Story Workshop for Racial Trauma and Healing

Are you interested in learning to tell your story in bold, beautiful, and life-changing ways?

The Allender Center’s core belief is that we are best known—and our stories are best seen—in the company of others. This Story Workshop is a profound event that invites you deeply into the themes of your life, particularly as a Black, Indigenous, and/or Person of Color experiencing collective and personal stories of trauma living within dominant cultural norms. In the context of a supportive and facilitated environment through teaching and group work, you will receive encouragement and wisdom as you seek to understand, write, tell, and live your story in deeper and more transformative ways.

Now in a live, interactive, online format, the Story Workshop is accessible across multiple time zones and international participants are encouraged to participate.

Workshop Experience

Who this workshop is for:

• If you are Black, Indigenous, and/or a Person of Color we invite you to participate in this workshop.
• If you are not BIPOC, please recognize and honor that this workshop is not for you. We invite you to participate in one of our upcoming Story Workshops.

During this online weekend, you will experience:

• Live, interactive teaching and presentations from Sam Lee, Wendell Moss, Linda Royster, and others, with special emphasis on cultural rituals, body-centering exercises and collaborative teaching formats.
• Small group sessions with a BIPOC Allender Center facilitator who is specifically trained to lead in a virtual format.
• A schedule that incorporates rest and sustainability, including self care resources to utilize throughout the workshop and beyond.
• A seamless learning environment hosted by Zoom technology with access to technical support throughout the program weekend.

“Life-changing! This workshop took me to places emotionally and spiritually that [other conferences I’ve attended] never even approached. I have a renewed desire to follow the dreams I have had since childhood but had shut down over years of lies.” — Story Workshop participant

Preparing for the Workshop

Consider a particular story.

Prior to attending, you will be asked to consider an aspect of your own story that connects you to the deeper categories of trauma or harm. You will be invited to write and bring that story to read in a small group setting. Sharing these stories in a safe, kind space held by a facilitator is part of what takes this work from the head to the heart. More information and guidance will be provided after registration.

Prepare your space.

All small groups and teaching sessions will take place online. Stable internet connection with video and audio capabilities is required to participate. Locate a space in your home or other getaway location that is comfortable and offers privacy throughout the duration of the workshop

Still wondering if this is for you? Read more about what our participants had to say:

“[The small group time] was one of the most powerful experiences I have ever had, and this is saying a lot because I have experienced many different small groups! I was blown away by my facilitator as well, especially how emotionally engaged she was with every person’s story in the group.” — Story Workshop participant

I’ve never had an online course/workshop/meeting that has kept my attention for hours. I always get distracted during online events. You were the first to keep my attention, without distraction. – Online Story Workshop Participant

This was my first virtual workshop on Zoom and I would definitely do it again. – Online Story Workshop Participant

Workshop Details & Registration Process