Education Events in Oakland

A Survivor's Approach to Regaining Lucidity Through the Written Word (with Abby Peyton Laporte, a published writer and former inpatient). We will have an hour together, including a quick introductory talk about the concept of writing for brain health, followed by group introductions and our personal goals for the day. Then we will do two writing activities, plus a take-home handout for further exploration of your writing practice as a way of healing the mind and brain. This workshop is centered on those healing from brain injuries, specifically through the framework of intersectional mad liberation. This includes trauma and undiagnosed conditions, or anybody wanting to better care for your brain and mind through the artform of writing. Although not the main focus, this workshop will also be refreshing for anybody who is feeling cognitive difficulties due to over-use of cellphones, or scrolling fatigue. It is open to anybody who identifies with the topic and would benefit from clear direction toward writing for sanity, brain health, and lucidity in their writing practice (as a human being and as a writer -- although non-writer and new writers with brain health considerations are encouraged to attend!). A note about terminology: Sanity is a complicated word, with loaded implications for many of us who have had it used against us, especially in institutional and systemic settings. That being said, the title of this workshop is stated from a survivor's perspective, intended to acknowledge navigating hostile systems with a different kind of brain.