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Healing Toward Social Justice

My good friend Sunshine Dixon shared with me her latest project: writing a play for the seventh annual Liberation-Based Healing Conference, hosted by Lewis and Clark College. The concept of relational healing from mental, emotional and social trauma applies social justice to empowering people to identify oppressive structures in society, and the best ways to overcome them.

The conference is organized by Dr. Andraé Brown, Ph.D., assistant professor of counseling psychology and Lewis and Clark College. Sunshine is among an impressive list of educators, activists, therapists, community organizers and spiritual leaders who are presenting at the conference, to be held Oct. 19-20. Topics include  understanding colonizing symbols, dismantling white supremacy, youth empowerment, community activism, and more. A number of local leaders like Jeri Williams, Judith Mowry, Se-ah-dom Edmo, and others will share lessons learned and success from programs that promote social equity in diverse communities.

Why this conference, and why in Portland? Hear Dr. Brown talk about liberation-based healing:

The play "Hands of Time," boasts a multi-generational, multi-cultural cast of people from the community. According to Sunshine, her vision is to portray "a moving account of lives in crisis, when the gaps in service widen, and seem to swallow families alive. It also reveals the possibilities of groups, families, and individuals to use unique tools that serve to bring peace and possibility into once-volatile situations."

Everyone is invited to attend the community dialogue conference on Saturday, Oct. 20. Discussions will focus on exploring opportunities to further develop grassroots and lasting community change in Portland. 

I will be visiting Dr. Brown for a more in-depth look at the groundbreaking work that L&C students and faculty are championing to provide access to mental health resources. Along with Dr. Pilar Hernandez-Wolfe, Dr. Brown helps staff the Community Counseling Clinic, which provides a wide range of low-cost counseling and therapy services for people seeking help with mental health, addictions, and relationships issues.

More to come ...



 

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