A collaboration between both Across Boundaries and Adornment Stories, Exhale/Inhale is the little cousin of Across Boundaries’ feel good programming for BIPOC 2LGBTQ+ community called Inhale/Exhale that exclusively caters to Black 2SLGBTQ+ community in Canada. Exhale/Inhale is a weekly virtual program focused on sharing knowledge around wellness, mindfulness, and Black LGBTQ+ mental health. We fuse movement, dance and storytelling to unpack themes of intersectionality, and the cultural nuances of living, loving and thriving on the margins.
Mind – educational, thought pieces that encourage us to reflect
Body – expressing ourselves through movement
Spirit – conversations and showcases that connect to the spiritual healing of Black Queer and Trans community
Instagram Live – hosted by Black 2SLGBTQ+ educators and artists in our community, this platform will be hosted on Adornment Stories’ instagram. Our facilitators will discuss wellness topics and host movement sessions from their homes and engage with a wide audience through Live and recordings.
Zoom – A private, intimate setting for exclusively Black 2SGBTQ+ folks, also hosted by Black 2SLGBTQ+ facilitators in community that requires registration. This is to ensure the need for support persons are available and the community feels safe in discussing topics amongst each other.
Overview: Exploring ways to reimagine our relationship to substances and tools for increasing harm reduction
Goals: To explore the impact of recreational drug use within Queer and Trans communities
Outcome: To engage in dialogue and decrease stigma around drug use and how to harm reduction Incorporating a spectrum of strategies that include safer use
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Overview: Exploring our connection to food and community led by a homecook/chef that creates culturally ACB food.
Goals: Exploring the history of food as central to Afro diasporic Queer and Trans communities
Outcome: To engage Black queer and Trans ACB (African, Caribbean, Black) communities through dialogue about ancestral food
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Overview: A guided art making session and conversation piece for Black queer and trans communities to explore the importance of art in fostering community and connection
Goals: Engaging in the arts as a healing practice
Outcome: An evening for folks to gather, meet new communities and engage in art as a healing practice guided paint
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Overview: A conversation hosted by a Black 2SLGBTQ+ educator and spiritual practitioner discussing faith, religion, and spirituality and it’s unique relationship it has in Black 2SLGBTQ+ community
Goals: To engage in a nonjudgemental conversation with other Black 2SLGBTQ+ community looking to connect on the topics of religion and spirituality
Outcome: An open dialogue on the impacts, challenges and benefits of spirituality in Black queer and Trans circles
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Overview: Exploring Afro-Futurism in the lens of Black 2SLGBTQ+ artists through visual art, writing, and music
Goals: A platform that showcases the artistic work of visual artists, writers, musicians on the topic of Afro Futurism and what it means to them and community members
Outcome: Engaging with local artists and highlighting their work relating to Afro-Futurism with Black Queer and Trans community
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Overview: Exploring pleasurable movement as a modality that achieves wellness
Goals: Feelig Good
Outcome: Expressing ourselves in moving our bodies in a way that feels good
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Overview: A creative writing journaling practice hosted by facilitator of a topic of their choosing that connects to the experiences and mental health of Black 2SLGBTQ+ folks
Goals: Using writing prompts that stretch folks to explore their connection to themselves and the ancestors around us.
Outcome:Connecting with the ancestral practise of storytelling and self introspection through creative writing in an open and welcoming environment
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Overview: Reimagining Black queer and trans futures through a health and fitness lens
Goals: Sharing perspectives around healing and providing useful tools that honours our bodies and physical abilities
Outcome: Sharing stories and connecting with community through lived and professional experiences
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Overview: A live discussion with Black Queer/Trans Careworkers (ie.midwives, doulas, peer supporters, Mental Health professionals and parents) exploring the roles of collective care within a healing practice
Goals: Gaining some new perspectives and knowledge in implementing practices of care in intimate circles
Outcome: Creating space for intergenerational knowledge share and conversation
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Overview: Exploring pleasurable movement as a modality that achieves wellness
Goals: Feeling good
Outcome: Expressing ourselves in moving our bodies in a way that feels good
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Overview: A conversation where Black Queer + Trans community members discuss community, love and friendship
Goals: Exploring what it means to love and different kinds of love within Black queer and trans communities.
Outcome: A space where Black Queer and Trans community can feel safe to discuss love and the relationship we have to it
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Overview: Exploring the everyday nuances of being Black, living with Disability, Neurodivergence and/or Madness
Goals:An introduction to the space + and a deep dive into a intergenerational conversations around “madness”, disability and gaining a deeper understanding of Disability Justice and it’s framework
Outcome: Engaging community to build a deeper understanding of Disability, Neurodivergence and Madness from a Black LGBTQ+ perspective through open and transparent conversation.
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Overview: Celebrating TDOV – Highlighting Black Trans sensuality, love, healing and liberation through performances (movement, singing, etc).
Goals: Exploring performance art as a tool to nurture community, healing and expression
Outcome: Celebrating sensuality, love, healing and liberation through artistic expression with community
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