Friends of California Grief Center,

We owe much to the women who have shaped the heart of our nation’s justice, dignity, and future—women whose integrity, brilliance, and boldness have redefined what it means to lead, to protect, and to serve. Through their work in law, public service, and advocacy, they have not only defended democracy but expanded its promise.

To Ruth Bader Ginsburg, whose legacy as a Supreme Court Justice lives on in every fight for gender equality and every victory for civil rights. With precision and unshakable grace, she challenged centuries of legal precedent that silenced or sidelined women. Her dissents were blueprints for a better world—reminders that the law must evolve with the people it serves. She showed us how to wage revolution through reason.

To Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the “People’s Justice,” whose voice on the highest court offers a powerful counterbalance to detachment and elitism. She brings lived experience into legal doctrine, reminding the country that empathy, community, and cultural identity are essential to fair judgment. Her decisions reflect the heartbeat of the people, and her presence alone continues to widen the scope of what is possible for those too often left out of the conversation.

And now, to Justice Susan Crawford, who stood up not just to partisan politics, but to a billionaire’s attempt to buy the outcome of her state’s future—and won. In one of the most expensive and high-profile judicial races in the country, she remained rooted in principle and grounded in service. As a girl from Chippewa Falls, she never imagined she’d one day defeat the richest man in the world in defense of Wisconsin’s values—but her victory is proof that courage can eclipse capital, and that people-powered democracy still has a fighting chance. Her commitment to reproductive freedom, workers’ rights, and honest governance affirms that integrity on the bench still matters.

May their work remind us that the soul of justice is not only found in legal texts, but in the hearts of those brave enough to interpret the law with vision and compassion. Through their willingness to dissent, to represent, and to resist, these women have reshaped the narrative of power—and redefined what it means to lead with truth.

Let us follow in their example: standing tall, speaking clearly, and fighting boldly for a future that includes us all.

Upcoming Trudy Goodman and Jack Kornfield Events

Join for two special upcoming Dharma talks with beloved teachers Trudy Goodman and Jack Kornfield, pioneers in bringing Buddhist mindfulness and compassion practices to the West. On April 20, experience the wisdom and warmth of Trudy and Jack together, as they share insights from decades of teaching, practice, and love. Then on May 11, Trudy Goodman returns for an intimate session on mindful living, healing, and presence—rooted in her rich background in meditation, psychotherapy, and heartful awareness.

📅 Register below to join these offerings with Trudy Goodman and Jack Kornfield—two great lanterns on this path:

👉 April 20 with Trudy & Jack: Register Here

👉 May 11 with Trudy: Register Here

Come as you are. Come especially if you are tired, afraid, or cracked open. These gatherings are not about fixing anything, but about remembering that we were never broken to begin with.

Mindful Grief Spotlight: A Catharsis Theater Gathering (Culver City — Sunday, April 6)

The Anxiety and Panic of Grief: Catharsis Theater in the Age of Polycrisis with Brian Stefan, LCSW

The headlines shift. The ice melts. The wars rage. The fires return.
And somehow—we keep going.
Working. Caring. Trying to stay human.

But grief today isn’t just personal.
It’s polycrisis grief: layered, slow-burning, unnamed.
The loss of what was. The erosion of what could be.
A quiet panic beneath the skin.

If you’re carrying grief—any kind of grief—this gathering is for you.
💔 A death that split your life in two
💼 A job that shattered your worth
🌎 A world unraveling and a democracy trembling
😶‍🌫️ A loneliness that won’t speak its name

You are not alone.
Join us for an immersive afternoon of ritual, witnessing, and expression. A space to breathe. To move. To be held in community.

Title: The Anxiety and Panic of Grief: Catharsis Theater in the Age of Polycrisis
Date: Sunday, April 6, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Location: Blue Door Theater, Downtown Culver City (parking and additional info shared upon registration)
Facilitator: Brian Stefan, LCSW | California Grief Center
Cost: Sliding scale using the Green Bottle model by Alexis J. Cunningfolk

🌀 What to Expect

🔥 A Space to Grieve Without Fixing – No silver linings. No rush to “move on.”
🎭 Healing Through Expression – Grounded in psychodrama techniques and communal ritual.
🤝 A Circle of Witnesses – Some will share. Some will hold. All are welcome.
🫂 No Theater Experience Needed – Just your breath, your story, your presence.

However you arrive—angry, exhausted, heartbroken, numb—you belong here.

👉 Register Here

Upcoming Opportunities for Connection

Queer Grief, Fierce Love: A Catharsis Theater Experience for Healing and Hope

A gathering for LGBTQIA+ adults to move, breathe, and be witnessed in full complexity. Led by facilitator Madison Bradfield-Davis and grief therapist Brian Stefan, LCSW, this experience centers queer grief in all its forms—death, identity, politics, climate, rupture, and re-creation.

Event Details

📅 Date:  Sunday, April 13, 2025
⏰ Time: 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM (3.5 hours)
📍 Location: Downtown Culver City (address provided after registration)
🎭 Facilitators: Madison Bradfield-Davis (CASA of Los Angeles; CSULA FREEDOM Lab) and Brian Stefan, LCSW (California Grief Center)
💵 Cost: Alexis J. Cunningfolk's Green Bottle Sliding Scale Method

What to Expect:

🌈 A Brave, Queer-Centered Space – Where grief isn’t silenced or sanitized.
🎭 Healing Through Expression – Using psychodrama techniques and shared ritual to speak what feels unspeakable.
🤝 A Community of Witnesses – Some will share. Some will hold space. All are welcome.
🫂 No Prior Experience Needed – Just bring your body, your truth, your breath.

👉Register Here

Monthly HOPE Group: Mindfulness and Deep Suffering

💛 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