Dark Woods of Grief BIPOC Scholarship Fund

This campaign is now closed. If you would like to donate to our most current BIPOC scholarship fundraiser, please go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/roots-of-ritual-dark-woods-of-grief-bipoc-scholarship-fund

I'm Josea, founder of Dark Woods of Grief and the Dark Woods Grief Tending & Ritual Facilitation Training. Today, I'm reaching out with a story that captures why this work matters and why your support is so crucial.

**Meet Blanche Colson, a remarkable 72-year-old Black woman from NYC.** Earlier this year, Blanche reached out to me about attending one of our in-person grief rituals. She bravely asked for exactly what she needed - a full scholarship to attend, as she couldn't afford the program fee. I was immediately struck by her courage - not just in asking for support, but in her willingness to travel across the country by herself at 72 years old to do profound spiritual and emotional work with a group of predominantly white strangers.

What unfolded during that retreat was nothing short of transformative. At first, Blanche didn't share at all during our opening circle. It wasn't until the next morning that she felt safe enough to begin sharing with the group, carefully choosing her words as she found her voice in our space.

Then came a pivotal moment: Blanche announced she needed to leave early because her heart medication was stuck with her luggage at the Vancouver airport. The entire group responded with a resounding "NO! You can't leave! We need you here!" Together, we found a solution so she could stay.

By the weekend, Blanche had shared deeply, working through years of historical racial trauma. She moved from cautious silence to proclaiming by Sunday evening, "You are MY PEOPLE!" Her journey wasn't just personal healing - her presence, wisdom, and perspective created space for deeper healing for everyone present.

## Why We're Fundraising Now

Blanche now wishes to join our 8-month Grief Tending & Ritual Facilitator Training, but faces a difficult choice. After meeting with Jane, our elder somatic therapist, Blanche realized how desperately she needs trauma therapy alongside any further grief work. She made the difficult decision to prioritize paying for therapy sessions rather than the training.

When she told me this news, I was devastated. I believe her presence would be like an anchor for our training cohort. That's when the idea came to me: what if we could come together as a community to support both her training and her healing work?

**Our primary goal is to raise $4,333 CAD ($3,150 USD) to provide Blanche with a full scholarship** for the 8-month Dark Woods Grief Tending & Ritual Facilitation Training while allowing her to continue her crucial therapy work.

## Why Supporting BIPOC Scholarships Matters

Our BIPOC scholarships are offered with the intention of reparation from the harm done by colonial structures which have prioritized the wealth of white folks at the expense of people of color for hundreds of years.

When we support leaders like Blanche to receive this training, we're not just helping one person - we're helping to create culturally responsive grief support that can reach communities often underserved by traditional mental health services. The ripple effects are immeasurable as these leaders bring healing practices back to their communities.

## How Your Donation Makes an Impact

If we surpass our goal for Blanche's scholarship, we already have another incredible candidate who needs our support. She is a Black woman, mother, and therapist working for a non-profit in her inner city community in Philadelphia, where they are dealing with gun violence and layers of historical racial trauma. She is currently pregnant and would love to study this work while on her maternity leave, but is struggling financially. We hope to cover her costs of approximately $1,790 CAD ($1,250 USD) to make this possible for her.

Any additional funds beyond these two scholarships will support other BIPOC individuals to attend our trainings and programs. In 2024 alone, we provided over 40 partial or full scholarships to our programs, courses, and retreats.

Your donation, of any amount, helps widen our web of support:

- **Even $20** makes a meaningful difference!

- **$179 CAD ($125 USD)** supports one month full scholarship to our Grief Support Group

- **$569 CAD ($397 USD)** sponsors one full scholarship to our Return from the Underworld Course

- **$1,075 CAD ($750 USD)** sponsors one full 6-month scholarship to the Dark Woods Grief Support Group

- **$1,429 CAD ($997 USD)** sponsors one BIPOC to attend a Soulsong Retreat

- **$4,333 CAD ($3,150 USD)** sponsors one full scholarship to the 2025 Training

Whether you donate or not, I will always offer these scholarships, despite the financial stretch it creates for me as a small business owner. I believe deeply in making this work accessible to all demographics and recognize the richness that comes from having ethnic diversity represented in our programs.

## Join Us in Creating Change

Blanche's journey from silence to proclamation of belonging represents exactly why this work matters. By supporting her and others like her, you're helping to create a world where grief is held with wisdom, cultural awareness, and deep compassion.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for helping make these programs and trainings accessible and culturally rich. Together, we can transform how grief is tended across all communities.

With profound gratitude,

Josea

Founder, Dark Woods of Grief

Images: 1. Blanche Colson 2. Blanche & her daughter 3. Josea & Sanaz, recipient of 2024 BIPOC Scholarship 4. Sabrina Simon, recipient #2 of 2024 BIPOC Scholarship.