Community First!
Some moments captured on our first “Community First!” gathering. Featured are singer, ASCAP award winning songwriter, musician, and Emmy nominated producer Sheree Brown (upper left); Afro Cuban Drummer and Ethnomusicologist Melena Valdés (far right); psychotherapist and artist Liliana Rodríguez (lower left); teacher and artist Dr. Julio Hanson (left); psychotherapists Mónica de la Cruz López Leal and Elizabeth González Morales (right).
In a time of turmoil, as our world experiences inevitable shifts, we need to reconnect with inner resources and community support. Our intersectional identities offer multiple opportunities to experience connection, which is as essential as water for soup. This creates space so that soul-nourishing experiences ground and uplift us. With that in mind, the “Community First!” series was created at the end of 2024. Interestingly enough, the first gathering by this name landed on Panama’s celebration of Mother’s Day (December 8th). As a Panamanian woman raised in a culturally rich environment, where community bonds are constantly highlighted, it was fitting to begin on my homeland’s day of tribute to mothering, nurturing, and community-building.
This in-person event is a great opportunity to meet new people. Healing and moving through life's challenging experiences require community building. Generations of communities have proven this to be true. We will continue to do it by coming together to be grounded, supported, and celebrated. There will be music, food, conversation, and experiences supporting us in these shifts the world is going through. Therapists and artists will facilitate activities, and join a panel, exploring their diverse forms of expertise to create wellness. The original one included artists Brigette Dunn-Korpela, Julio Hanson, Valaira Sa-Ra, and Joyce Thomas. The clinicians were represented by my colleagues Lily Rodríguez, Mónica de la Cruz López Leal, Elizabeth González Morales, and Dr. Makisha Lawrence. Together we supported our community through experiential activities to make memorable the process of reconnection with our strengths beyond mere resilience, emphasizing the power of the pause to catch perspective, regain focus, and take deliberate healing action.
During the upcoming iteration of this event, our focus will be on the role of music, movement, and the aesthetics of our cultures as powerful resources for resilience and thriving!
All experiences of this gathering, intend to engage in reflection, strengthen our sense of community, and amplify our innate and cultivated gifts for healing. We shall immerse ourselves in this process at Plaza de la Raza on July 12th!