2020 Election & Post-Election Support Gatherings & Resources
A compilation of online gatherings on and after Election Day to boost your spirit, provide emotional support, and ways to be together through conversations, speakers, music, singing, meditation, prayer and more. These events are free unless otherwise stated. Please research through links and/or contact event organizers directly for questions on accessibility, inclusivity and content. Lovingly curated 10/31 by Micky ScottBey Jones of Faith Matters Network. Share this list far and wide. With you in Spirit & Struggle.
Contents:
Keeping it Together on Election Day w/ Nadia Bolz-Weber and Friends
Spiritual togetherness at the top of each hour with Brene Brown, Bishop Curry, Nadia’s mom and more. Starting 11am ET on Instagram Live @sarcasticlutheran More info.
Election Night Abolitionist Prayer Vigil and Imagination Space w/ Seminary of the Street
Prayer vigil on election night. Join freedom fighters from around the country and the ancestors for this space to name and call in our dreams. Starting 5pm PT/8pm ET on Zoom. More info.
Election Night Watch Party w/ Nashville Movement Chaplains
Drop-in space for progressive movement folks across Middle Tennessee with the Nashville Movement Chaplains. Starting 8pm CT on Zoom. More info.
Tikkun Leil Election w/ T’ruah
Community, inspiration, and spiritual nourishment with short Torah study opportunities, musical performances, meditation moments, poetry readings, etc. with Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie, poet Joy Ladin and more. Starting 8pm ET on Zoom. More info.
We Care For Us: Election Night w/ Take Action Minnesota
An evening of music, art, healing, and time in a community that will be building power and joy together for the long-haul, co-hosted with ACER, COPAL, The Alliance, CTUL, Climate Generation, Gender Justice, Jewish Community Action and many others. Starting 8pm CT on Zoom. More info.
Good Vibe Texts w/ The Swell Collective
We’ll be sending out the good moods and good vibes all day on Nov. 3 to better your mood. Text "Sol2020" to 56525 to get set up. More info.
A Post-Election Safety Plan w/ En Conjunto
Join Ana-Yelsi Velasco-Sanchez and Alicia Crosby to talk about why some of us, especially those with marginalized identities, may feel compelled to create one, why that’s a normal instinct, and what a holistic approach to creating one is (considering your physical, emotional, financial, spiritual needs and more). Facebook Live Starting at 7pm ET. More Info
Solidarity 2020: Election Day Interludes w/ The Swell Collective
Streaming opportunities all Election Day (and night) for BIPOC organizers to engage in generative and healing spaces respite and community. Starting 6am ET on Facebook. More Info
Election Night Peace & Prayer w/ Faith United Church of Christ, State College
Online sanctuary on Election night for you to bring your prayers of hope and peace and poems as we spiritually support each other. Starting 7pm ET on Zoom. More info.
How to Stay Grounded w/ The Chi Center, Wisdom Healing with Master Mingtong Gu
A free special teaching and practice with members of our Connections! community. Find support for staying steady, grounded, open-hearted, and infused with universal Love & Light during these times of personal and collective change and uncertainty. Starting 8pm ET/5pm PT. More info.
Singing Bowl Meditation w/ Sound Healing for Well-being
Guided meditation led by Mindi Hung while playing crystal quartz bowls along with chimes for our class. Listening to the bowls can grant you the peace your mind needs to settle in. Starting 7pm ET on Zoom. More info.
VOTE: Then Sing! Election Day Concert w/ The Center for Congregational Song
A 12-hour broadcast featuring songs and hymns to help us pray together, sing together, and be a non-anxious presence on election day, with various artists and faith leaders. Starting 1pm ET on YouTube Live. More info.
Soothe Your Soul w/ Vandersall Collective
Take a break from news coverage or those pesky thoughts inside your own head, and join us for music, poetry, meditation, and re-centering in community. Our beloved clients and colleagues will be our co-hosts and sharing their various gifts as we navigate this turbulent time together. Starting 6pm ET on Zoom and Facebook Live. More info.
Heart Medicine w/ Helen Bennett & Matt Goldfield
Inspired by the Jewish prayer practice developed at Isabella Freedman & Adamah and many other teachers and practices, a moment together to reflect, to sing, and to welcome the night in contemplative and songful practice. Starting 9pm ET on Zoom. More info.
