State of the IMCW People of Color & LGBTQ Sanghas/Diversity Efforts, 2010-11

• Both sanghas have been in existence since the spring of 2005.
• The LGBTQ listserve has over 350 members; the POC listserve over 250.
• Both sanghas meet monthly. Through the generosity of Unity Woods Yoga, we meet at their beautiful studio in Woodley Park which is wheelchair and metro accessible. LGBTQ meetings attract up to 25-32 members/meeting; POC meetings up to 20–30.
• Monthly meetings are 2.5 hours in duration and include a 30-minute sit, 10-minute walking meditation, introductions/check-in, a short dharma talk into a mindful discussion.
• Tara co-taught the IMCW spring and fall retreats with Larry Yang, a Chinese-American gay dharma teacher from San Francisco and with Eric Kolvig, a gay dharma teacher from New Mexico, respectively.
• Lesbian dharma teacher Cheri Maples led a workshop entitled “Transcending Internalized Notions” last April for a mixed sangha. Of the 43 participants, 23% were POC, 33% were LGBTQ, 19% were both POC & LGBTQ. In 2011, Cheri will be leading two diversity trainings for the IMCW leadership in 2011.
• Sri-Lankan-American dharma teacher Anushka Fernandopulle led a daylong entitled “Being Real” for 37 People of Color and a daylong entitled “Waking Up Fabulous” for 33 LGBTQ last June.
• Japanese-American dharma teacher Mushim Ikeda-Nash and lesbian dharma teacher Arinna Weisman taught the summer women’s retreat last August. Of the 62 participants, 16% were POC and 24% were LBTQ. Also age diversity was notable on this retreat – many more younger yogis.
• Tara Brach led a special “Radical Acceptance” Daylong for POC & LGBTQ last August. Of the 67 participants, 30% were POC.
• The 2011 winter women’s retreat will be led by Tara Brach and lesbian dharma teacher Cheri with gender-queer teacher of color La Sarmiento. The retreat filled in a month and of the 95 participants, 5% are POC, 22% are LBTQ, and 4% are both POC & LGBTQ.
• In 2011, Mushim Ikeda-Nash and La Sarmiento will be co-leading a POC, non-residential weekend retreat, and Mushim and Arinna Weisman will again be leading the summer women’s retreat in June. Larry Yang will be co-teaching with Tara and Jonathan at the fall weeklong retreat.
• Two LGBTQ KM groups continue to meet in DC and VA and meet bi-weekly.
• Three POC KM groups and a POC Book Club meet in DC.
• I was accepted into the Community Dharma Leader Program IV at Spirit Rock that began this past September.
• I co-lead a morning sitting group at Studio Serenity in Adams Morgan that attracts many POC & LGBTQ.
• Several members of the POC & LGBTQ sanghas participated in “Respectful Confrontation” workshops, a powerful, embodied practice of wise speech offered by Joe Weston.
• Giving back to the greater DC community: Five members from the diversity sanghas and allies participated in the Fannie Mae “Help the Homeless” Walk-a-thon in November and raised a total of $1275 to benefit Miriam’s Kitchen.
• We maintain an active presence on IMCW's website that is updated regularly: Affinity Groups.