Friends of California Grief Center,

We owe much to the women whose lives have defied gravity—both literal and symbolic. Women who refused to be grounded by doubt or dismissed by history. Their courage, intellect, and endurance have expanded not only the boundaries of our atmosphere, but the possibilities for all of us here on Earth.

To Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space, whose 1963 solo mission aboard Vostok 6 was more than a scientific achievement—it was a bold declaration. A factory worker turned cosmonaut, she shattered barriers not with fanfare but with flight, proving that strength and vision know no gender.

To Dr. Sally Ride, whose quiet brilliance launched her into orbit as the first American woman in space—and whose post-NASA work in education and advocacy continues to inspire generations of girls to reach higher. Her journey was not just upward, but outward—toward equality, toward wonder, and toward lasting change.

To Dr. Mae Jemison, the first Black woman in space, whose career spans science, medicine, and the arts. A true polymath, she has never stayed confined to one field, one story, or one planet. Her presence aboard the Endeavour was not just a milestone—it was a message: we belong in every place where decisions, dreams, and discoveries are made.

And to Dr. Peggy Whitson, the endurance queen of spaceflight, who has logged more time in orbit than any other American astronaut—male or female. Her leadership aboard the International Space Station and her record-setting resilience offer us a lesson far beyond science: that with patience, rigor, and heart, we can stretch the limits of what a single human life can hold.

May we honor their work not only by remembering their names, but by refusing to let excellence go unseen. Let their stories remind us: the path to discovery is carved not just by those in headlines, but by those who persist, prepare, and launch anyway.

Jack Kornfield & Trudy Goodman Virtual Events (Sunday 4/20 & 5/11)

Two Dharma Talks as Star Maps for the Soul
with Trudy Goodman and Jack Kornfield

Some nights it feels like we are floating through a broken galaxy—systems failing, orbits off-kilter, humanity gasping in the vacuum left by injustice, loss, and overload. The old coordinates—justice, clarity, home—seem scattered. And still, there’s something in us that searches for the North Star. That remembers how to steer by love.

On April 20, Trudy Goodman and Jack Kornfield—two cosmic cartographers of the inner life—will gather us not to fix, but to witness. To say: Here we are. Still breathing. Still human. Still capable of beauty in the wreckage. Their Dharma talk is less a broadcast than a beacon—a quiet calibration of the heart toward what matters.

On May 11, Trudy returns solo. She won’t promise solutions, but she will offer companionship: a steady hand for those tumbling through grief’s gravity, and a soft light for those orbiting joy but afraid to land.

These gatherings are not lectures. They’re launchpads for presence.
They’re rescue crafts.
They’re policies of care in a world addicted to speed.
And they’re for you—especially if you’ve been spinning out in the silence.

💫 April 20 with Trudy & Jack: Register Here
🌌 May 11 with Trudy: Register Here

Come as you are. Even if all you can do is show up with your spacesuit unzipped and your heart cracked wide. We’ll be here—on this strange, blue planet—waiting.

What’s Coming at CGC

💛 Healing Ourselves through the Present Moment (HOPE Group) - Virtual
A Mindful Gathering for the Weary and the Willing with Brian Stefan and Mariela Bravo

In a world that moves too fast and asks too much, there is something quietly radical about pausing. About choosing stillness—not to escape life, but to meet it. Gently. Together.

On Saturday, April 26, you're invited to sit with us in the soft, sacred space of HOPE. This is not a workshop, or a lecture, or another thing on your to-do list. It’s a shared breath. A guided return. A reminder that even in grief, there is ground beneath us.

Since April 2020, the HOPE Group has been a refuge and sanctuary for those of us who feel lost at times, and remains a community of tenderness without judgement, shame, or pressure.

This 90-minute virtual gathering offers mindfulness, reflection, and the kind of presence that holds rather than hurries. Whether you're heart-heavy, soul-tired, or simply in need of company on the path—come. No fixing. No performance. Just presence.

🌿 Saturday, April 26 | 10:00 AM PT | 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