Holiday Hope: A Grief Gathering

Organizer and writer Mariame Kaba said, “Hope is a discipline.” For Black grievers, in a world where our mourning is already minimized, looking to the month of December with any kind of hope amid the heaviness of grief can feel impossible. Can we truly grieve and hope? Can we get through the month of December with our mourning selves fully in tact?

From Nneka M. Okona, journalist, author and founder of The Black Grief Project comes Holiday Hope, a virtual grief circle with a guided writing practice for Black grievers—those who want to get through the end of the year with honesty and tenderness. We’ll talk about what hope can look like when you’re grieving, no toxic positivity or spiritual bypassing. We’ll then think small: one thing to look forward to, one boundary to keep, one way to carry your loss with you into the new year. 

In this grief circle we'll:

• Name what the season is asking of us
• Write toward honest hopes for the weeks ahead
• Make a plan for the hardest dates
• Share and close together

Other important details:

• You don’t have to be on camera or share. You choose your level of interaction.
• Live only and not recorded, so the space stays private.
• Upon registration, you'll receive a welcome note (via PDF). Virtual link (via Google Meet) and final details will be emailed 24 hours before the circle.
• If you can’t make it, your fee can roll to a future gathering. If I need to reschedule or cancel, you’ll receive a full refund.
• If cost is a barrier or if you have any other questions, email nneka@theblackgriefproject.org.

Please note: The Black Grief Project creates spaces grounded in the lived experience, culture, and traditions of Black people. To foster psychological safety, vulnerability and deep community, this grief circle is strictly reserved for Black grievers. 

Disclaimer: Grief at the Table is guided grief circle with a writing and reflection practice. It is a peer-style community space led by Nneka M. Okona, a grief worker and author. This grief circle is not therapy, counseling, or medical care and it is not a substitute for professional mental health support. If you are in crisis and need support, please contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988 in the U.S.) or your local emergency services. A short list of grief and mental health resources will be shared at the end of the circle.