Neuroqueering Our Being: Unlearning White Supremacy, Colonialism & Capitalism Through Relational Creative Practice

Neuroqueering Our Being - Unlearning White Supremacy, Colonialism & Capitalism Through Relational Creative Practice with Sonya Gracey

11 Tuesdays, Mar 17th - May 26th, 6:30-8:30pm UK via Zoom.

Pricing:

We feel that the work being done in spaces like these is integral to the fight against fascism, and to imagining and building futures outside of and beyond the systems of oppression we currently live under. For this reason we have decided to make these sessions completely financially accessible. All access is 'pay what you can' even if you can't pay anything. At check out you can choose which sessions you'd like to attend, and how much you want to pay, including £0.

About the Space:

So many of us have spent our whole lives being gaslit by the normative systems we exist within. Many of us know shame and carry the grief of not fitting in or belonging, of feeling not quite good enough or too much in whatever spaces we are in. Not in this space! Here we are magic! Each week, for two hours, we will explore what we can learn from each other, what can be generated when we gather, share, witness, explore and trust the emergence of who and how we are!

This series of workshops is facilitated by and geared towards white bodied folks, and will focus on exploring and interrogating White Supremacy Culture, Colonialism & Capitalism in line with NQC's definition of Neuroqueering. Together we will focus on building self-awareness and capacity for accountable action through creative inquiry.

At NQC we define neuroqueer as: to 'subvert, defy, disrupt, liberate oneself' (and one’s community) from Capitalism, Colonialism and White Supremacy, through making, being, acting and doing, as well as through thinking, feeling, perceiving, and processing. This series asks us to shift our ideas about liberation and decolonisation out of the academic and abstract realm and into concrete, bodily action. Join us in these politicized practice spaces for Neuroqueers determined to interrupt these overlapping systems of violence and oppression in their communities, creative practices, homes and bodies.

Each session will explore a topic through the lens of white supremacy culture and settler colonialism, and will support participants in considering how these show up within themselves and their lives. Scroll down to see individual session topics.

These sessions are not curriculum based or lecture format - they are participatory and relational. For those who wish/require cameras off you are welcome to attend and just listen/observe, although there will be lots of opportunity to engage with the group as tolerated. All invitations will be optional, with alternatives provided. 

The sessions themselves will begin with participant introductions, and some initial shares on the topic. We will then open out into some facilitated creative/arts based invitation/inquiry, some open dialogue, additional sharing/witnessing and a check out. Some sessions might include special guests to infuse specific lived experiences to the topics/theme. Attendees with lived experience (including questions, stories, challenges etc) related to each topics are highly encouraged to attend - trusting that who we are is needed in the work of unlearning and creative emergence!

From school to work, within families and communities, in our workplaces and our homes - in our bodies and our time, we carry the stories, ideas and wisdom that are required now; we are the creative movement; we are the critical resistance to the violence of mono-normative dominance.

Each Session will include idea and resource sharing, open mic/request for witnessing, creative inquiry practice and discussion. 

Please note that these sessions will not be recorded.

Session Dates & Topics:

*More session coming soon.

March 17th: Neuroqueering as Politicised Practice

• Setting the foundations for neuroqueering

March 24th: Neuroqueering Conflict

• discussion might touch on: communities, communication, emotional intelligence, models of resolution, spoons theory, etc

March 31st: Neuroqueering Bodies

• discussion might touch on: shame, pleasure, gender, sexuality, change, disability, etc.

April 7th: Neuroqueering Parenting

• discussion might touch on: neurodivergent kids, school systems, unschooling, etc

April 14th: Neuroqueering Mental Health

• discussion might touch on: saneism, hysteria, keening, grief, rage, etc

April 21st: Neuroqueering Eroticism

• discussion might touch on: desire, longing, pleasure, sex, kink, bdsm, etc

April 28th: Neuroqueering Relationships

• discussion might touch on: polyamory, ethical non-monagamy, relationship anarchy, monogamy, friendships, community, neighbours, etc

May 5th: Neuroqueering Money

• discussion might touch on: the lie of retirement, trust based survival, abundance/scarcity models, mutual aid, etc

May 12th: Neuroqueering Spirituality

• discussion might touch on: cultural appropriation, ancestral technologies, spiritual hygiene, reclaiming knowing, seasonal practices, etc

May 19th: Neuroqueering Movement

• discussion might touch on: pain, accessibility, mobility, hypermobility, non-linear movement, doing hard things: weight lifting and cold water plunges

May 26th: Neuroqueering Time

• discussion might touch on: what are we doing and when, and why, overlapping orbits and cycles, etc

About the Facilitator

Sonya (she/they) is a polydisciplinary creator whose practice is rooted in living decolonization, neuroqueer world-making, and justice-oriented mutual care (that sure is a mouthful! they are also at times very playful/goofy, and considered by some to be hilarious)

A white settler of irish, germanic bukovinian ancestry, Sonya currently lives on and benefits from the unceded stolen lands of the Xwsepsum and lək̓ʷəŋən peoples, colonially known as vancouver island canada. Sonya’s practice is an emerging action of coming into right relationship with land, place and time - and the impact that their ongoing presence on unceded lands has on local peoples.

As a recovering benevolent, their work is deeply personal and related to their own lived experiences of struggle, grief and transformation. They are a neuroqueer solo mom to two autistic teens surviving in capitalism. Having spent 23 years as an Registered Nurse working in healthcare (street outreach, reproductive justice, harm reduction), she became increasingly aware of the violence of the status quo and the role she played in that. Last year, they gave up their registration as a nurse – but kept all the lived experience with people and relationships! Refocusing their practice towards art and creative practice, she works from a decolonial, intersectional framework that centers relationship and access.

Through relational, somatic (body-based) art-making, Sonya's work fosters emergent growth, embodied political action, and a critical awareness, weaving the interconnectivity of the personal, collective, and systemic narratives and movements that shape us and that we shape.

Sonya has a Master's in Public Health, a graduate certificate in systems design, and has completed their Art Therapy post-grad at Kutenai Art Therapy Institute. They are currently a member of the Canadian Art Therapy Association, a facilitator with the Erotics of Liberation Practice Field, and a care weaver member of The Liberatory Wellness Network (LWN).

Full CV can be accessed here

Sonya also facilitates the monthly Bad Art and Bad Zine Clubs with Leif.

Refund & Cancellation Policy:

No refunds or cancellations will be possible for this course. If you have questions or concerns about this, please contact kr@neuroqueercreative.com before booking.

We reserve the right to cancel the course if we do not meet a minimum number of registrants. In this instance, all tickets will be fully refunded, minus payment processing fees.