UBTR: Mindfulness Group for Trans BiMPOC*

Uncovering Brilliance, Transforming Racism:
This is a Liberation Process
An 8 Week Mindfulness Meditation Group
for Two-Spirit, Trans, Non-Binary, Gender diverse  BIMPOC*

8 Tuesdays  January 29 - March 19, 2019
6:30 pm -8:30 pm
Fraser and Broadway Area
light snacks and compass tickets available

This group takes place on the unceded homelands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueum), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) People  "Vancouver".

*This group is for  self-identified Black, Indigenous, Metis, Inuit,  multi-racial and/or people of colour who are also of Two-Spirit, trans, non-binary, gender expansive experience. 

Do you feel heart break from:

• ​​ongoing gender-based racism? And no amount of radical thinking seems to mend the hurt
• knowing you’re brilliant, but feel far from that truth
• holding your communities up but not sure if you are even okay?

 
Do you have a sense that mindfulness could support your well-being but you weren’t sure where to go?

Good news.
 
This winter, you have a rare chance to gather among a group of Trans BIMPoC* to learn mindfulness and self-compassion meditation practices.
 
We’ll cover practices to process difficult feelings (ie. hurt from micro-aggressions), grow resilience and joy.

Current western medical evidence also shows how consistent mindfulness practice has potential to:

• increase resilience to stress
• increase compassion
• reduce oppressive/unconscious bias
• promote healing
• live better with chronic pain
• improve overall quality of life
• grow a healthier relationship to self.  In doing so, to all your relations.

 
Winter, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, is the best season for this inner work.  And it’s cost free!  What could be a greater gift to yourself to start off 2019?

There is no time to lose. Because you’re life is precious. Because “ racism is a heart disease and it’s curable” (Ruth King, 2018). Don’t ignore the call of heart break. 

Let’s do our internal work. For a more joy full, kinder and just world.

Is UBTR group for me?

• Do you self-identify as a Black, Indigenous, Métis, Inuit, Multi-racial, Person of Colour, racialized person, visible minority of Two-Spirit, non-binary, gender diverse, trans experience (Trans BIMPoC*)?
  
  
• Do you have an interest in getting to know your direct experience of feelings, thoughts, body sensations in the present moment, whatever that may be, with facilitated support?

 

• Do you have readiness and  enough routine, structure, physical, emotional stability to  practice mindfulness every day. Daily commitment to practice is the intention – even a few minutes a day; length of practice is not the focus.

 

• Can you commit to attending the 8 group sessions?

 
If you answered yes to all 4 above, UBTR is for you!

This group is intended for intergenerational youth, adults and seniors (Age: 21 yrs old +)

​I’m interested! What’s next?

• Come to the Community Info Session on Dec. 12, 6:30-8:30pm, PeerNet BC.
• Contact [email protected] or 778-829-8959 to reserve a spot. And to ensure access needs are met.
• Register early. There will approximately 18 Community Info Session spots
• We strive to be a scent-free environment-please refrain from wearing perfumes or scents.
• Compass tickets are available

What happens at the Community Info Session?

• Experience the mindfulness facilitation style to see if it’s right for you
• Engage in a community consultation by contributing your ideas to make this group great
• Ask questions
• Enjoy snacks
• Reclaim 2 hrs of your life from  Facebook 

I can’t make the Community Info Session. Can I still register for UBTR’s 8 week Mindfulness Group?
For sure. Contact [email protected] or 778-829-8959 to schedule a 15 min intake to check in and see if it's  the right time to practice with UBTR.

Why Trans BIMPoC*?
Black, Indigenous, Métis, Inuit, Multi-racial, People of Colour, racialized people, visible minorities with Two-Spirit, trans, and/or gender diverse experience (Trans BIPoC*) are profound complex human expressions.

Yet, instead of a wise world that uplifts us, we live in a world that annihilates complexity. Black, Indigenous, women of colour of trans-experience and Two-Spirit people are disproportionately impacted by hate-based violence.

Local and national consultation with Trans BIMPoC* communities are asking for intentional spaces to attend to our mental, emotional, and physical well-being.

UBTR intends to answer a call from the TransBIMPoC* communities by offering an intersectional and inclusive space to:

• Take care of the invisible wounds of intersecting cultural oppression (ie. anti-Black racism, anti-Indigenous racism, Islamophobia, trans misogyny, transphobia, fatphobia)
• Reclaim joyful fun  in our unique and cultural ways
• Practice different ways of  knowing that’s often discounted or appropriated in mainstream culture.
• Grow healthy relationship to our innately brilliant selves. In doing so, grow healthy relationships to all our relations.
• Trust that our experiences will be validated instead of pathologized

​How many people will be in this workshop?
Approximately 10 participants. Register early to reserve your spot.
 
What happens in at the group?
In the first part, information will be shared on how a mindfulness paradigm may benefit us and our collective well-being. Psycho-education on how difficult emotions activate our heart, mind, body systems will be integrated. Poetry is also used to illustrate mindfulness and compassion concepts. A mindfulness practice will be introduced and we will engage in this practice.  In the second part, the facilitator will open the workshop for any questions or reflections on the mindfulness and compassion practice.
 
What can I expect from attending this group?
This is an educational group that is  practice based and experiential.

You can expect to learn about and experience mindfulness and self-compassion practices in a supportive environment which encourages you to directly gently explore your feelings, thoughts, and sensations. 
 
You can expect to have time and space to ask any questions related to your experience of the mindfulness practices.
 
You can expect to learn how mindfulness based practices and paradigm can benefit our well-being in order to strengthen our social justice, reconciliation  and liberational work.

You can expect the group will be facilitated from a trauma informed anti-oppression approach, where lived experiences of being discriminated and intersectional worldviews are welcomed.

Can you provide an example of a mindfulness and compassion practice?
An example of mindfulness practice could be mindfulness of the breath, sound, body scan, thoughts, feelings, walking, standing, moving.
 
A self-compassion practice may be  bringing your awareness with kindness; to whatever you are experience with an allowance for the experience with kind acceptance, no rejection, no changing, no pushing away what is present.
 

If you'd like to register after attending the Community Info Session 
Please register with Lu Lam
[email protected] I 778-829-8959
Group Registration Closing Date is January 15, 2019

​​Mindfulness Facilitator: Lu Lam, M. Ed. C.C.C.  is a Chinese-Taiwanese trans-identified Mindfulness Counsellor and Consultant. He gratefully acknowledges the  xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueum), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh ) People and their unceded homelands, where he works and lives as a settler learning to be a guest. Lu finds joy in creating spaces for people to uncover who they truly are in order to strengthen our social justice work.  He brings 20 years of group facilitation experience, 10 years of daily mindfulness practice, is in continuous mindfulness study, and attends yearly meditation retreats. For fun, Lu loves to feast with family, camp and swim in nature.  

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Peer Wellness Mentor: Shay Loo, BA Psych. 

Shay Loo, BA Psych. is a mixed Chinese and Scottish trans woman born and raised on the unceded, ancestral, and traditional lands of the Musqueum, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. Shay is excited to have an opportunity to give back to her community and grow together through this group. She has a certificate in narrative therapy and hopes to become a counselor in the future. She enjoys playing in local queer sports leagues and taking walks along the seawall.