Friends of California Grief Center,

We owe much to the women who have defied doubt, exclusion, and resistance to shape the course of politics and global affairs in the 20th and 21st centuries. To those who stood at podiums and in war rooms, who negotiated peace and drafted policy, who ran for office when the world told them not to—like Shirley Chisholm, who shattered barriers in Congress, or Madeleine Albright, who wielded diplomacy to change the world. To Ruth Bader Ginsburg, whose quiet ferocity rewrote the law of the land, and to the countless women whose names history may never etch in textbooks but whose leadership has bent the arc of justice a little further.

May their determination remind us that progress is not gifted—it is fought for, often by those who refuse to accept "not yet" as an answer. And may we never forget that the future of democracy, like its past, depends on those willing to do the work, even when the world isn't watching.

Mindfulness & Navigating Political Chaos with Patrick Park (Free Virtual Event)

Join us tomorrow - Saturday, February 22nd, from 10:00 to 11:30 AM PT - for a free virtual HOPE Group session (Healing Ourselves through the Present Experience). Patrick Park, a Senior Dharma Teacher in the Zen tradition, will share wisdom on staying grounded and practicing with intention amid upheaval and political chaos.

As the world shifts and tensions rise, this gathering offers a refuge—a place to breathe, reconnect, and remember that clarity and compassion are still within reach.

We’ll begin with a guided meditation, followed by a dharma talk to ground us in the present. Then, we’ll open space for reflection and connection, sharing what anchors us through uncertainty.

Come as you are—with hope, exhaustion, or anything in between. Let’s navigate this moment together.

🔗 Register Here

Catharsis Theater: Love and Loss – A Free Fundraiser for Healing (Paris, France)

Once in a while, something pulls us back to what it means to be human—not in the grand, sweeping sense, but in the small, aching ways. The way love leaves its mark, the way loss rearranges us, the way we stumble toward each other in the aftermath. On Sunday, February 23rd, in Paris, we are creating a space for that reckoning. Catharsis Theater: Love and Loss is not a performance to be watched; it is an experience to step into, a place where grief is spoken, witnessed, and held.

This event is a free fundraiser for those impacted by the 2025 Southern California wildfires, because loss—whether from fire, fate, or the quiet undoings of time—should not be endured alone. Some grief is thunderous, some nearly silent, but all of it longs for company. If this experience eases your burden, if you walk away feeling even slightly more whole, we invite you to give whatever feels right.

🔗 Register Here

Upcoming Opportunities for Connection

💛 Mindfulness-Based Grief Relief (MBGR) Practice Group

Healing Ourselves through the Present Moment (HOPE)

📅 Next Virtual Session: Saturday, March 29 | 10:00 AM (PT) | 1.5 hours (Zoom)

🔗 Register Here

🌿 Intro to Mindfulness – 4-Week In-Person Series

📅 Dates: Tuesdays, March 4, 11, 18, & 25, 2025
⏰ Time: 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM PT
📍 Location: Santa Monica Meditation Center - 1430 Olympic Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90404
🎓 Teacher: Anushka Hauerstock
💰 Cost: Donation-based (No one turned away for lack of funds)

🚗 Ride Sharing Sign-Up Available

Step into mindfulness with this four-week introductory series, designed to cultivate awareness, self-compassion, and resilience. Guided by experienced teacher Anushka Hauerstock, participants will explore core meditation techniques to reduce stress, ease habitual thought patterns, and bring clarity to daily life. Through guided meditations and reflective exercises, this course lays a strong foundation for ongoing practice.

🔗 Register Here

At the California Grief Center, we offer grief therapy and group experiences designed to support you through loss. Visit www.caligrief.com to learn more about our services and upcoming events.

With care and compassion,

Brian Stefan, LCSW
Founder, California Grief Center