Designing Possibilities for the Wellbeing of Black Womxn

In this Design for Wellbeing session, we'll explore design as a liberatory tool that can actualize sites of healing for Black womxn's mind, body, soul and space. We'll ground in a holistic framework to reflect on our longings for more healing experiences in our personal and communal lives, collaboratively dream the life-giving worlds we want to see, and create tools that will bring us closer to a more just, pleasurable and flourishing future.

Participants will walk away with:

• A deeper understanding of design’s power to shape the future when conjured by the collective imagination of Black womxn.
• Frameworks for reflecting on their mental, emotional, physical, sexual, spiritual, relational and environmental wellbeing.
• Possibilities for health and healing that truly align with their needs.
• A shared collection of healing-centric, personalized tools they can bring into their present, everyday lives.

Due to the creative, imaginative nature of this session, participants are encouraged to bring notebooks or paper, supplies to write and draw with, and any items that will nourish their bodies. We will also be using the Google Jam Board digital platform as a space to creatively respond throughout the session.

About the Facilitator:

Denise Shanté Brown is a sober queer disabled entrepreneur, holistic design strategist, writer and creative healer. Her life’s work brings forth abundant possibilities for wellbeing through collaborative creativity and community-led practices.  As the founder of Black Womxn Flourish, a design for wellbeing collective, she’s dedicated to actualizing liberating and vibrant futures through design. Denise Shanté believes that creative, healing-centric experiences can shape possibilities and embolden communities to develop the tools and strategies we need for collective wellbeing. She holds a Masters in Social Design from MICA, embodied frameworks discovered during Feminist Business School, and recognition through leadership awards and fellowships celebrating her meaningful contributions toward health justice and liberatory praxis.  Her practice is grounded in design justice and healing justice principles, emergent strategy, nature, the feminine economy and Black feminist theory.