At Rafiki we are feeling compelled by a request from community and the needs of our own staff to offer a series of HEALING CIRCLES that provide an opportunity for our community to come together to acknowledge our pain and grief and learn and engage with healing tools and ideas.

Why are the Healing Circles Crucial?

We cannot and must not become numb and compliant in the face of violence. To date this year there have been 13 homicides and 338 aggravated assaults in San Francisco’s Bayview/Hunters Point neighborhood. The traumatic impact of these numbers is amplified through proximity to, and the witnessing of violence.

Rafiki Director of Programs Javarré Wilson emphatically explains: “Our community is hurting—even those who don’t know they are and those who have internalized the pain and hurt. Too many of our youth and young adults have grown numb to the attacks of violence in our community and view it as just a daily part of their experience. Too often members of our community have approached me with heavy hearts expressing that someone else from our community has been violently attacked or murdered. Our hearts are heavy and filled with so much pain. We must do better to end this violence across our communities. There are some who have given up or resigned to the fact there is nothing we can do. As Rafiki’s Director of Programs I want to encourage us all that there is always something we can do.”

We are excited to host this series of HEALING CIRCLES led by the brilliant Dr. Brenda Wade and that include the following:

• Four group healing circles to be held in person at Rafiki. (Wednesdays, December 14 and 21. January Dates TBD)
• A safe space to acknowledge, grieve, learn from and share with each other.
• Community participants will include frontline workers, youth, and families dealing with loss and grief.
• A delicious and healthy hot meal and healthy grocery boxes to take home will be available.
• Gift cards for $100 will be raffled.
• Incentives (Nintendo Switches) for youth attendance will be raffled.
• African drum circle and other healing modalities will be offered.

Please look for more information on our website or contact Javarré Wilson at javarre@rafikicoalition.org.