Quaker Prayer Vigil w/ the New England Yearly Meeting of Friends
Continuous worship on Zoom, overnight. Some of it will be dance party, some vespers-ish, other somatic awareness, prayers with at least two friends present at all times. Come and go as you wish. Starting 8pm ET (and goes till 7am the next day). More Info
Election Day Community Center w/ Jewish Voice for Peace
An all-day open space to study, sing, pray, take action, laugh, cry, and be together led by the JVP Rabbinical Council and friends. The day will include meditation, prayer, text study, singing, and discussion. Starting 8am ET on Zoom. More info.
Election Night/Morning After Fellowship w/ Vrji Spirit Community
An hour of conversation, meditation, and connection of hearts and minds while we wait awhile for the results of this historic election. Starting 11pm ET. More info.
Prayers on Election Day w/ Friendship Presbyterian Church
An hour to offer prayers in the face of anxiety, fear, and uncertainty around the election with music, images, songs led by Rev. Shawna Bowman. Starting 5:30pm CT on Zoom. More info.
Election Day Prayer Vigil w/ Shalem Institute
Prayerful guidance around a contemplative practice leading into extended silence each hour on the hour, led by a faith leader. Starting 9am ET on Zoom. More info.
In This Together Meditation Circle w/ Chelsea MacMillian & Zen Teacher Colin Beavan
Community support and connection through a sharing circle and brief meditation to help us all get through this time with just a little more calm, compassion, and connection. At 6pm and 10pm ET on Zoom. More info here (6pm) and here (10pm).
All Power to the People: Election Night w/ Bobby Seale & Rep. Barbara Lee
Song, inspiration from movement and political elders, and healing blessings featuring Bobby Seale (Black Panther Party), Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Baba Greg Hodge, Kaira Jewel Lingo, and others. Hosted by Black Tech for Black Lives and Just Cities. Starting 7pm PT/10pm ET on Zoom. Pay and free options. More info.
Yoga for BIWOC w/ Kathy Khang
Pay what/if you can yoga for Black, Indigenous, Women of Color. Wednesday, Nov. 4th at 5pm CT on Zoom and every Monday and Wednesday thereafter. More info.
Remember in November Healing Circles w/ Political Healers
Join us for powerful healing circles held for political healers around the experience of this election to discuss healing practices to carry us through. Wednesday, Nov. 4th and 11th at 7pm ET/4pm PT. More info.
“After the Election: Spirituality, Civil Conversations and Social Healing” w/ Krista Tippett
Join us for a special edition of “Matters that Matter: A Conversation Series from Hendricks Chapel” with Krista Tippett, the Peabody Award-winning broadcaster and creator of “On Being,” a New York Times bestselling author, and a National Humanities Medalist. Live captioning will be provided. Wednesday, Nov. 4th at 7pm ET on Zoom. More info.
You’re Not Alone: Lament Together w/ The Many
Join us and take this time for yourself, for a few moments of reflection and prayer, and music from The Many. Sing, pray, cry out to God and look for vision. Wednesday, Nov. 4th at 8pm CT on Facebook Live. More info.
Post Election Gathering w/ Emergent Strategy Ideation Institute
Let's come together whatever the outcome and fortify each other as we make meaning of what is and plan for what's ahead. Wednesday, Nov. 4th at 5:30pm CT on Zoom. More info.
Toshi Reagon’s Post-Election “No Matter What” Concert
A post-election show to address the election and the continuation of systems that govern the United States of America, and a gathering that says we are here, and we are carrying on with this life no matter what. Wednesday, Nov. 4th at 7pm ET. More info.
Restoration and Restoration in Times of Grief and Mourning w/ Healing by Choice!
A women and gender non-conforming community of healing and health practitioners and their friends for a series of bi-weekly sessions through November. An interactive time where we will share simple practices that you can use in your daily life and share with your community. Wednesday, Nov. 4th and 18th at 12pm ET. More info.
All Saints Candle Lighting for All Our Griefs w/ First Presbyterian Church Springfield
Wednesday, Nov. 4th at 5:30pm CT. More info.
Community Healing Circles w/ Eastbay Church of Religious Science
Join us in a space for connection, healing, and shared spiritual practice the days and weeks following the election. Wednesday, Nov. 4th at 9:15pm ET. More info.
Election Week Daily Morning Rituals w/ Jewish Voice for Peace
Start each day cradled in tradition and community with a 15 minute morning ritual of prayers, songs, and poems. Sunday, Nov. 1st-Friday, Nov. 6th at 8am ET. More info.
