Healing Circles | April 22

Healing Circles is an intergenerational supportive space centered on and affirming Black culture, community and lived experience. With open hearts and open minds we will share our stories, wisdom and strength to promote all aspects of health and well-being.

Using circle and restorative practice approaches, Healing Circles encourages and celebrates our connections, our community and our well-being. We are committed to creating a safe, confidential and welcoming community!

We invite attendees (from tweens to elders) from all localities, with an emphasis in and around the Midway area of St. Paul, MN, to join us.

Healing Circles will be held on Thursday, April 22, 7:00-8:30 p.m., then every fourth Thursday through the end of the year. Due to COVID-19, Healing Circles will be held virtually on Zoom (registration required). In-person events may be added with appropriate safety precautions.

Event Details

  • When: Thursday, April 22, 7:00-8:30 p.m., then every fourth Thursday through the end of the year. Upcoming dates: May 27, June 24, July 22, August 26, September 23, October 28, November 18, and December 16.
  • Where: Zoom. Please register on Eventbrite to receive Zoom link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/healing-circles-tickets-140414021117
  • Who: Attendees (from tweens to elders) from all localities, with an emphasis in and around the Midway area of St. Paul.
  • What: Healing Circles, a supportive, facilitated space to affirm Black culture, community and lived experience, and to share dialogue and feelings to promote health and well-being.

Healing Circles are held in partnership with YMCA of the North.

Facilitators:

Marjorie Grevious

Marjorie D. GreviousMarjorie Grevious has been practicing yoga for 40 years and became a yoga teacher 10 years ago. She has certifications in yin yoga, trauma-informed yoga, prison yoga project and teaches classes in Hatha(slow flow) and restorative yoga both at YWCA St. Paul and at Yoga Sanctuary in south Minneapolis. She is a registered member of Yoga Alliance and the Black Yoga Teachers Association. She has a long career in social services working with youth and families in crisis both in the twin cites and southern California. Marjorie earned her BA in Secondary Education from Augsburg University, an MS in Human Services from Springfield College and an MA in Theology from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities.

Jamela Pettiford – Employment & Support Services Manager, YWCA St. Paul

Jamela Pettiford

As Employment & Support Services Manager, Jamela Pettiford, MACC, provides overall program oversight, supervision and professional development for the YW Works program, providing African American Culturally Specific Employment Services for families receiving MFIP & the Housing Stability Initiative. Additionally, she assists with program development and curriculum design. Jamela ensures programing is affirming African American lived experiences; coaches counselors to address domestic violence; provides employment & career counseling and education support; and group facilitation. She has over fifteen years of hands-on experience in intervention & advocacy, case management and services to adults, youth & children in crisis and transition primarily w/ diverse, disenfranchised communities in education and employment settings, and 20 years of overall experience in human service/humanitarian work. She is skilled in culturally-affirming & innovative problem solving and motivational development delivered one-on-one & via group-based sessions. She has extensive professional experience in program development, best practices’ implementation and building/sustaining strong community alliances.

Jamela holds a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Christian Counseling from Minnesota Graduate School of Theology. Jamela is a skilled actress and musician, having performed with such greats as Dorothy Cotton, Bernice King, Ameri Baraka and New Power Generation, to name a few. In April 2007, Jamela was inducted into the Minnesota Country Rock-n-Roll hall of Fame with the Big John Dickerson Blues band.