Dear Friends,

I hope you will join us for Opening Heart Online Sangha’s next free webinar on Anti-black racism- -this one led by Katie Loncke- the co-director of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship. 

Katie Lonke (they/them), Director of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship will lead this webinar. Katie has traveled among "angelic troublemakers"* for over 20 years; engaged Buddhists for over 12;** and Black liberation lineages for generations — with family stretching back to West Africa via the Caribbean and so-called West Indies. 

Katie will share their experience and knowledge about these and other aspects of anti-black racism: 

• How anti-Black racism shows up in the COVID-19 pandemic

• Blackness as a social construct, both 'real' and 'not-real,' and relevance to non/duality

• Black is Beautiful: appreciation vs. appropriation among Black & non-Black people

As a mindfulness practice community, we aim to support the unraveling of our conditioning into anti-black racism, as well as the growth of inclusive, equitable, and beloved communities. In order to do that, we must first understand the experience of people of African descent, including understanding how anti-blackness can be as overt as police killings and as subtle as unmindful speech or being passed over for a work promotion.  

Anti-black racism is the cause of enormous wealth disparities between White and Black individuals. And, anti-black racism is at the root of high rates of maternal disease and infant mortality rates in Black women, as well as the root cause of the inequity of deaths from COVID-19 today. 

The COVID-19 pandemic is disproportionately affecting communities of color because of the systemic racism that allows segments of our population to have less access to healthcare and health insurance and therefore worse health outcomes. At the same time, Black people continue to face exposure to the virus because they provide the essential skills that keep our country going, such as transportation, nursing, restaurant work, and so much more. In May we will have a live conversation with Roshi Joan Halifax and Frank Osteseski on Grief and Loss, and in June we will hear from two amazing women from the Justice Funders organization on Intentional Giving for transformation. Whether you give a little or a lot, they will help us learn how to give for the biggest impact.

Hope you can join us!

much love,

annie & adriana

Opening Heart Mindfulness & Making-Visible.