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HELP RACHAEL FUND HER SOMATICS TRAINING

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~ HELP RACHAEL RAISE $3,000 FOR GENERATIVE SOMATICS TUITION ~ My name is Rachael Derello. I am a queer Black mother and cultural organizer. I am also a survivor of sexual assault. I have spent much of my time in this world, living outside of my body, detached from it. Recently, while participating in the BOLD (Black Organizing for Leadership and Dignity) program, I was exposed to somatics - a path, a methodology, a change theory that works through the body, engaging us in our thinking, emotions, commitments, vision and action. The exercises we participated in were both incredibly difficult and life-changing. They soon became an important gauge for how much I had healed and what still needed salve applied.

In Fall 2013, I began participating in the Generative Somatics: Somatics and Trauma program. This program is led by some very exceptional people that are deeply dedicated to supporting people like me in healing and transforming trauma. The vast knowledge that this training provides, along with the brilliant instructors and the hands-on somatic bodywork helped me re-surface and address old wounds and memories that I thought were long gone. It has also helped me to love myself more deeply than I thought was possible. Instead of feeling full of shame, I can now begin to look at myself, my behaviors and actions and appreciate how they have aided in my survival. I can also see the places where they may no longer serve me.

While I've come a long way, I still have a lot of work to do in order to walk in my full power and dignity. I need your support to continue my healing work. The cost of the course is $4,000, which is way more than I can afford - I don't think anyone should be denied the opportunity to heal. I am reaching out to my loved ones to support me in raising $3,000, which covers tuition and transportation costs from Durham, North Carolina to New York City, where the trainings occur every other month through March 2014.

To learn more about me or the program, please read below.


Thank you for supporting me in this journey!

Light,
Rachael Derello



ABOUT RACHAEL DERELLO
I believe that we should all be free; that individual, collective and ancestral healing is a necessity; that we each deserve to be safe in our own bodies; that we already have everything we need - it's in our bones (citation: Mama Nayo).

My movement commitment is to ensuring that we as Black women know we are inherently valuable and deserving of safety at all times, for the sake of our very breath. My life's work is to support the self-repair of fellow survivors of sexual assault and to build a space to unearth, heal and transform the harmful experiences that keep many of us from living our most full lives. By the end of this course, I will have deepened my already budding individualized somatic practice and will be equipped with some of the tools that I need to bring this impactful work back to my own community.

I work as a cultural organizer with SpiritHouse. We use arts and media, culture and grassroots organizing to empower and give voice to ourselves and our communities. SpiritHouse has worked with low-wealth families and community members to uncover and uproot the systemic barriers that prevent us from gaining the resources, leverage and capacity for long-term self-sufficiency.
As a result of childhood trauma, I have struggled with forming authentic intimate relationships with others. I have learned to create the illusion of intimacy without actually letting people in. There were times that I wanted to open myself to receiving love, support and closeness, but I couldn't, because I would have to trust and that left me feeling too vulnerable. The lack of reciprocal intimacy has affected every relationship that I have been in. At this point in my life, I'd like to experience more authentic forms of intimacy.


ABOUT GENERATIVE SOMATICS: SOMATICS AND TRAUMA Generative Somatics is committed to growing a compelling and transformative social and environmental justice movement - one that integrates personal and social liberation. We are building a movement that embodies the creativity, life-affirming actions, and rigor needed to build a society for all to thrive. It is in this spirit that we hope our 2013-2014 programming lives.

Staci Haynes, is the developer of Generative Somatics and the Somatics and Trauma courses. Staci integrates her extensive study in personal and social change, trauma and recovery and Neuro-Linguistic Programming into this unique and powerful work. Staci is also a co-founder of generationFIVE, a social justice organization whose mission is to end abuse of children within 5 generations through survivor leadership, community organizing, transformative justice approaches and movement building.

Lisa Thomas-Adeyemo is a passionate Southern-born Healer, Priestess, educator, song weaver, social justice advocate and proud Mother dedicated to being a midwife for deep healing and transformation within the community. As a politicized educator, Lisa has worked with middle and high school youth and adults challenging beliefs, stereotypes and behaviors that lead to sexual-, gender- and race-based violence and oppression, and has facilitated groups for youth of color exploring positive body image, self-esteem, song weaving and building spiritual awareness of self. She has spent over a decade practicing the Healing Arts and advocacy work survivors of rape and sexual violence.


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Donations 

  • Raymond Eurquhart
    • $25 
    • 10 yrs
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Organizer

Rachael Derello
Organizer
Durham, NC

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