The Blackyard Collective Conversations

In February The Blackyard Collective is launching Collective Conversations, a series of virtual gatherings led by Black artists, activists, advocates, practitioners, and professionals who will enrich our community on a wide range of topics to enrich our lives. 

Cultivating Black Queer Love, Intimacy, & Connection in Sobriety: An Interactive Workshop
Tuesday, February 20th @ 7pm EST

As Black queer folks in recovery from addiction, we are constantly navigating a variety of identities, communities, and spaces that inhibit our capacity toward intimacy and vulnerability. 

Please join us as we discuss different expressions of intimacy and explore tools and resources for cultivating love, connection, and intimacy in our personal lives.

Facilitator: 
Dr. Alfonso Ferguson is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (NY; FL), Licensed Professional Counselor (NJ), Approved Clinical Supervisor, and National Certified Counselor who prides himself on providing culturally responsive counseling services to underserved communities.

Dr. Ferguson has a strong interest in working with LGBTQ+ Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) struggling with mood disorders and psychosocial stressors. His personal mission is to provide brave and safe spaces for marginalized communities to feel heard, affirmed, and celebrated.

Also …. The Blackyard Collective is in the Huff Post!
Woot! Woot
This Black Queer Community Is
Starting A Revolution Of Self-Love
by Delano Burrowes

"We live in a country that has pathologized and criminalized certain identities, and it’s impossible not to absorb some of that conditioning. We are told that our Blackness or queerness or transness — and sometimes all of them at once — is bad. We’re always conscious of how we’re being seen and interpreted, and we learn to wear masks for survival.

Our common solution for escaping that internal conflict is what brought us together.

Fifteen years ago, recovery spaces, even in New York City, were very white, and it was rare to see other Black faces in these programs. In traditional 12-step programs, there’s often a one-size-fits-all attitude that assumes equal playing fields for recovery.

A common saying in these recovery spaces instructs us not to bring “outside issues” to the recovery room. But that’s challenging when you encounter daily reminders that your existence is seen as a problem.

“It is necessary to constantly remind ourselves that we are not an abomination,” wrote Black queer filmmaker Marlon Riggs."

READ FULL ARTICLE