*WE BELONG: Heart Practice for Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous & POC

Wednesdays, September 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th 2022

6:30 - 8:30PM PT (Time Zone Converter)

Join Us In Person or Via Zoom!

As our world burns in conflict and violence we return to heart practice to find refuge and belonging. As Queer and/or Trans People of Color we are under attack, sometimes at multiple identity locations. This class series will create a space for us to practice together, to build community, belonging and resilience to hold our outrage, fear and grief. We will use the four divine abodes of Lovingkindness, Compassion, Joy and Equanimity as a foundation to resource ourselves to meet this moment.

This class is suitable for both new and experienced meditators and open to self-identified Queer and/or Trans People of Color.

For those wishing to practice in person, space will be limited to 40 people to allow ample space for social distancing. Participants will be ask to wear N95 or KN95 face masks and be fully vaccinated against covid19. (N95 face masks will be available at EBMC.)

100% of our programming is sliding scale and no one will ever be turned away for lack of funds. Thank you for the gifts of your generosity and for supporting the work of East Bay Meditation Center and our beloved teachers. You are invited to make donations directly to the teachers to support their Dharma service.

East Bay Meditation Center is a scent free / fragrance free space and is wheelchair accessible.

Closed Captions are provided for those joining us online.

René Rivera (he, him) is a meditation teacher, restorative justice facilitator, and leader, working and learning in all the spaces in-between race, gender, and other perceived binaries, as a queer, mixed-race, trans man. René teaches heart-centered, trauma-informed meditation, at the East Bay Meditation Center and other meditation centers. He has co-led the first residential meditation retreats for transgender, nonbinary and gender expansive people. René is a restorative justice facilitator for the Ahimsa Collective, working to heal sexual and gender based violence.

To offer a gift to support the teachings, please do so via Paypal: PayPal.Me/ReneRiveraOak

Patrick Brown is an activist, advocate and teacher from Chicago. Patrick moved to California and first came to EBMC in 2010 as a practitioner with the People of Color and Alphabet Sanghas. As an advocate and facilitator, his professional career is focused on racial equity and leadership development and is supported by his practice and the teachings of the Dharma. Patrick completed EBMC’s Commit to Dharma program in 2015 and he is a proud graduate of the Community Dharma Leaders’ fifth cohort (CDL5) training with Spirit Rock. Patrick has served on the POC and Alphabet coordinating committees and recently began teaching both at EBMC and in Sanghas throughout the Bay Area. Patrick is grateful for the deepening of his practice in the EBMC community and committed to expanding access to the Dharma to all beings.