Embraced Body

WORKSHOP ALERT! Join Creating Freedom Movements for 'Voices of Compassion: A Community Care Storytelling Workshop' on September 23rd from 5-7 PM PT / 8-10 PM ET.
This offering will be facilitated by the incredible Zahra Glenda Baker Zahra Glenda Baker and take place virtually on Zoom in English with automated captions, as well as live ASL and Spanish interpretation.
Check out more information about this workshop and our beloved facilitator!
Register Today: bit.ly/StoriesOfCare (case sensitive!)


[Image Descriptions:
S1: Voices of Compassion: A Community Care Storytelling Workshop.
September 23, 5-7 PM PT, 8-10 PM ET. Facilitated by Zahra Glenda Baker
Register: bit.ly/StoriesOfCare (case sensitive!)
In English, with live ASL & Spanish Interpretation + automated Zoom captions.
Recording provided to all registrants. Swipe for more information! On a pink and orange gradient background with orange flower shapes at the bottom left and top right. There are two, small black and white butterflies on each of these flowers, as well as a larger yellow and green butterfly for decoration — all framing a photograph of Zahra, an African American woman of mid 60's. She is wearing a bright pink Gele on her head, brown and white beaded circular earrings. She is smiling and her eyes are directed toward the camera.

S2: About the Workshop- In this heartfelt virtual workshop, you'll have the opportunity to share and listen to powerful stories of kindness, support, and community care. As we reflect on moments of compassion, we’ll naturally cultivate a deeper sense of gratitude for the caring acts that often go unnoticed in our daily lives. Through guided prompts, small group discussions, and creative storytelling exercises, we’ll craft personal narratives that highlight the beautiful acts of care that weave us together. No prior storytelling experience needed, just an open heart and a willingness to share. Come help amplify the voices of compassion! On a cream, curvy rectangle framed by a pressed flower and 3 black and white butterflies. The rectangle, flower, and butterflies motif repeats across the remaining pages.

S3: Meet Zahra: Zahra Glenda Baker is a rural Louisiana born vocalist, ritualist, writer, spoken word and teaching artist. She is recognized for her performance work as a folk and creative vocalist and an engaging storyteller. She has collaborated with phenomenal musicians, poets, dancers, artists, filmmakers, storytellers and performance artists over the past 35 years in Chicago. As a creative musician and spoken word artist, Zahra has performed extensively at venues such as the World Music Festival, Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art, The Chicago Art Institute, DuSable Museum, The Old Town School of Folk, The Chicago Jazz Festival, The National Association of Black Storytellers Conference and Festivals, The Chicago Cultural Center, Jonesborough National Storytelling Festival, Rhode Island Black Storytelling Festival and countless Schools, Museums and Festivals. Pink arrow pointing right, indicating more information on the following slide.

S4: Meet Zahra: Currently, Zahra is in the process of developing an original scripted concert and interactive experience called “This Black is Me: Sacred Encounters with Callie Guy House” with creative musicians and performing artists. The piece honors the Mother of Reparations and her efforts during the early 1900’s to organize over 300,00 people in developing mutual aid and relief funds throughout the south. Zahra’s hope is to continue the legacy of community care by weaving a web of community love lines that is strong enough to hold us all.
Register:
bit.ly/StoriesOfCare
Alongside the flower and butterflies is a photograph of Zahra, an African American woman of mid 60's. She is wearing a bright pink Gele on her head, brown and white beaded circular earrings. She is smiling and her eyes are directed toward the camera.]

Advocating for your access needs can help create more accessible and inclusive spaces. Access needs are part of how we move through the world, participate in community, and show up fully in our workplaces and everyday lives. Communicating your needs clearly, putting requests in writing, and reaching out to trusted allies can help build shared understanding and accountability.

Access is a collective practice. When we create space for people to name what they need—and respond with care, flexibility, and respect—we help build environments where more people can participate, contribute, and belong.


