Ɛte Sɛn?

How is it?

 We are two Black, non-binary, queer providers of care to primarily Black and Brown, trans, non-binary, gnc, queer, fat, disabled, polyamorous/non-monogamous, kinky folks and their families in the Bay Area. We have witnessed and experienced firsthand challenges in finding Black queer and trans providers that share our identities, experience, and knowing. In our provider communities, we have seen and experienced a consistent demand for Black providers to give support in the beautiful ways that only We can.

Organizers

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Ella Ofori

They/Them

Ella Ofori, LMFT, MPH

I am a Black/African, non-binary, queer, (small) fat mental health therapist. My private practice primarily serves Black and Brown trans, queer, and non-binary individuals and families. Most of my clients are providers, activists, organizers, teachers, artists that either do or are working towards understanding and embracing their roots.  I work from a collectivist, Womanist/Black feminist influenced framework and hold the impact of intergenerational trauma and white supremacy in relationship to the challenges my clients face. I practice non-hierarchical support and center healing in community/relationship.   I also provide a heart, value, and culture-centered framework for program evaluation, consultation, and storytelling/public speaking for colleagues, grassroots orgs and academic institutions.

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I pull from my life experiences and in combination with my growing spiritual knowing, I use aspects of herbalism, divining, crystals, ritual, ancestor relationship and connection, storytelling, and spiritual relationship building to support myself, my friends, family, clients, and larger community in healing and movement towards freedom.

Rawiyah Tariq
They/Them

A Sovereign Embodiment

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Black | Fat | Queer | Gender Non Binary

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Magic, massage, storytelling and performance art are tools I use to  liberate, heal and reclaim space for marginalized and oppressed communities. ​

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I have facilitated and spoken at events such as Baycon, NOLOSE, Fat Activist Conference: Tools for the Revolution , Fatty Affair, Pantheacon, Mystic South and The Northwest Pagan Conference.

I have spoken at several universities including Berkeley, Stanford and San Jose State regarding intersectionality, sex, fat, feminism and health.   My most recent published work can be found in “The Politics of Size” co-authored with Juana Tango and edited by Ragen Chastian and my journey documented in interviews in Nia King’s “Queer and Trans Artist of Color”.

Project Ɛte Sɛn, COVID & Black Resistance

In this specific time of COVID and continued Black resistance, it is more important than ever for us to take the intentional time to ask, “How are you?”. Our Black therapists have been asking and holding our big and complicated responses to this question without much reprieve over the past several months and will continue to do so. Black providers that hold the hearts, spirits, and bodies of our community members deserve to have this question asked of them too. Black providers need to be held in their need for rest, reflection, and recovery. 

Black therapists, specifically, have been voicing challenges in feeling able to take breaks from supporting others, even when they are in need of rest and self-care. We want to help remove some of the financial barrier of taking needed time to rest and support our fellow Black providers in making the needed space to take care of themselves. We are asking Black therapists, “how are you?”

It has now become more apparent to many how vital it is for Black people to receive support, especially mental health support, from people that know and live our experiences. For Black trans and queer families, it’s imperative that our support networks reflect our intersecting identities and experiences.  Black trans and queer therapist are pioneers and groundbreakers within our communities. 

Supporting these Healers is an act of resistance. 

Supporting these Healers is supporting Black Lives. 

Supporting these Healers is supporting our collective ability to thrive.