Grief Circle | May 24th | Ontario, CA

Thank you for your interest in the Grief Circle at Casa Pitzer! 

About Your Facilitator:

Jen Venegas, founder of Abeja Rise and trained end-of-life doula, is honored to facilitate a monthly series of Grief Circles at CASA Pitzer in Ontario, CA. We will be creating a space together to honor and share grief and loss all while enjoying a meal together. Jen is a spiritual activist, horticulturist and death doula. If you are interested in booking a call to discuss end of life services offered by Jen, please schedule your free call here.

About Your Chef: 

Free plant-based food will be provided by Norma Pérez, founder of The Salvi Vegan. Norma Pérez is an Afro-Salvadoran dancer turned into vegan business owner of authentic Salvadoran Plant-based cuisine called The Salvi Vegan. She competed in The Food Network's 1st vegan cooking competition show "It's CompliPlated" with host Tabitha Brown. She also competed in Food Empowerment Project's Chopped with a Vegan Twist where she won crowd favorite. With now having more than 65+ Salvadoran dishes veganized, she creates video food content, cooking classes and plans on publishing a Salvadoran vegan cookbook. She aims to uplift her communities through food, celebrating history by bringing traditional dishes to the forefront and bringing the awareness of her Afrodescendant roots and how it's been very present in her culture - especially through food. "I'm bringing veganism, my culture and my roots together."

Free Gift Upon Arrival:

Each attendee will receive a special gift from Willie's Vintage Monrovia to help you along on your grief journey. The next time you are in the San Gabriel Valley, please be sure to stop by Willie's Vintage! The storefront is located at 941 1/2 Foothill Blvd, Monrovia, CA 91016. Follow them on Instagram, Yelp, and Google. 

Masks are required unless consuming food or drink. There will be masks and hand sanitizer available. Covid testing is encouraged on the day of the event.

What to Expect:

• A small group of people sharing about grief and loss
• Individual experiences being listened to and honored without judgement or advice given
• Confidentiality around what is expressed within the grief circle
• Collective creation of community agreements
• A warm meal to enjoy as we sit and hold space for each other
• A token of appreciation for your presence

Parking & Transportation:

• Accessible parking spaces located in the parking lot behind the CASA Pitzer building off of Transit St.
• All other parking is available on the street or in the lot across the street on Transit St.
• The Eastbound Omnitrans 61 Line will drop you off within 0.2 miles of CASA Pitzer on Holt & Palm

Accessibility:

• The front entrance to CASA Pitzer is level with the sidewalk and wheelchair accessible
• The back entrance to CASA Pitzer is closest to the accessible parking spaces
• Gender neutral bathroom access is up a ramp with handrails at the back of CASA Pitzer
• Seating for the event is on upholstered chairs without arms
• Accessible parking spaces located in the parking lot behind CASA Pitzer
• ASL Interpretation available upon request within 7 working days or by May 15, 2024
• Childcare available upon request within 7 working days or by May 15, 2024

For any additional access needs, any questions, or concerns, please email abejarise@gmail.com

Important Notes:

• Attending this Grief Circle at CASA Pitzer means you are in agreement with the CASA Pitzer Community Agreements
• Please complete the Pitzer College COVID-19 Campus Visit Acknowledgment Form within three days before the Grief Circle 
• As a guest of CASA Pitzer, I personally ask that you respect the space, the fellow attendees, and the surrounding residential neighbors

If you have any questions, please email me at abejarise@gmail.com

Thank you! See you there! 💫