Friends of California Grief Center,

We owe much to the women who have defied doubt, exclusion, and resistance to shape the course of art, education, and society in the 20th and 21st centuries. To those who created beauty in the face of injustice, who wove resilience into every line, stroke, and sculpture, who redefined the public sphere when the world tried to confine them—like Ruth Asawa, who turned hardship into artistry and transformed arts education for generations. From a temporary incarceration camp for Japanese Americans to the venerated halls of Black Mountain College, Asawa refused to let discrimination silence her vision, crafting intricate wire sculptures that continue to inspire today.

May her 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 soul of a nation, like its democracy, is shaped by those willing to create, to teach, and to challenge the boundaries of what is possible, even when the world isn’t watching.

American Grief in the Time of Polycrisis

A California Grief Center Virtual Gathering
Sunday, March 23rd | 3:00 – 4:30 PM (PST) | Free

Grief is not a single note—it’s a whole symphony. And lately, it feels like all the instruments are playing at once.

In these overlapping times of loss and uncertainty, we gather not to tidy the mess, but to name it. To sit beside it. To remember that we are not alone in feeling overwhelmed by the sheer scale of what’s been lost—lives, rights, rituals, normalcy—and what is still unraveling around us.

Join us for American Grief in the Time of Polycrisis, a free virtual gathering hosted by Brian Stefan, LCSW, founder of the California Grief Center (www.caligrief.com), a place dedicated to holding the many shapes grief takes in modern life.

We’ll begin with a short grounding meditation, followed by Brian’s talk and a shared space for reflection. Together, we’ll name the griefs of this moment: a nation still reeling from COVID-19, veterans carrying invisible wounds, the loss of trust in our institutions, the ache of environmental catastrophe, and the quiet, daily heartbreaks that so often go unseen.

This is not a space for silver linings. It’s a space for truth, tenderness, and togetherness.
Come however you are—tired, tender, hopeful, angry, curious. Just come.

Let’s pause together, not to “move on,” but to begin imagining how we might move forward—with grief, with grace, and in community.

🔗 Register Here

Help Beth Sternlieb’s Family: A Call to Action

Beth Sternlieb, our dear teacher, stands in the middle of a storm no one should have to weather. Her in-laws, Gladys and Nelson Gonzalez, who planted their lives in this country three decades ago, are now behind bars in Louisiana—separated, silenced, and facing deportation to Colombia.

They raised daughters, helped raise a grandchild, and never missed a single check-in. Nelson drew blood for a living; Gladys kept a home full of love. Now, the ground has fallen out from under them.

Their family has opened a GoFundMe, hoping to gather the tools to rebuild, should they be forced to start from scratch.

If you've ever been held by Beth’s presence, taught by her hands, calmed by her voice—this is a moment to lean in. Give what you can. Show them we see, we care, we’re here.

🔗 Full story: Fox LA

💙 Donate: GoFundMe

Let’s come together and show that this family is not alone.

Upcoming Opportunities for Connection

🤝 Five Years of Holding On: A Mindfulness Gathering for the Heart

Grief doesn’t follow a map. It rises and falls like the tide—pulling us under, then gently letting go. If you’ve been swimming through sorrow, searching for solid ground, you’re not alone.

Join us for a special HOPE Group gathering, marking five years of mindful presence in the face of deep suffering. Led by longtime teacher and guiding light Trudy Goodman, this morning offers a place to land. We’ll sit, listen, and reflect—on what’s been lost, what endures, and what helps us stay.

📅 Saturday, March 29, 2025
⏰ 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM (PST)
📍 Online (Zoom link upon registration)
🧘‍♀️ Guest Teacher: Trudy Goodman, Founding Teacher of InsightLA
💵 Free

🔗Register Here

🔥 Women of the Fire: A Catharsis Theater Experience for Grief

The 2025 Los Angeles fire took much, but not everything. If you’ve lost something—or someone—you are not alone.

Join us for an afternoon of Catharsis Theater, a space where grief can move, breathe, and be witnessed. Led by grief therapist and psychodrama specialist Brian Stefan, LCSW, this gathering is for women who have experienced loss in any form—homes, possessions, animals, loved ones—or those who want to stand beside them.

📅 Sunday, March 30, 2025
⏰ 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM
📍 West LA (address provided upon registration)
🎭 Facilitator: Brian Stefan, LCSW (California Grief Center)
💵 Free

🔗Register Here

No prior experience needed—just a willingness to show up. However you arrive, you are welcome.

💛 Mindfulness-Based Grief Relief (MBGR) Practice Group

Healing Ourselves through the Present Moment (HOPE)

📅 Next Virtual Session: Saturday, April 26 | 10:00 AM (PT) | 1.5 hours (Zoom)

🔗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