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Kufikiri Imara
Kufikiri Imara was born and raised on Huichin territory of the Ohlone people (Oakland, California). He grew up in a version of “The Town” very different from the one we see today. It was a place with a broader and more embodied sense of community. He grew up in a family and community environment that strongly emphasized social awareness and responsibility. His personal healing/spiritual journey led him to such moments as volunteering with the Green Earth Poets Society in NYC, bringing poetry to incarcerated African-American youth. He is one of the early members of the Entheogen Integration Circle, a support group in NYC with a focus on marginalized communities within the psychedelic community.
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Ayize Jama-Everett
Ayize Jama-Everett holds three Master’s degrees: Divinity, Psychology, and in Fine Arts, Writing. He blends these degrees in all his work, often identifying as a guerilla theologian, a community-based therapist, and an afro-futurist in the same breath. He’s taught at Starr King School for the Ministry, California College of the Arts, The University of California, Riverside, Western Colorado College, and several private High schools for over twenty years. His expertise includes working with adolescents, the history of substance use in the United States, the history of Sacred Plant medicines in the Maghreb, the religious roots of political violence from Ireland to the Middle East, educational arts pedagogy, and Afrofuturism. He’s published four novels (The Liminal series )and two graphic novels(Box of Bones and The last Count of Monte Cristo).
Evan Gomez-Shwartz
Evan, an accomplished multimedia producer, navigates the crossroads of compelling storytelling and diverse project creation. His portfolio is rich with engaging narratives such as the thought-provoking "Death Inc" with its majority-Black cast, its Spanish language counterpart "PUM", and the award winning dark comedy "Confessions of a Well-meaning Man." Central to his body of work is "A Table of Our Own," a project that highlights his dedication to crafting significant content. In addition to his creative pursuits, Evan ardently advocates for the thoughtful and safe usage of psychoactive substances in personal, professional, and medical settings. With over a decade of industry experience, Evan continues to leave a distinctive mark on multimedia production, captivating audiences with his compelling projects.
ABOUT US
The
Project
Our goal is to create a documentary about a gathering of Black luminaries that do work in the psychedelic space. We’ll join 35 key members from all around the country in a safe place and give participants the chance to share their strengths, experience, hopes, and challenges within the psychedelic space.
The goal is to highlight those doing great work and to expand the reach of these important ways of healing to more Black people. We also wish to de-stigmatize these substances so that they’re no longer seen as “White people stuff” and more as the natural balms and salves to Black people’s psyches that we’ve been using for millennia.
The documentary will cover not only the conference but the current state of Black people in the psychedelic space as a whole.
The conference will be a three-day, invite-only, all-Black affair. It will focus on those who’ve had experience in the areas of psychedelics and the arts, activism, academics, sciences, entrepreneur, cultivators, and those still working in the underground scene.
A three-day filmed conference to document where participants have been and what they’ve seen and to look at what’s coming next for Black people and Substance use.
WHY
Because we’re tired of asking for a seat at someone else’s table. Because the rhetoric around people of color in psychedelic spaces has mostly been for show. Because the lasting positive impact that these medicines can have on Black communities is not being fully acknowledged.
Because the biggest impediment to Black people participating in this work is not seeing Black people participating in this work. Because when Black people win, we all win.
Because we will literally change the world once we’re brought back into proper relationship with the plants, animals, compounds, and communities around us.
When
The third quarter of 2022
WHERE
Northern California
HoW
Through the grace of our ancestors, sweat equity, community support, prayer, and the generous financial support of people like you.