HopeWorks of Howard County is a domestic violence and rape crisis agency. HopeWorks envisions a world of interconnected people and communities actively working towards a society where all people are safe and valued and where everyone can reach their full potential. One of the ways we work towards this vision is through our involvement with the arts and humanities.

This May, the Self-Care & Social Justice programs will launch a free workshop series titled, “Unapologetic: Using Arts and Humanities to Explore Revolution and Oppression.” The Unapologetic Workshop Series will provide 15-20 LGBTQ+ identified adults with an opportunity to participate in six sessions exploring visual arts, performing arts, history, literature, and the healing arts. Participants will dialogue with artists and scholars, engage with herbalist and body workers, create visual and language art projects all reflecting on queer and trans identity and liberation. They will reflect on ideas around body liberation, healing intergenerational trauma, myths and migration, and more through group discussions, writing journal entries, and creating visual artwork.

The goal of the Unapologetic Workshop Series is three-fold:

a)       To catalyze individual and communal learning, voice, action and healing,
b)      To increase access to the arts and humanities, particularly for LGBTQ+ folks, people of color, educationally underserved adults, and those who have experience oppression, and
c)       Encourage a life-long engagement with the arts and humanities.

About Unapologetic:

Unapologetic is a free six week workshop series held in-person at HopeWorks of Howard County’s main office 9770 Patuxent Woods Drive, Suite 300 Columbia, MD 21046 OR at the Community Ecology Institute at the Free Town Farm at 800 Harriet Tubman Lane, Columbia, MD 21044. Participants must identify as LGBTQ+ and people of color are highly recommended to apply. Light meal and/or snacks will be provided at each workshop session as well as a journal for folks to use and keep throughout the series. Artists, scholars, and creatives will be brought in for session for participates to engage with. Session might include film screenings and discussions, herbalism and body work arts, printmaking, zine making, and drag performances.

Workshop Dates: Thursdays and Saturdays—May 2023- June 2023 (topics are subject to change). Click the dates to learn more about each session and our guest artists.

Thursday, May 11, 2023: 6-8:30– Introductions/ Exploring queer & trans liberation
Thursday, May 18, 2023: 6-8:30pm– Drag Mythology and Migration with Kamani Sutra
Saturday, May 27, 2023: 11-3pm– Rebel Dykes Film Screening and Discussion
Thursday, June 1, 2023: 6-8:30pm– Reclaiming Your Queer Body oil blend making with Seven Dreams Ceremony: In TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) Spring rules the functions of our bodily systems that are responsible for cleaning, filtering, and expelling toxins. Spring takes a particular interest in the kidneys, liver, gallbladder, skin, and our channel systems. You will craft your own Bath Tea with plants, clays, salts, and essential oils that intuitively call to you. In the first half of the class we will go over the properties and benefits of each ingredient, and in the second half of the class you will build two of your own Bath Teas.

Saturday, June 10, 2023: 11-3pm–  “Coming Home” breathwork-meditation-yoga workshop with Magenta
Saturday, June 17, 2023: 11-3pm– Printmaking as Resistance

Participants must be able to attend all workshop dates, identify as LGBTQ+ and fill out an application and be able to meet for 15 min. via phone/zoom for a brief interview. 

Click Here to Apply!

Click here for a shareable flier.