[Image Description: Embraced Body logo at the top. Large purple text reads: “3 WAYS TO ADVOCATE FOR YOUR ACCESS NEEDS.” Graphic has a white background framed by light purple abstract shapes. At the bottom are an orange bookmark with “Save this” and . Black text reads, "Communicate Clearly and Early. When you know you'll be in a public or work setting, communicate your access needs as early as possible. This allows others to make necessary arrangements and ensures you have what you need to fully participate. Use Written Requests. If you're unsure how your needs will be received or want a record of your request, consider sending an email or written note outlining your access needs. This approach is particularly effective in formal work environments. Seek Support from Allies. Identify colleagues, supervisors, or group members who are supportive and can help amplify your request. Having someone else validate your needs can add weight to your advocacy and help create a more inclusive environment."]

For more than seven years, Nico has moved through the world alongside Embraced Body's founder, India Harville—not simply as her service dog, but as an access partner, companion, and beloved part of her life.

Their relationship reminds us that access is relational. It can be built through trust, consistency, communication, interdependence, and deep care. Nico supports India in ways he has been trained to provide, while their years together have created a language and rhythm uniquely their own.

Through a Disability Justice lens, India and Nico's interdependence reminds us that we all rely on relationships, communities, tools, animals, and systems of care to move through the world.

Nico continues to be a part of India’s access, freedom, safety, joy, and everyday life. Here's to Nico!


[Image Descriptions: Both slides (S) have dark purple backgrounds with lavender borders.

S1: India Harville posing with her service dog, Nico, a blonde labrador wearing a blue vest. India is a Black, q***r, Disabled cis woman smiling with long locs and shades, seated in her wheelchair. She's wearing a black and white dress with black leggings. They're together on sidewalk next to a couple of cars. Above, white text reads, "September is National Service Month. Let's celebrate the powerful bond between service animals and the Disabled people they support. Meet Nico, India's service dog and life companion."

S2: Service dog, Nico, posing on a white couch with crossed paws. He's wearing a blue vest and collar. Above, white text reads, "Service Dogs Change Lives. We honor dogs like Nico and orgs like Canine Companions who make these life-changing partnerships possible. In bullets: Support service dog orgs. Share stories like India & Nico's. Keep pushing for accessibility and safety for all.]

Join CircleO for their in person accessible dance classes! These are movement classes exploring dance, access, participation, and collective experience.

ACCESS
• ADA compliant space
• Flexible seating available
• Transit support available
• Access doula onsite
• Childcare stipend available upon request
Please share access needs during registration.

Registration for August and September are now live. Link in our bio or register below:
Circle O Dance Class on August 27, 2026
https://www.rfr.bz/f0700bbac
Circle O Dance Class on September 10, 2026:
https://www.rfr.bz/f95e3af02


[Image Description
A vertically oriented flyer with a warm pale yellow background featuring subtle overlapping circular patterns. At the top left is the Circle O logo in dark blue with the words DANCE CLASS underneath.
Event Information
Thursday, August 27
2:00 PM–4:00 PM
Movement Research
150 1st Ave
New York, NY 10009
On the upper right, the flyer reads:
“Circle O Dance Class is a public drop-in movement class exploring dance, access, participation, and collective experience.
Move, observe, create, and experiment together through guided prompts and exploration. Movement comes from your body and your choices.
No dance experience necessary.”
Centered across the flyer is a large color photograph of a movement class in a bright dance studio. Participants are seated, reclining, and moving throughout the space, exploring movement in a variety of positions. Visible mobility aids, including a purple rollator walker and a power wheelchair, are integrated into the class environment. Shelving lines the back wall, and large windows fill the studio with natural light, emphasizing shared exploration and collective participation. Photo credit: F***y Magot.
Below the photograph are two sections.
REGISTRATION
Pay what you can, starting at $1.
Registration opens one month before class and closes one week prior.
A QR code appears beneath this text for registration.
ACCESS
• ADA compliant space
• Flexible seating available
• Transit support available
• Access doula onsite
• Childcare stipend available upon request
Please share access needs during registration.
At the bottom of the flyer are the website and Instagram:
https://www.rfr.bz/febb6b7ac
]

