About the Be the Healing Movement

PictureBoard of 2019 Directors: (bottom left to right) Nilufar Tofighi, Dr. DeGruy, Bahia Overton, Syda Taylor (Executive Director), Amaris Alanis-Rebiero, (top left to right) Khari Humphries, Carl Hurdlik, Dr. Franklin Cosey-Gay. Missing from photo: Kari Carlson, Andre Segovia, and Luis Bermudez.













A National Partner of Be the Healing

Organic Oneness is one of six national partners that assists with mobilizing the Be the Healing Movement in Chicago. Dr. Joy DeGruy, internationally renowned researcher, educator and author Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome is an advisor to how Organic Oneness implements programs in communities on the south and west side.

By addressing racism, trauma, and healing as a collective, Chicago will be more successful with decreasing risk factors and increasing protective factors within education, employment, general health, family structures, and community networks. Guests of trainings include leaders who could amplify the work from their respective fields, including education, law enforcement, health care, faith, business, politics, community organizing, youth organizing, out-of-school time providers, communications, philanthropy, parents, and youth.

Below you will see events held in Chicago from the most recent conference in 2024 to the beginning of our journey together in 2016.

Be the Healing Summit!

Organic Oneness, Illinois Tech, and Chicago organizations came together to provide a summit for teens, young adults, high school/college groups, youth practitioners, and community members in hopes of providing healing tools to create a healthier Chicago.

Dr. Joy DeGruy had participants explore inter-generational and historical trauma, mental health, and improvement strategies through an educational, motivational and solution-oriented lens. She shared insights from her book, Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome and strategies for healing by encouraging participants to discover their own voices.

Dr. Ruha Benjamin  shared from her most recent book, Imagination: A Manifesto, that the most effective way to disrupt these deadly systems is to do so collectively... We have the power to use our imaginations to challenge systems of oppression and to create a world in which everyone can thrive... Imagination isn‘t a luxury. It is a vital resource and powerful tool for collective liberation.

Participants received both books. .

 5th Annual Be the Healing:
​Reparations Conference 2022
The 5th Annual Be the Healing: Reparations Conference explored innovative approaches to reparations including restoration, repair, and healing at the individual, community, and institutional levels, inclusive of policy changes.

Over the course of three days, Dr. Joy DeGruy and Dr. Bahia addressed the historical harm and trauma of racism and colonization through an inspirational and solution-oriented global lens. Chicago community leaders led community tours addressing various ways reparations are being carried out within the ecosystem of their neighborhoods.

We have deep gratitude to our partners, volunteers, donors and everyone who brought their whole selves to this years conference. We hope you enjoyed this special time with Dr. Joy DeGruy, Dr. Bahia, speakers, tours, and panel discussions. 

Be the Healing 2021

The Be the Healing Conference continued through COVID-19 with a on-line conference. Our partners and sponsors helped make an amazing experience happen for two days. Dr. DeGruy and over 20 speakers provided workshops that addressed systemic racism derived from Anti-Blackness, inter-generational and historical trauma, structural violence, mental health and COVID-19, sexism and xenophobia.Click below to experience the 2021 conference and see information about past events on the Be the Healing page.

BE THE HEALING CONFERENCE 2019

Organic Oneness convened a multitude of partners and funders to conduct a two day conference on December 9-10, 2019 for 350 youth practitioners and caregivers. Participants learned about Racism, Trauma, and Healing from Dr. Joy DeGruy. Chief Equity Officer of Chicago Public Schools and Dr. Maurice Swinney, and the Mayor’s Office, Candace Moore gave keynotes while Chicago subject matter experts conducted 10 break out sessions. ​

The Study Guide: Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome

Organic Oneness and UCAN hosted a half day seminar for participants from the conference to have a question/answer session with Dr. DeGruy. Participants went through the Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: “The Study Guide” that is designed to help individuals, groups, and organizations better understand the functional and dysfunctional attitudes and behaviors that have been transmitted to us through multiple generations. The Guide encourages and broadens the discussion and implications about the specific issues that were raised in the PTSS book and provides practical tools to help transform negative attitudes and behaviors into positive ones.


BE THE HEALING: BRONZEVILLE 2017

On Thursday, May 25, 2017 approximately 450 change agents in Chicago participated in a day long training  to learn about Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome and culturally responsive practices conducted by Dr, DeGruy.  Opening remarks were give by our community partner, Pastor Chris Harris, CEO of Bright Star Community Outreach and TURN Center while another key partner, Robin Robinson, Emmy Award winning Chicago journalist, and Director of Community Affairs for the Chicago Police Department  graced the stage as the Mistress of Ceremonies.

