2021 has been a year that has challenged us in many ways: navigating post-pandemic nuances has not only been a trauma in and of itself, there have been other factors at play that have impacted our physical health, mental well-being and social-emotional state. Some of us used the pandemic and post-pandemic, to reset, revive, and rejuvenate our nervous systems. Having had the opportunity to really delve into self motivations and passions, it was amazing to see how confinement, rest and pause, led innovation, creativity and a greater focus on self-care.

If Self-Care becomes the central priority of every human being, does it change how we perceive good health and healing?

This winter, Exhale to Inhale hopes to inspire you by spotlighting the work of three women of color who are activists in our community. All three activists are honing their respective crafts and creative passions while challenging us to think about well-being and social justice using a trauma-informed lens.

On, February 14th join us in conversation with Natalie Pattillo, a New York based multimedia journalist, co-director, producer and writer about her award-winning documentary, And So I Stayed. As an activist, through her film Natalie has been championing and documenting the journey of three incredible survivors: Nikki Addimando, Tanisha Davis, and Kim Dadou Brown. In telling their stories, she has brought to light the nuances of navigating the legal system and the strength behind survivor-led, grassroots advocacy. Through our conversation with Natalie, we will explore what inspired her to produce this film, how Natalie’s values shape her craft and creative journey, and how trauma-informed visual storytelling can be a powerful tool for activists. You can read more about the film and its impact in this New York Times feature (please note content might contain graphic references to topics including but not limited to sexual abuse and violence). We will also have time to answer specific audience questions.