Check out this podcast with founder of Embraced Body, India Harville, where she shares that ableism isn’t simply about individual attitudes. It is structural, embedded in our institutions, policies, and cultural norms, shaping Disabled people’s access to resources, opportunities, housing, support, and agency over their own lives. Carrying forward generations of disability activists, India's work centers access, dignity, and collective care. Through Embraced Body, she creates opportunities for Disabled dancers and people with other marginalized identities to access movement and self-expression. As a consultant, she also supports organizations in building more accessible and inclusive spaces where people can be validated and supported.

Anne Pasmanick, host of Power Station, recently interviewed India about her work. Power Station is a podcast about change making. You can listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

Check it out! https://www.rfr.bz/f88091700




[Image Description: A square podcast graphic with a bright pink background. At the top, large black text reads “POWER STATION.” Centered is a large yellow circle containing a purple audio waveform symbol. Beneath it, smaller black text reads “WITH ANNE PASMANICK.” Below, widely spaced black text reads “COMMUNITY IMPACT ADVOCACY.”]

Amazing singer-songwriter and teaching artist, Eli Conley, who has De Quervain tenosynovitis will be co-teaching with Lee Swanson LK Swanson , a musician with Amniotic Band Syndrome who founded the Hand & Limb Different Musicians Collective. People with all levels of musical experience, difference, and disability are welcome!

This beginning songwriting class centers folks with upper limb differences and hand disabilities, including but not limited to people with amputation, arthritis, muscle weakness, and repetitive stress injuries. Whether you’re totally new to songwriting or you’ve been writing for years, Eli and Lee will get your creative juices flowing and provide a supportive space for navigating physical difference and/or disability as a songwriter.

Over the course of nine weeks you'll explore rhyme, melody, song form, hooks, and basic chord theory. Participants will share works in progress and receive supportive feedback to help them grow as songwriters. You’ll analyze songs to understand different tools you can use to take listeners on an emotional journey. We’ll also discuss creative approaches to playing music with physical limitations.
It is recommended (but not required) that participants be able to sing a simple song. No other musical experience is necessary. You do not need to read music or know any music theory to participate. Beginning songwriters are very welcome! While the class has some content about chords and writing songs with instruments, Eli and Lee welcome participants who want to write a ca****la (voice only) songs.

This class celebrates human creativity and will not include any content on using generative AI for songwriting or instrumentation.

Your time together will culminate with a celebratory online performance on the last day!
Tuesdays, September 1 - October 27, 2026
4:30 - 6:30 pm Pacific / 7:30 - 9:30 pm Eastern
Online on Zoom
Sign up here: https://www.rfr.bz/ff9f386b6
[Image Description: Promotional flyer featuring a leafy tree canopy background with gold decorative accents. A large cream-colored title box at the top reads "Beginning Songwriting for People with Upper Limb Differences & Hand Disabilities." Below, over wide yellow and cream paintbrush strokes, the flyer reads, "An Online Class with Eli Conley & Lee Swanson." The class meets Tuesdays, Sept. 1 – Oct. 27, 2026, from 4:30–6:30 p.m. PT / 7:30–9:30 p.m. ET. Below are link: tinyurl.com/songwritinghldm and IG handles .teaching, .august.swanson, and .]

It's the month of July and the Embraced Body Team is reflecting on complex feelings about Disability Pride and/or Disability Wrath month, but we wanted to acknowledge it, and share that it's hard to capture all of our sentiments about this subject in a social media post!! What are your thoughts about Disability Pride? Disability Wrath? Please share in the comments.


[Image Description:
Slide 1: Embraced Body logo in black text and an orange ‘E’ and purple ‘B’ hugging. Below black text reads, “Disability Pride Month. ” Below is a black graphic of ten disabled people in a row. One person is sitting in a manual wheelchair. Thin dark purple thin border with image on a purple background.]

