Facing Race: A National Conference in St. Louis, MO — November 20-22, 2024

Soyinka Rahim

GSP (Grassroots Spiritual Practitioner), Founder/ Director BIBOLove | BIBOLove
Pronouns: (she, her, hers)

Presentations from Facing Race 2022

Add Just, Embodied Liberatory Practices

"Add Just: Embodied Liberatory Practices" will meld Soyinka Rahim’s BIBOLove signature elements of collective breath, affirmation, and movement meditation with Leah Okamoto Mann’s play-full kinesthetic practices. Buoyed by Soyinka’s drumming, flute, and original compositions, participants will be invited to tend a felt sense of justice in their body - through balanced, respected presence. Gathering the “congregation” of our inner parts, Leah will offer liberatory practices to cultivate a healthy ecosystem, micro to macro / self-regulation for co-regulation. These somatic practices will be sourced in self-observation, improvisation, gesture, and whole body movement, with an intention to increase the frequency of peace. We will explore being in flow with our “body weather” in order to bring more empathy, reciprocity, and generosity into the world, in return for the privilege of each breath. This workshop is inspired by somatic practices of Resmaa Menakem and Nkem Ndefo, as well as writings of Indigenous botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer, and ecologist, Suzanne Simard. All are welcome. No experience necessary.

Soyinka and Leah have collaborated on numerous art and social justice actions over their 15 year friendship, including: Hello/Goodbye Viaduct 2019 (dxʷdəwʔabš / Seattle) and The Human Murmuration at Duwamish/ dxʷdəwʔabš Waterway Park 2017 (dxʷdəwʔabš / Seattle). Soyinka has presented with the Sacred Dance Guild, the Parliament of World Religions, Abby of the Arts, as well as Facing Race. Leah's current projects include: DreamathonATL with Morehouse College & the Andrew Young Center for Leadership and The Indicator Species Project, a BIPOC Centered Art, Science, Eco Festival (Seattle).

Speakers: Leah Okamoto Mann, Soyinka Rahim

Presentations from Facing Race 2016

Changing the Race Dance

Changing the Race Dance offers a new way of conversing about racism. Using InterPlay’s tested educational body wisdom tools, Soyinka shares the power of movement, stillness, story, and song to create spaces where noticing, plain talk, being heard and affirmed is an essential part of being together in a new dance that takes socialized systemic racism seriously. Changing the Race Dance helps participants uncover insights, strengthen inner authority AND celebrate freedom and health for all by teaching • Respectful body-to-body connection and why racism is hard to stop if not treated on a body level. • Chants that celebrate the choice to move away from racism • Empowering opportunities to address racism and unpack inequity with fewer words and more wisdom. • A way of witnessing that nourishes dignity and respect. • How those who dance on behalf of one another can change historic patterns.

Speakers: Soyinka Rahim, Marquetta Dupree

Presentations from Facing Race 2012

The Roots of Racism: Say What?

Have something to say about racism? Want to learn ways to help others mine their personal stories and messages about race and social justice? In this action-oriented workshop we use the tools of InterPlay; a global social movement connecting people, noble purposes, communities, and lives.

Listening to our body wisdom we?ll share our stories, to affirm our experiences and those of others. We'll use InterPlay tools to become emboldened spokespersons, challenging norms and promoting social justice.

Speakers: Sheila K Collins, Soyinka Rahim