Building gs for the Long Haul

What is generative somatics all about?

generative somatics (gs) makes a critical contribution to social and environmental justice movements. We provide a pragmatic and actionable approach to embodied transformation on an individual, organizational, and movement level. gs programs develop embodied leadership, increasing vision, coordination and connection, and support healing from the impacts of trauma and oppression. gs supports organizers, movement builders, healers, funders and others to vision new possibilities and achieve powerful collective action towards freedom and liberation. 

We direct our efforts to two priority areas of Freedom from Political Repression and Climate and Environmental Justice. More info about our strategic priorities in this written summary or brief video.

What was the impact of generative somatics work in 2018?

To learn about the impact of 2018 programming, please: 

• Please read this overview about gs programs, including updates about 2018. 
• Watch our 2018 Year-End video.
• If you would like to receive the recording of our webinar about 2018 programs that happened on 12/10/18, please email development@staging.gs-dev.mysites.io with the subject line “12/10 webinar”.

Here are some 2018 highlights:

• We launched our Strategic Priorities, ensuring that as gs grows, our contribution remains powerful and becomes even more precise. More info: written summary or brief video.

• Since 2016 we’ve doubled our course offer to organizers, politicized healers, and movement builders. This year, we ran our Embodied Leadership series in the Bay Area, Detroit, Los Angeles, and New York City. We also offered the School of Embodied Leadership (SOEL), Somatics & Trauma (S&T), and Transformative Leaders in Philanthropy (TLP). 

• In 2018, we worked with 12 Movement Partners & funder partners, leading 38 days of programming for 279 participants. Our Movement Partners and funder partners included: Alliance for Safety and Justice, Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN), Black Organizing for Leadership & Dignity (BOLD), Causa Justa/ Just Cause (CJJC), Chinese Progressive Association (CPA), Ford Foundation, Hidden Leaf Foundation, National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA), Racial Justice Action Center (RJAC), Showing up for Racial Justice (SURJ), and others. 

• gs Teachers are the heart of our programs. We run two tracks of gs Teacher Training – one for beginner and intermediate teachers-in-training, and one for advanced teachers. We currently have 48 people in our multi-year teacher training program.  

• Our gs Practitioners Network (gsPN), launched in 2017, provides ongoing development for gs practitioners, and helps organizers & movement leaders access one-on-one somatic sessions and healing groups. In 2018, gsPN included 60 gs practitioners, and we matched 45 organizers and community members with gs practitioners for 450 sessions.

Over 30 gs community members – teachers, practitioners, students, donors, funders, and staff – participated in our Get Centered grassroots fundraising program, raising resources for gs in embodied ways.

What is gs doing in 2019?

We are making an important choice in 2019. We will focus next year on strengthening our organization, learning from the last ten years, deepening our politics and culture, and preparing ourselves for the next 10 years of transformative work. We are building gs to be in it for the long haul. We are making this choice to ensure that we develop gs in ways that meet the needs of the present, prepare for changing conditions, and allow for future possibilities of this work. We aim to be agile, powerful, and impactful in service of the movements that we support and are accountable to. 

In order to do this, we are dedicating 2019 to: 

• Leadership: Bringing in new leadership on staff, and further developing our Strategy Team, Board of Directors, Transformative Resourcing leadership, gs practitioners, and gs teachers.

• Learning & Listening: Assessing short and long term impact of our programming so far, with our Movement Partners, teachers, and others. We will unearth best practices to offer the most relevant programming for movements.

• Culture & Politics: Being in our learning to deepen our practice of sustainability, racial justice, accessibility to this work, and more. 

• Systems: Improving and building grounded efficiency to review hundreds of applications and inquiries, organize ourselves, and communicate with our growing community. 

The current conditions are putting intense pressure on movement leaders, who often look to gs for support. By addressing the needs listed above, gs will be better able to show up in the long haul, and make a strategic, rigorous, and transformative contribution. But this was a difficult choice to make, because it also means that, for a period of time, we won’t be running the same level of programming.

In 2019, there will still be ways to connect with gs and access support and practice. We will be running the following programs:

• Movement Partnerships: We will continue to work with the strategic Movement Partners that we’ve been working with over the years, in a more limited capacity .

• gs Courses: 
  • School of Embodied Leadership (SOEL): SOEL will be open to all applicants. We will put primary focus on participants who are leaders in our Strategic Priority areas – environmental and climate justice & fighting for freedom from political repression and state violence. Course announcement and application can be found here.
  • Somatics and Trauma Advanced (STA): STA will be a great opportunity for practitioners and coaches to deepen their somatic healing skills. This course also supports movement leaders to deepen their understanding of trauma healing and resilience, and its relevance for leadership and organizing. This course has prerequisites.  Course announcement and application can be found here.

