A Black History Month Celebration: Exploring and Restoring Our Path to Healing through Empathy and Music

LaVerne McLeod and Melanie DeMore lead a three-day exploration honoring Black History Month through practices rooted in empathy, song, and embodied movement. Participants build a shared container of trust while examining difference and cultivating resilience. The weekend weaves together visualization, somatic exercises, and vocal work to address what lies beneath the surface of separation. DeMore, a Grammy-nominated vocalist and choral conductor, anchors the experience with soulful singing that demonstrates music's power to restore and uplift. McLeod, a speaker and author, facilitates practices designed to bridge social gaps and encourage genuine understanding across identities. This work appeals to educators, therapists, artists, and those in leadership roles working with diverse communities, though it is open to all races, genders, and backgrounds. The weekend takes place at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, where participants also access the property's hot springs, open classes, and contemplative landscape.