BE THE HEALING CONFERENCE 2016:
BRIDGING THE DIVIDE

On October 4, 2016 approximately 160 community leaders and change makers in Chicago were trained by internationally renowned researcher, educator and author Dr. Joy DeGruy to address racism, trauma and healing (9:30AM – 5PM, Illinois Institute of Technology, 3300 S. Federal St. Hermann Hall, Ballroom) Through Health for Humanity, Mrs. Taylor collaborated with Bright Star Community Outreach, the Chicago Police Department, and the Illinois Institute of Technology. Additional supporters include UCAN, Engage Civil Incorporated, Chicago Baha’i Community, and Bronzeville Community Action Council. This initiative reached the necessary audience to seed a movement that puts structures in place to promote justice and equity in communities most impacted by crime and violence in Chicago.

 Community Ripple Effect of Healing 2016-2017

After conferences, Syda (Executive Director of Organic Oneness) connected attendees that had like-minded solutions to co-create their own events for continued learning and healing. This community-building process ignited the thoughts of creating Organic Oneness.

HEAL THE HEALERS

June of 2017 Environmentalist of Color, Chicago Botanic Garden, Faith in Place, and the Bahá'í Temple all felt the need to create a space for Caregivers of the Earth to rejuvenate.  Hour long seminars gave tips on mediation, massaging, breathing, mindfulness, so participants can combat compassion fatigue and burnout.  A vegan lunch nourished bodies while friendships developed among people from various neighborhoods in Chicago and north suburbs. Concluding the day was artist and author, Misha Maynerick Blaise that debuted her book, This Phenomenal Life: The Amazing Ways Are Connected With Our Universe.
ROBERT S. ABBOTT:
Chicago Defender, Bud Billiken, and Great Migration

On Monday, February 27, 2017 Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago Defender, and Bahá'í Community all had Robert S. Abbott in common and wanted to celebrate his life and teach other about his legacy. The audience heard stories from his great-grandniece and President of the Chicago Defender Charities, Myiti Sengstacke-Rice, also Ron Browne, member of the Chicago Bahá’í Community, and Andre Garner talked about his non-profit, The Great Migration Experience (GME), which is collecting stories to celebrate the Centennial anniversary of the Great Migration to keep the journey relevant for the generation of today. Audience members included three honorees of the Men of Excellence Award given by the Chicago Defender, members of the Sengstacke family, nine participants from Bridging the Divide: Be the Healing, and surrounding suburbs as far as Highland Park and Wadsworth.
DEEPLY ROOTED DANCE THEATER

On Saturday, February 4, 2017 Bronzeville schools joined other CPS schools to celebrate Deeply Rooted Dance Theater 20th year anniversary celebration, Aspects of Love. From a generous donation from The AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Black Leadership AIDS Crises Coalition Youth Committee, Dyett High School and Woodson North were able to attend. Rooted in African-American traditions of storytelling and universal themes in contemporary modern dance, Chicago’s Deeply Rooted Dance Theater performs world class dance that entertains, inspires, and builds community.
CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT

On November 10, the Chicago Police Department conducted a Peace Circle to debrief on what they learned and how it affected them. Some of the comments from the 20 sworn personnel who participated:“…this knowledge impacts the way we see ourselves and each other, it awakened my soul”;  "...an enlightenment about the roots of the condition of some of these violent young offenders I deal with”; “ ...it answers the question of how we can begin to make this conversation more comfortable”; “I just want to figure out how to spread these facts …”; “This was the best training or workshop I have ever been to – and I go to a lot of conferences!”; “I deal with youth every day, how can I get this message to them?”
GLORIOUS LIGHT CHURCH

On November 5, 2016  Pastor Neal held a gathering at Glorious Light Church for a book discussion on Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome and how trauma is affecting individuals on a personal level.  Session was led by a clinical psychologist and participants came from Evanston and south side of Chicago.
BAHÁ'Í COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE

On October 16, 2016 the Chicago Bahá’í Community of Practice reflected with Bahá’ís that attended the training and talk at the House of Worship to hear about each other’s learning and talk about their individual experience or pain with race in this country. One participant carried his binder and referred to the page on Philosophical Aspects of Difference and said, “this brings such clarity to why I struggled to fit in when I was younger and why people behave the way they do at work, this explains so much to me, I wish I knew this as a kid”.
BRONZEVILLE COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL

On October 10, 2016 Members of the Bronzeville Community Action Council executive committee presented their learnings to the Bronzeville education community. Network 9, principals, and parents had a surge of energy and hope and offered to work with the partners on creating a strategic plan for 2017 so the right people can assist with resources and implementation. A parent participant of the training said, “All the parents and teachers and everybody needs to hear this, I look at myself and my family differently and understand the harm of what we’re doing, and I didn’t even know I was doing it!”