• gs Practitioners Network (gsPN): 
  • gsPN is a great resource for organizers, activists, cultural workers and other movement leaders to access one-on-one somatic sessions and healing groups.
  • gsPN also supports practitioners and coaches to get organized and receive further development. In 2019, this will again include monthly gsPN organizing calls, and a gathering (in-person and virtual) during Somatics & Trauma Advanced. 
  • Find out more about gsPN here. 

• gs Teacher Training (gsTT) – Intermediate and Advanced: we will continue to grow the capacity of both intermediate and advanced gs teachers to be prepared to lead a greater number of courses and movement partnerships in years to come.

• gs Supervision: Are you a somatic practitioner, a learning practitioner, a gs teacher, or someone who leads somatic practices inside of gs Movement Partnership? Are you a member of the gsPN, working with movement leaders? Do you run somatic healing groups? If so, this is for you! First call is January 17, 2019. Details and registration link can be found here.

• Transformative Resourcing:

• Transformative Leaders in Philanthropy (TLP): This is a program for foundation staff and board, as well as those who identify as major donors. TLP will take place June 4th-7th on the east coast. More information can be found here.

• Embodied Donor Organizing: There will be several opportunities to get involved with this work in 2019, please contact us to express interest and find out more.

How can I find out more about gs’s 2019 plans?

To learn more about our 2019 plans to Build gs for the Long Haul, please join us for a:

gs Community Call

January 28th at 5pm PST / 7pm CT /  8pm ET.  

Please register here.

You are invited to this call if you are a: 

• gs alumni — you have participated in a gs course or gs Movement Partner programs.

• gs Movement Partner — a member or staff of a movement group or funder that gs partners with.
• gs teacher or teacher-in-training
• gs practitioner or coach
• gs funder – you work with a foundation that partners with or grants to gs
• gs donor – you have made a one-time donation to gs or are a monthly donor

If you’d like to join this call and you are not a gs alumni, partner, teacher, practitioner, funder or donor, or if you’re not sure if you are  — please be in touch with us: development@staging.gs-dev.mysites.io.

I have taken a gs course or participated in a gs Movement Partnership program – what can I do in 2019?

There are so many things you can do! 

• To learn more about our 2019 plans to Build gs for the Long Haul, please join a gs Community Call on January 28th at 5pm PST / 7pm CT /  8pm ET. Please register here.

• • Continue your practices – 
    • Practice centering – here is the link to the Centering Guide. 
    • Fill out a Commitment Sheet and use the Declarations into Action guide to help you do so. 
    • Practice Jo with support from this video – gs Jo Kata Video 1 – 31 (with gs teachers Staci Haines, Paola Laird, Spenta Kandawalla and Sumitra Rajkumar during a Movement Partnership retreat with NDWA)  
    • Continue practicing support and accountability with your buddy or find a practice buddy to text with daily about your practices. 

• Please only use the “Continue your practices” resources above if you have taken a gs course or been in a gs Movement Partnership before! 

• Connect with our gs Practitioners Network (gsPN): gsPN is a great resource for organizers, activists, cultural workers and other movement leaders to access one-on-one somatic sessions and healing groups. Find out more about gsPN. 

• Apply for a gs Course: We will offer these courses in 2019, and will release our 2020 program calendar by mid-2019.

• • School of Embodied Leadership (SOEL): SOEL will be open to all applicants. We will put primary focus on participants who are leaders in our Strategic Priority areas – environmental and climate justice & fighting for freedom from political repression and state violence. Course announcement and application can be found here.
  • Somatics and Trauma Advanced (STA): STA will be a great opportunity for practitioners and coaches to deepen their somatic healing skills. This course also supports movement leaders to deepen their understanding of trauma healing and resilience, and its relevance for leadership and organizing. This course has prerequisites.  Course announcement and application can be found here.
  • Transformative Leaders in Philanthropy (TLP): This is a program for foundation staff and board, as well as those who identify as major donors. TLP will take place June 4th-7th on the east coast. More information can be found here. 

• gs Supervision: Are you a somatic practitioner, a learning practitioner, a gs teacher, or someone who leads somatic practices inside of gs Movement Partnership? Are you a member of the gsPN, working with movement leaders? Do you run somatic healing groups? If so, this is for you! First call is January 17, 2019. Details and registration link can be found here.

