Mission: OneLife serves at the intersection of spirituality and social action. Our mission is to nurture, inspire, and sustain people committed to healing and justice.
For 15 years, we have worked in the service of three central goals: (1) increasing the resilience and wellbeing of individuals and communities living under the stress of poverty, violence, oppression, and uncertain times; (2) enhancing the sustainability and integrity of movements for social transformation and community uplift; (3) fostering an ever-growing Beloved Community.
Results: Some of our program accomplishments include:
* Spirit, Sound & Silence - We have led more than 50 retreats, bringing together people from diverse communities for healing and renewal, and providing many hundreds of participants the opportunity for needed respite and spiritual replenishment. Our retreats offer an essential time of "breathing in" to balance the stresses and cumulative traumas of daily life.
* Transformative Visions - We produced dynamic multimedia art shows and spoken word/jazz concerts that call on the power of the arts to heal, activate, and build community. Since 2007, we have hosted vibrant multi-generational crowds at this bi-annual event. Videos and photos from each event, available on our website, continue to share the message and foster connection on local, national, and international levels.
* Sustaining the Soul of Activism (and Activists) - We provide support to those directly on the front lines of community service and social justice work. Since 2010, OneLife has offered training and resources for organizations and individuals who serve at-risk populations in Oakland and surrounding areas. We believe that true sustainability connects us with the deepest sources of inspiration, wisdom, and renewal so that we can bring new vision, wholeness, and effectiveness to our work and our lives.
* Healing Black Lives - In the face of displacement, trauma, and the ongoing struggles for justice disproportionately impacting Black communities, we developed special days of healing and renewal for people of African descent. These provide a safe and sacred space to foster community connection, develop practices for sustainability, and receive individual sessions with an array of healing practitioners.
And this is just a small sampling. OneLife also offers classes, counseling, and a variety of resources to educate and uplift.
I've attended several events hosted by OneLife: Spirit, Sound & Silence retreats in 2008 and 2013, the Transformative Visions: Annual art, jazz & spoken word event in 2013, and in 2011 a class on Dr. Howard Thurmond titled The Growing Edge.
Each event is food for your soul. The events are well-planned, well-executed events to nourish and invigorate you. The host, Dr. Liza creates a welcoming, loving, enlightening environment, always. I've fully enjoyed every event that I've attended. And I've invited several friends to attend. Every year I attend the retreat in January; it helps me to renew for the new year.
OneLife Institue is special and provides unique, beautiful services to. I'm grateful that it exists and is based in Oakland, CA.