Slide 2: Black text reads, “Disability Pride doesn’t mean: You no longer struggle with internalized ableism. ” There is a thin line in dark purple border around image with two red dots. Below is the ‘Embraced Body’ logo, an orange ‘E’ and purple ‘B’ hugging. Image on a purple background.

Slide 3: Black text reads, “Disability Pride doesn’t mean: You don’t grieve the changes you experience in your body/mind. .” Thin dark purple border around image with two red dots. Below is the ‘Embraced Body’ logo, an orange ‘E’ and purple ‘B’ hugging. Image on a purple background.

Slide 4: Black text reads, “Disability Pride doesn’t mean: You’re not angry about the state violence and capitalist constraints that caused or worsened your disability. ” Thin dark purple border around image with two red dots. Below is the ‘Embraced Body’ logo, an orange ‘E’ and purple ‘B’ hugging. Image on a purple background.

Slide 5: Black text reads, “Disability Pride means: While you grapple with the things we listed and more, you are trying to love, accept, and honor your body/mind. ” Thin purple border around image with two red dots. Below is Embraced Body logo, an orange ‘E’ and purple ‘B’ hugging. Image on a purple background.

Slide 6: Embraced Body logo in black text and an orange ‘E’ and purple ‘B’ hugging. Below black text reads, “Follow for more Disability Justice Information, ” Below is a black graphic of ten disabled people in a row. One person is sitting in a manual wheelchair. Dark purple thin line border and image is on a purple background.]ackground.]

Join CFM on July 29th, 2026 for a virtual, interactive healing circle, held under the Buck Moon. We will tend to our grief inspired by sacred deer medicine – drawing on the gentleness and keen perception of our deer kin, as well as the protection, strength and boundary-setting of antler symbolism.

In doing so, we will be supported in gently integrating grief and reshaping it into something we can carry with strength and care. Register here: bit.ly/CFMgrief

We are so thankful to Inclusive Communication Services for providing ASL support for broader accessibility.

About Our Facilitators:
Jen V. (they/them/elle), the founder of Abeja Rise, is a multi-talented spiritual activist and end-of-life doula with experience in horticulture, non-profit work, and activism. They strive to bridge the gap between ancestral knowledge and present life paths, while addressing the ways that systemic issues like colonization and white supremacy harm us ALL, and envisioning a different world where liberation is not only possible, but necessary.

Jessica Paulino (she/her/ella) is a mami, sister, daughter, and T**i offering birth and death doula services, sacred grief circle work, sound healing, yoga, and ceremonial cacao. In 2020, in the wake of her infant son’s death, Jessica founded The EMA Project, focused on closing the mortality gap for birthing people of color, and providing culturally competent support for families experiencing the trauma of losing children during pregnancy and infancy.



/26
[Image Descriptions: All text is white.

S1 - Tending Grief with Deer Medicine — July 29, 3-4:30 PM PT, 6-7:30 PM ET. virtual online healing circle with ASL and Spanish interpretation. Register: bit.ly/CFMgrief (case sensitive!). White text on an image of a deer standing in nature. Background repeats across all pages.

S2 - Tending Grief with Deer Medicine
Join us on July 29 for a virtual interactive healing circle, held under the Buck Moon. We will tend to our grief inspired by sacred deer medicine — drawing on the gentleness and keen perception of our deer kin, as well as the protection, strength and boundary setting of antler symbolism. In doing so, we will be supported in gently integrating grief and reshaping it into something we can carry with strength and care. This workshop will be facilitated by two CFM alumni: Healing Arts Ceremonialist, Jessica Paulino, and Death Doula, Jen Venegas. ASL and Spanish provided. Sliding scale $5-50,
bit.ly/CFMgrief
Graphic of deer antlers and flowers, arranged together.

