June 20th: A DAY OF RELEASE
A digital activation, demanding that our voices be seen and heard.
This Saturday, June 20th at 12PM PST/3PM EST Sarah Springer & Cela Sutton, along with allies Lubna Hindi and Tara Aquino, encourage Black people to partake in a digital activation called A DAY OF RELEASE. Participation is simple: at the aforementioned date and time, post a piece of art with the hashtag #adayofrelease, or simply follow along the hashtag to see what others are sharing.
“Join [us] as we encourage Black people to share a piece of work or form of self-expression they’ve been holding back for a while,” says Springer, "all at the same time, from wherever we are on social media, to friends, whatever they feel — to reclaim our narratives, celebrate BLACK imaginations and release to heal, collectively. Our intention is to cultivate an online community gallery of Black art for Black people by Black people in efforts to end self-censorship, quiet self-doubt and let the world see us, hear us as we release our joy, pain and everything in between into the world.”
For more information, visit their Instagram or send an email to adayofrelease@gmail.com
Read the initiative’s mission statement and participation guidelines below, along with a list of Black mental health organizations that are receiving donations:
Mission Statement
Self expression is a form of self preservation.
Our collective evolution depends on our creativity to break the cycle and build anew.
It is vital.
Our creative work can reveal some of the most vulnerable parts of ourselves — who we really are, our buried secrets and desires, the pain and triumphs of generations that came before us. These can feel paralyzing when exposed, but if we let go with the intention to evolve and heal, they can be liberating.
Historically, we have shown time and time again that as Black people, our imaginations can create new pathways for change. While we acknowledge generational trauma and violence, we choose to center our brilliance and the strength of our ancestors through our art to help us heal and transform the consequences of oppression on our mental health.
It is time to find a way to release what is harmful. Now more than ever, we must take control of our narratives and images to protect our minds, bodies and spirits.
So what if we tried revealing our deepest truths, our boldest visions, our wildest dreams together as a community? Would it be less scary if we were not alone? Would who we are meant to be or what we want to accomplish in this life — in this current revolution and movement — become clearer? Could we heal?
On June 20, we encourage you to participate in a form of healing justice with a day of release where Black artists, creatives and thoughtful humans can come together to share an individual piece of work they’ve been holding back as a symbol of our collective growth. And if you come to this day and feel that you still don’t know what or how to share something so personal, consider releasing and crediting a piece of work by other Black artists and creatives that inspire you and share what resonates with you and why — as maybe they have the words we’re still trying so hard to find.
Please consider sharing this poster with the Black members of your networks. Any Black person is invited to participate. You can contribute and follow along by using #adayofrelease.
To honor our commitment to healing justice work, we are encouraging folks to donate and support organizations dedicated to Black mental health and wellness.
Remember, you are enough. We have always been our own answer. There is nothing to fear, and more importantly, nothing we can’t do when we support one another to reclaim our thoughts, our space, our peace and our joy. So please join us at the same time from wherever you are as we practice the art of letting go to forge ahead.
With love,
Sarah Springer & Cela Sutton
How to Release
Note: This is not a meet-up, rather a scheduled time for us to collectively release the work we've been holding onto on social media through the #adayofrelease hashtag.
Step One: Activate. Decide to participate and share a work of art from the depths of your mind, heart and spirit that is holding you back or that you’ve been holding back in fear of being judged or rejected.
Step Two: Release. Post your work on your personal Instagram with a special message on what this work is, what it means to you, and why you chose to release it. We encourage you to reveal what this work is allowing you to let go of. Use #adayofrelease to participate in the movement.
Step Three: Breathe. We encourage you to organize conversations with your friends and family about what it means to take your power back by creating space for something new. Don’t be afraid to reach out to those who participated in the movement to appreciate and acknowledge their work, and continue building community.
Donate
Black mental health matters. Now more than ever your individual and our collective mental wellness needs to be addressed and supported. Our voices must not only be heard, but nurtured and understood. During this time, we highlight Black mental health professionals and advocates who are championing radical healing justice work within our communities and can use your support.
A few we recommend are below:
The Loveland Foundation - The Loveland Foundation is committed to showing up for communities of color in unique and powerful ways, with a particular focus on Black women and girls. Our resources and initiatives are collaborative and they prioritize opportunity, access, validation, and healing. We are becoming the ones we’ve been waiting for. @thelovelandfoundation
Soco Rey Therapy - Therapy for us, by us. @yourfavoritetherapist
Black Visions Collective - Black Visions Collective is organization dedicated to Black liberation and to collective liberation. BLVC believes in a future where all Black people have autonomy, safety is community-led, and we are in right relationship within our ecosystems. @blackvisionscollective
BEAM - BEAM, or Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective, is a collective of advocates, yoga teachers, artists, therapists, lawyers, religious leaders, teachers, psychologists and activists committed to the emotional/mental health and healing of Black communities. @_beamorg