Get involved with gs Embodied Donor Organizing: There will be opportunities to get involved with this work in 2019, please contact us to express interest and find out more: development@staging.gs-dev.mysites.io.

I have never participated in a gs program – what can I do in 2019?

We are glad that you are interested in getting involved with generative somatics (gs)! In 2019 please –

• Sign up for gs e-news to learn about our latest online offerings to be in community with others who are also wanting to start on path with gs. Email development@staging.gs-dev.mysites.io with the subject line “E-news.”

• Read this overview about gs programs, and this summary about our Strategic Priorities.

• Connect with our gs Practitioners Network (gsPN): gsPN is a great resource for organizers, activists, cultural workers and other movement leaders to access one-on-one somatic sessions and healing groups. Find out more about gsPN. 

• Apply for a gs Course: We will offer these open courses in 2019, and will release our 2020 program calendar by mid-2019.

• • • School of Embodied Leadership (SOEL): SOEL will be open to all applicants. We will put primary focus on participants who are leaders in our Strategic Priority areas – environmental and climate justice & fighting for freedom from political repression and state violence. Course announcement and application can be found here.

• Transformative Leaders in Philanthropy (TLP): This is a program for foundation staff and board, as well as those who identify as major donors. TLP will take place June 4th-7th on the east coast. More information can be found here. 

• Get involved with gs Embodied Donor Organizing: There will be opportunities to get involved with this work in 2019, please contact us to express interest and find out more: development@staging.gs-dev.mysites.io.

I am a donor or funder to gs, what should I know?

First off, thank you for your support. You make gs possible. 

To learn about the impact of your contributions in 2018:

• Please read this overview about gs programs, including updates about 2018. 
• If you would like to receive the recording of our webinar about 2018 programs that happened on 12/10/18, please email development@staging.gs-dev.mysites.io with the subject line “12/10 webinar”.

To find our more about our 2019 plans: 

• Please read above overview about what gs doing is doing in 2019.  If you haven’t already set up a time to talk with Staci or Danielle, please get in touch. We look forward to sharing our plans for 2019 with you. Contact: danielle@staging.gs-dev.mysites.io.
• To learn more about our 2019 plans to Build gs for the Long Haul, please join a gs Community Call on January 28th at 5pm PST / 7pm CT /  8pm ET. Please register here.

Please consider getting involved with gs Transformative Resourcing programs in 2019: 

• Transformative Leaders in Philanthropy (TLP): This is a program for foundation staff and board, as well as those who identify as major donors. TLP will take place June 4th-7th on the east coast. More information can be found here. 

• Embodied Donor Organizing: There will be several opportunities to get involved with this work in 2019, please contact us to express interest and find out more: development@staging.gs-dev.mysites.io.

I am a gs practitioner – what should I know?

gs Practitioners are key in the 2019 year.  Here are several ways to get involved with gs and our Practitioners Network (gsPN):

• Learn more about gs’s overall 2019 plans to Build gs for the Long Haul by joining a gs Community Call on January 28th at 5pm PST / 7pm CT /  8pm ET. Please register here.

• If you aren’t already a member of gsPN, consider joining! Find out more about gsPN. 

• Join monthly gsPN organizing calls. For more info: gspn@staging.gs-dev.mysites.io.

• Get matched with a client who is an organizer or other leader in gs’s strategic priority areas. To find out if you are a fit for this, contact: gspn@staging.gs-dev.mysites.io.

• Consider registering for monthly Somatic Supervision calls: First call is January 17, 2019. Details and registration link can be found here.

• Consider applying to Somatics and Trauma Advanced (STA): STA will be a great opportunity for practitioners and coaches to deepen their somatic healing skills. This course also supports movement leaders to deepen their understanding of trauma healing and resilience, and its relevance for leadership and organizing. This course has prerequisites.  Course announcement and application can be found here.

• Consider participating in an in-person and virtual gathering that will happen during Somatics and Trauma Advanced (STA). For more info: gspn@staging.gs-dev.mysites.io.

I am part of a current gs Movement Partnership – what should I know?

Learn more about gs’s overall 2019 plans to Build gs for the Long Haul by joining a gs Community Call on January 28th at 5pm PST / 7pm CT /  8pm ET. Please register here.

A big part of 2019 will be about assessing short and long term impact of our programming so far, with our Movement Partners, teachers, and others. We will unearth best practices to offer the most relevant programming for movements. If you’d like to learn more about how Movement Partners will be involved in this learning process, contact: chris@staging.gs-dev.mysites.io.

In terms of programs with Movement Partner in 2019, we will continue to work with the strategic Movement Partners that we’ve been working with over the years, in a more limited capacity. If your organization has not yet been in conversation with us about this please connect with your gs leads.  