S3 - Jessica Paulino (she/her/ella) is a mami, sister, daughter, and T**i offering birth and death doula services, sacred grief circle work, sound healing, yoga, and ceremonial cacao. In 2020, in the wake of her infant son's death, Jessica founded The EMA Project, focused on closing the mortality gap for birthing people of color, and providing culturally competent support for families experiencing the trauma of losing children during pregnancy and infancy. White circle with a close-up photo of Jessica, a brown woman with dark, curly hair, laughing with her eyes closed. She is wearing a light colored dress. A large tree with green foliage is visible behind her and in the distance is the ocean seen under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.

S4 - Jen Venegas (they/them/elle), the founder of Abjea Rise, is a multi-talented spiritual activist and end-of-life doula with experience in horticulture, non-profit work, and activism. White circle with a photo of Jen. They are smiling at the camera, wearing glasses and a green patterned dress, with dried plants and warm-toned decor in the background. Jen strives to bridge the gap between ancestral knowledge and present life paths, while addressing the ways that systemic issues like colonization and white supremacy harm us ALL, and envisioning a different world where liberation is not only possible, but necessary.]

We're excited to highlight that Antoine Hunter's Urban Jazz Dance Company is presenting the 14th anniversary of the Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival (BAIDDF) coming up this August 14 - 16, 2026!!

Buy tickets here! DeafDance2026.Eventbrite.com

BAIDDF is an accessible annual event produced by Urban Jazz Dance Company that consists of performances and workshops that highlight the important contributions that Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HOH) artists make to our community featuring amazing local Bay Area talent, as well as artists from Turkey, California, New York, Missouri, and more!
This is the festival you do not want to miss and share with everyone.
In addition to performances, the festival will feature workshops in Jazz, Yoga, Floorwork, ASL DANCE, and more different types of dance classes taught by International, Domestic and Local Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Hearing artists who sign fluently. These workshops will be taught for both Youth and Adult participants in various locations including Berkeley and San Francisco.

Performances will be on Fri Aug 14th & Sat Aug 15th at 7:30pm
Dance Mission Theater on 3316 24th St. SF. (24th St Mission BART)
Sunday’s Deaf Dance Festival Gathering Day will be Sun Aug 16th, 12-4pm at Presidio Tunnel Tops

More information on performances, workshops, and panels! Realurbanjazzdance.com/2026baiddf.html


[Image Description: 2026 BAIDDF Postcard of a purple background, yellow text reads, “BAY AREA INTERNATIONAL DEAF DANCE FESTIVAL” with picture of dancer, Zahna Simon, wearing black sports bra/shorts leaping out of the text. 2 White text lines and 2 gold text lines in between “August 14-16, 2026, Friday-Saturday 7:30pm | Dance Mission Theater, Sunday 12-4pm | Deaf Dance Festival Community Day at Presidio National, Presented By Antoine Hunter’s Urban Jazz Dance Company.”] https://www.rfr.bz/ffe63817d

Pride is a celebration, but it’s also a call to action. Born from resistance, Pride reminds us to keep showing up for those still fighting to be valued, safe, and free. As we honor the joy, let’s also honor the struggle—by centering Black, Brown, trans, Disabled, and other multiply marginalized folks in our movements.


[Image Descriptions: Each slide has white text on a dark purple background with a rainbow in the lower corner.

Slide1: Text reads "Pride is more than parades and rainbows. It's a reminder of the power of protest, and the need to keep showing up especially for those most often left out.

Slide 2: Text reads "Rooted in Resistance. The first Pride was a riot. Stonewall and other uprisings were led by Black and Brown q***r and trans people demanding to be validated, safe, and free. That spirit of resistance is what we carry forward.

Slide 3: Text reads "Awareness vs. Liberation. While LGBTQIA+ awareness has grown, many q***r and trans folks especially those who are BIPOC and disabled are still pushed to the margins. Our movements must center them, not just include them.

Slide 4: Text reads "Let's Celebrate AND Organize. Yes, we celebrate. But we also recommit to the work: Protect trans youth. Uplift disabled voice. Fight racism in LGBTQ+ spaces. Invest in care, safety, and justice for all".]