Secure the Bag: The Ancestors Have Prepared Us w/ the Good Neighbor Movement
An invitation to conjure the ancestors for the rituals, tactics, and wisdom we must go back and fetch to live radically, justly, safely, and creatively in this moment and into the future. Music, art, prayers, ritual, and a conversation among elders featuring Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, Rev. Dr. Alexia Salvatierra and Bishop Tonyia Rawls. Thursday, Nov. 5th at 7pm ET. More info.
Post-Election Brave Space w/ The Hive: Center for Contemplation, Art & Action
A mindful, community gathering to reflect on the election, integrating whatever we know at that time, and making room for asking "what now?" Thursday, Nov. 5th at 7pm ET. More info.
Post-Election Vigil & Community Gathering w/ Unitarian Universalist Association
No matter the results of the election this year, we know we will want to gather in community. Please join the UUA, UU the Vote, Side with Love, and UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray for this event. Thursday, Nov. 5th at 8pm ET on Zoom, Facebook Live, and YouTube. More info.
Processing the Moment w/ The Global Immersion Project
A space to honor and process feelings from the election - listening, sharing and remembering who we are. On Zoom - can sign up for one or both sessions - Nov 5 (4pm) and 6th (9am) at 7pm PT. More info
Spirit, Sound & Silence Retreat w/ OneLife Institute
A day of healing and renewal retreat facilitated by Rev. Liza Rankow and harpist Destiny Muhammad. Featuring sacred space, visioning, guided meditation, music and song. Saturday, Nov. 7th at 1pm ET/10am PT. More info.
Post-Election Community Healing w/ Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas
A space to heal and reflect. Join us for a volunteer led program on what comes next for us after Election Day and how we will continue to build power in 2021. Monday, Nov. 9th at 6pm CT on Zoom. More info.
Rooted in Resilience: Post Election Community Conversation w/ Faith Matters Network An hour of community conversation to pause, reflect, check in, ask for what we need, and close in song. Hosted by Carinne Luck with soulful music by Lauren Cunningham. Wednesday, Nov. 18th at 4pm ET. More info.
Dear Beloved Changemakers & Freedom Fighters
We are in the midst of an election that feels to many of us as if it is the most important of any in recent history. For those of us that believe the teaching of Chief Seattle that “we are all bound together”, there is a heightened sense of the importance of this moment. There is so much swirling around, in the space between us and inside our cells - a sense of urgency, a shadow of doom mixed with a whiff of hope - and we feel all these things within the same day. Some of you have been working unbelievable hours to get folks to the polls, some of you have been focused on just getting your family members to vote safely and securely, others of you, just doing what you can on top of helping children with school, working in unusual conditions and stressful COVID19 scares. We all have work to do on top of grief, loneliness, and fear.
But there is more truth. We also have EACH OTHER. While the pandemic has isolated us, it has also brought us into each other’s living rooms through online meetings, conferences and dance parties. We are exhausted but not defeated. Lonely but not alone. Missing how life was and experiencing new ways to be together. We have our ELDERS AND ANCESTORS, who faced violence filled elections after the American Civil War in Reconstruction, registered to vote over and over again despite poll taxes and bogus tests and like Fannie Lou Hamer, faced losing jobs and homes and bullets and bombs for daring to register to vote. We have a brave, brilliant lineage of ancestors and elders who faced the “most important elections” and we can call upon their strength, courage and examples to meet the challenges of November 3, 2020 and the months to come. But we must be focused, we must care for one another, we must still dance and eat and rest. We must gather together and refuse to be crushed in spirit. We can do it, just as they did. It is our turn.
My hope is that through this list of gatherings and resources, all focused on supporting and strengthening your spirit, mind and body, you will find what you need to go on and to keep fighting for liberation and justice. You are vital. You are precious. And you, if you want to be, are a part of this Beloved Community we are building together.
In Spirit & Struggle,
Micky ScottBey Jones (she/diva)
The Justice Doula @electric_lady_msj (IG)
P.S. Thank you to many friends and colleagues who shared events and resources. Thank you to leea allen for editorial & formatting support. Thank you to my crew at Faith Matters Network for living a life of brave space, care and accompaniment with me. I love you.
P.P.S. If you attend one of these events or use a resource and it’s meaningful for you, consider letting an organizer know how it was for you and stay in touch with them. There is community waiting for you.