2017 Embodied Learning Summit
Theme: “Bring It to the Mat: Yoga, Mindfulness, and Racial Justice”
UPDATE 3.4.17: CHECK OUT PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT HERE.
Saturday, February 25th
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
The Ark, East Campus
Duke University
Durham, NC
Join us and enjoy workshops from local and national leaders in yoga activism and mindful practice!
Sliding scale suggested donation: $5 – $35 includes keynote experience, lunch, and all workshops.
Trayvon Martin. Shereese Francis. Keith Lamont Scott. Sandra Bland. Michael Brown. Alton Sterling. Natasha McKenna. Philando Castile. Freddie Gray. Eric Garner. Tanisha Anderson. Tamir Rice. Walter Scott. John Crawford III. Yvette Smith. Ezell Ford. Zachary Hammond. Eric Harris. Miriam Carey. Sean Bell. Laquan McDonald. Christian Taylor. Shelly Frey. Brendon Glenn. Samuel DuBose. Rekia Boyd. And Countless Others. Their lives matter.
Racism, oppression, and white supremacy are deeply embedded into our society – historically, systemically, and culturally. Brown and Black people continue to be mistreated physically and emotionally by our society and its institutions that are meant to protect all. People of color are disproportionately incarcerated and too many people of color have died at the hands of our justice system. It’s time to start having meaningful and difficult conversations about racism, oppression, and injustice in this country.
As yogis, healers, educators, and mindfulness practitioners, we have a responsibility to put our yoga practice and values into action to fight the systems and beliefs that disenfranchise people of color. Now is the time for us to show solidarity by devoting our practice to something bigger than ourselves – racial justice. Doing so will bridge the gap between personal healing and racial justice, moving us toward collective healing.
Conversations about race and racism can be difficult and uncomfortable, but allowing ourselves to feel that discomfort without becoming defensive or withdrawn is the only place to start. To truly understand racism and oppression, we believe it is important to listen thoughtfully to the experiences and needs of people of color and activists, but to also be able to ask questions or raise concerns without fear of judgment or anger. The 2017 Embodied Learning Summit will create a safe space for us to start having these difficult conversations. Bring it all to the mat.
This conference is sparked by the ongoing interdisciplinary research and community building of Professor Keval Kaur Khalsa and Dr. Michele T. Berger. Keval Kaur Khalsa is Professor of the Practice of Dance and Theater Studies at Duke University and the Regional Coordinator for Y.O.G.A. for Youth NC. Dr. Berger is an Associate Professor in the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies at UNC-CH and the Director of the Faculty Fellows Program at the University of North Carolina’s Institute for the Arts and Humanities. This summit is for everyone who is interested in movement, mindfulness, and racial justice work. It is for everyone who has been hesitant to have these conversations, but wants the tools to begin fighting racism in their everyday lives. You can be a longtime practitioner of yoga or new to the mat. We invite all people interested in movement work and mindfulness, not just yoga.
Chelsea Jackson Roberts will be the Keynote Leader for the Summit. Chelsea is a long-time yoga practitioner and educator. She has a PhD from the Division of Educational Studies at Emory University, and her research specializes in yoga for youth, yoga as a tool for social justice, and yoga for marginalized populations.