How can my organization become a gs Movement Partner in the future?

Thank you for wanting to be part of gs through becoming a Movement Parter. We are not accepting any new Movement Partners in 2019. If you are interested in being considered for 2020, please contact chris@staging.gs-dev.mysites.io.

A great first step is having leaders in your organization connect with gs in other ways– 

• Sign up for gs e-news to learn about our latest online offerings to be in community with others who are also wanting to start on path with gs. Email development@staging.gs-dev.mysites.io with the subject line “E-news.”

• Read this overview about gs programs, and this summary about our Strategic Priorities.

• Connect with our gs Practitioners Network (gsPN): gsPN is a great resource for organizers, activists, cultural workers and other movement leaders to access one-on-one somatic sessions and healing groups. Find out more about gsPN. 

• Apply for a gs Course: We will offer these courses in 2019, and will release our 2020 program calendar by mid-2019.

• • School of Embodied Leadership (SOEL): SOEL will be open to all applicants. We will put primary focus on participants who are leaders in our Strategic Priority areas – environmental and climate justice & fighting for freedom from political repression and state violence. Course announcement and application can be found here.
  • Somatics and Trauma Advanced (STA): STA will be a great opportunity for practitioners and coaches to deepen their somatic healing skills. This course also supports movement leaders to deepen their understanding of trauma healing and resilience, and its relevance for leadership and organizing. This course has prerequisites.  Course announcement and application can be found here.

Transformative Leaders in Philanthropy (TLP): This is a program for foundation staff and board, as well as those who identify as major donors. TLP will take place June 4th-7th on the east coast. More information can be found here.

What programs are being offered in 2019 and how do I apply?

In 2019, we will be running the following programs:

• Movement Partnerships: We will continue to work with the strategic Movement Partners that we’ve been working with over the years, in a more limited capacity .

• gs Courses: 
  • School of Embodied Leadership (SOEL): SOEL will be open to all applicants. We will put primary focus on participants who are leaders in our Strategic Priority areas – environmental and climate justice & fighting for freedom from political repression and state violence. Course announcement and application can be found here.
  • Somatics and Trauma Advanced (STA): STA will be a great opportunity for practitioners and coaches to deepen their somatic healing skills. This course also supports movement leaders to deepen their understanding of trauma healing and resilience, and its relevance for leadership and organizing. This course has prerequisites.  Course announcement and application can be found here.

• gs Practitioners Network (gsPN): 
  • gsPN is a great resource for organizers, activists, cultural workers and other movement leaders to access one-on-one somatic sessions and healing groups.
  • gsPN also supports practitioners and coaches to get organized and receive further development. In 2019, this will again include monthly gsPN organizing calls, and a gathering (in-person and virtual) during Somatics & Trauma Advanced. 
  • Find out more about gsPN here. 

• gs Teacher Training (gsTT) – Intermediate and Advanced: we will continue to grow the capacity of both intermediate and advanced gs teachers to be prepared to lead a greater number of courses and movement partnerships in years to come. 

• gs Supervision: Are you a somatic practitioner, a learning practitioner, a gs teacher, or someone who leads somatic practices inside of gs Movement Partnership? Are you a member of the gsPN, working with movement leaders? Do you run somatic healing groups? If so, this is for you! First call is January 17, 2019. Details and registration link can be found here.

• Transformative Resourcing: 

• Transformative Leaders in Philanthropy (TLP): This is a program for foundation staff and board, as well as those who identify as major donors. TLP will take place June 4th-7th on the east coast. More information can be found here.

• Embodied Donor Organizing: There will be several opportunities to get involved with this work in 2019, please contact us to express interest and find out more.

What programs are being offered in 2020 and how do I apply?

By Fall 2019 gs will announce our 2020 programs via e-news. Stay tuned and apply! You can sign up for up for our e-news by emailing development@staging.gs-dev.mysites.io with the subject line “E-news.”

What other ways can I support gs or get involved?

Thanks for asking! Please consider making a donation that will support gs to build a sustainable and strong organization that can grow to meet the needs of our communities in these times, and bring this work to movements in the most powerful ways. Donations allow gs to continue to make our programs accessible to innovative movement leaders, to poor and working class leaders, and to leaders of color. All donations go a long way for gs and no amount is too small to have an impact. To contribute – click here! 

In 2019, there will be opportunities to get involved with transformative resourcing and embodied donor organizing with and for gs. To express interest, please contact Danielle Feris (danielle@staging.gs-dev.mysites.io).