Far too often the leadership of women, genderqueer, and non-binary individuals has been sidelined and erased. Through the Women’s Public Leadership Program, Access Strategies Fund aims to elevate and promote the leadership of women, genderqueer non-binary people of color. We do so by funding initiatives and retreats that offer a space for community building, mutual learning and healing.
INITIATIVES WE SUPPORT
Healing Retreats
The most valuable part of a movement are its people. The energy, creativity, thoughtfulness, and care of people make movements flourish or stagnate. We want to sustain our people and the power they bring to our community and work.
Through its Women’s Public Leadership program area, Access Strategies Fund has responded to the call from Black and brown women, femme, and genderqueer people to support and elevate the leadership for women, genderqueer, and nonbinary people of color through healing and healing justice.
The Women’s Pipeline for Change is a coalition of innovative women of color leaders, women of color-led organizations and allies focused on expanding opportunities in public leadership for women of color in Massachusetts.
Pipeline members represent a wide range of fields, skills and backgrounds, from community organizations, political organizing and advocacy, to academia and research, training, and leadership development.
Healing Justice Events from 2021
Seasoning with Sadada: Relating with the Seasons-Spring
Facilitated by: Sadada Jackson
Workshop Description: The seasons hold a great deal of wisdom. As we move through the pandemic, COVID-19, white supremacy, antiblack racism, capitalism, and colonization, the wisdom of the season can be a source of support, healings, and refuge for our bodies, hearts, and our work as activist healers, educators. In this workshop, we will use our bodies, our hearts, and our senses to explore our relationship to this coming season: spring. We will do this by reflecting, exploring, and imaging how this time of year can support us, how the season is teaching us and apply these lessons in our life, our work and how to connect to the teachings of the spring. We will use movement and breathwork to ground and explore our relationship to the season, along with reflection. We will also explore our relationship to plants, using items from your home and investigating the kinds of plant-based relationships that can support and care for us during this season.
Parenting in the Pandemic? You Are Not Alone
Facilitated by: Eroc Arroyo
Workshop Description: Tryna work, Tryna Parent…who are you kidding. Parenting is also work. Together we will bear witness to each other, share stories, and learn from the wisdom of community. We will connect, reflect, build on the moment, and resource each other in this collective experience.
Supporting Mental Health During Times of Social Distancing
Facilitated by: Keyona Aviles
Workshop Description: In this session, participants will learn to use breath and movement to elicit your body’s natural ability to heal, learn / review ways to navigate stigma & isolation unique to this moment, and learn / review ways to recognize signs of distress and illness in yourself and/or those you care for.
Come as you are, leave with practiced tools to support connection.
Self Care Paint Party
Facilitated by: Kyia Watkins
Workshop Description: The talented Kyia Watkins of AtPeaceArts guides participants in creating personal masterpieces the way she has thousands of people over the years. Prepare to have a good time, share laughter, and listen to good music. No art experience is necessary! Together participants will paint a specially selected spring-inspired art piece as another way to continue building and bonding during these times of physical distancing.
Connecting with Nature and the Ancestor
Facilitated by: Initiated Dagara Elder Mama Lula
Workshop Description: In the sacred groves of Franklin Park, we will spend time in nature with our spirit allies as we lie on the lap of the earth mother for the nurturing we need, feel the support of the Tall Ones, be solid as a rock as we unlock the records to remember our purpose, and flow like water for peace, reconciliation and healing
Resourcing with Plantitas and The Stars (Kitchen herbs and Astrology)
Facilitated by: Sol Gomez
Workshop Description: An exploration of how we can find resourcing in relationship with plants and the stars. They will frame this current astrological moment for us, offer reflection space, and lead us through a plant meditation with kitchen herb, rosemary. Participants will be invited to sit with rosemary as a tea or as a foot or hand soak.
Creating Rituals & Altars as a Source of Support During Times of Isolation and Stress
Facilitated by: Luana Morales
Workshop Description: During this workshop we will be talking about ritual as a way to set the rhythms that bring our energy back to ourselves and creating altars as a portal of power to ground us during times of isolation and stress. When we feel lonely, especially when we have experienced extended solitude or anxiety, these practices help us to connect with the present moment, our bodies, the generosity and expansiveness of nature, our ancestors, and whatever supportive energies you want to call in to hold you during times of vulnerability.
KEY PARTNERS
Mass Vote, Boston Women’s Fund, Luana Morales, Sadada Jackson, Mama Lula, Keyona Aviles, Kyia, Sol Gonzalez, Eroc Arroyo, & Isaura Oliveira
