Camp Widow Los Angeles
Saturday
Keynote Address (9:00am - 10:00am)
Join us for an intimate conversation about the ongoing nature of love and the lessons taught by grief that ultimately enrich our lives. Soaring Spirits founder and Camp Widow creator, Michele Neff Hernandez will sit down with award-winning interior designer and author, Nate Berkus and discuss Nate’s journey through the loss of his partner Fernando […] Read More
Block 1 (10:00am - 11:15am)
Our Newly Widowed workshop track has been designed for widowed people whose widowhood began within the past twelve months. The content for this introduction to the Newly Widowed track is based on research done through the Soaring Spirits Resilience Center and will focus on a combination of providing campers with tools and resources designed to […] Read More
Block 2 (11:30am - 12:30pm)
One of the least discussed issues in grief is sexuality. As a grief therapist and a widow, my experience has been that most people want to talk about the loss of intimacy when our partner dies. Many people find that reconnecting with life after a devastating loss means connecting sexually. Join Jill Johnson-Young as we […] Read More
This conversation will address the layers of trauma associated with the death of a loved one as a result of the HIV epidemic and the accompanying community loss and societal stigma that often follows. We will also make space for conversation for widowed people whose loved one’s died of complications related to HIV and are […] Read More
This workshop will offer support for people who identify as female. We will discuss challenges and coping strategies, as well as providing time and support for participants to meet and interact with others in similar situations. Read More
With the death of his partner Clayton to a terminal illness, Presenter/SSI Blog Writer Bryan Martin found himself lost. In his search for stability, his sister introduced him to essential oils. Two years later, Bryan has found new avenues for growth and healing through the use of essential oils while also creating spaces for those […] Read More
This workshop will address the issues involved when your partner has struggled with addiction issues. We will offer coping strategies as well as an opportunity to meet other people who have struggled with similar issues. Read More
Block 3 (1:15pm - 2:15pm)
There is nothing easy about being a widowed parent, whether you have young children, teens or even adults. Our own grief is experienced in a variety of ways-emotionally, physically and behaviorally. Our minds and bodies can react with shock, rage, fatigue, appetite changes, sleep disturbances and loss of concentration. This applies to us as parents […] Read More
This workshop will offer support for people who identify as male. We will discuss challenges and coping strategies, as well as providing time and support for participants to meet and interact with others in similar situations. Read More
This workshop is for LGBT people who have had partners die, who weren’t legally married, and/or whose relationship was not known and/or acknowledged by others. We will discuss the many ways that this ‘invisible bereavement’ affects our grief experience and our ability to get support as we move through our grief. This workshop is for […] Read More
We all have the capacity to be creative. Creativity can mean something different to each person. We often think of creativity as professional painting or singing or writing, but creativity can be found in every aspect of our lives, from sewing to arranging art. Creating art can have measureable physiological results, such as reducing stress, […] Read More
What is “dating” going to look like after my spouse or partner dies? How do I know if I am ready to date? When will I be ready? I want to get out and meet someone new, but how do I tell them about my spouse or partner? How do I date without guilt or […] Read More
Block 4 (02:30pm - 03:45pm)
In this workshop we will be exploring the decision to consider a new relationship, and possibly love, after the death of a partner or spouse. We will initially look at how issues of the LGBTQ grief experience might be different, and how the response to our loss might affect our readiness to consider a new […] Read More
This workshop is intended for those who have suffered trauma in relation to their partner’s death. We will look at the effects of trauma on the brain and body and look at practical everyday ways in which the intrusive thoughts, memories , changing moods and anxiety of post-traumatic stress can be eased. Read More
This workshop will offer support for people who identify as gender non-conforming and/or Trans Identifying. We will discuss challenges and coping strategies, as well as providing time and support for participants to meet and interact with others in similar situations. Read More
In this funny and empowering seminar, Aidan Park (comedian, empowerment coach and widow) speaks about his journey to discovering “The Art of Being Gay”. Aidan endured months of extreme depression after his partner Michael died. He reached a personal breaking point, and thought “ENOUGH! I can’t go on like this. I’ve got to figure out […] Read More
When a partner dies, many of us feel not only a profound sense of loss, but we may also come to find that we’ve lost our direction, and even our sense of self. Traumatic loss, toxicity from specific challenges we face in the LGBTQ Community, such as homophobia and not being legally married, can further […] Read More