Dancing with Difference: Growth, Compassion, and Healing in Intimate Multi-cultural Relationships

Open to self-identified people of color, including biracial and multi-ethnic individuals of all gender identities, and sexual orientations, whether currently in a relationship or not. Also open to those whose parents (biologic or adoptive) were of a different race or ethnicity.

It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept and celebrate these differences. - Audre Lorde

Cradled in one culture, sandwiched between two cultures, straddling all three . . . la mestiza undergoes a struggle of flesh, a struggle of borders, an inner war. - Gloria Anzaldua

How do we sustain loving in intimate partnerships across racial and ethnic divisions? What gifts and opportunities, or wounds and challenges arise in these relationships? Using embodied spiritual practices, story-telling and movement, we will honor our differences, celebrate our humanity, and explore the transformative power of love and compassion.

Arisika Razak, RN, NM, MPH is the former Chair of the Women’s Spirituality Program at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). Her teachings incorporate diverse spiritual traditions, women's health and healing, multicultural feminisms, queer theory, and contemporary diversity theory. Arisika has led national and international spiritual and healing workshops and ritual celebrations for women for over three decades, as well as embodied spiritual workshops for women and men, including several daylong workshops at EBMC. She has also co-facilitated workshops with Marlene Jones at Spirit Rock Meditation Center.

The East Bay Meditation Center operates using a generosity-based, gift economics model. This means we charge no set registration fees to attend our events and instead rely on the generous giving of our community. All classes at the Center do come with a financial cost. Class participants are offered an opportunity to make a voluntary gift to EBMC during the registration process or at an event itself.

Please note that no one will be turned away for lack of funds. If you would like to explore any EBMC volunteer positions, please send an email expressing your interest to admin@eastbaymeditation.org

EBMC TEACHERS ARE NOT PAID BY THE CENTER and and you can offer a voluntary financial gift to them at the class.

In order to protect the health of community members with environmental illness, please do not wear fragranced products (including natural fragrances) or clothes laundered in fragranced products to EBMC.