matter.
- Your rest IS resistance! Taking care of you is important for the movement. Refuel your tank by remembering your why!
- In order to get through grief you have to FEEL through it. We must mourn the grief and trauma of our work.
