Psychedelic Program Series
Panel 1
Addressing Patterns of Violence in the Psychedelic World, Part 1: Patriarchy, Racism, and Colonization
For those who donate, A video recording is now available
Moderated by: Yarelix Estrada
Panelists: Charlotte James, Undrea Wright, Annie Oak M.S.
CEs: Additional $10 fee for social workers. Click HERE or details for obtaining CEs will be available after payment on your confirmation page (please note that OASAS cross-honors CEs for CASACs)
Our first panel in this series discussed the multiple ways that abusive patterns in society have been carried into the psychedelic world. Most of us have been raised in a society that perpetuates racism, colonization, and patriarchy. Often, this programming becomes very ingrained into our ways of understanding the world, our goals, and the way we treat each other. The deep integration of these patterns sometimes makes it difficult to recognize or take responsibility for abusive behavior. In the psychedelic world, this has been translated into various forms of abuse, both interpersonal and systemic. This panel will be discussing these dynamics and ideas for moving forwards.
Our Moderator
Yarelix Estrada
Yarelix Estrada is a first-generation Central American, drug policy and harm reduction researcher and outreach worker, and psychedelic community organizer. In New York City, Yarelix is an organizer with the New York City Psychedelic Society where she works to help build a connection of psychedelic New Yorkers that is grounded in inclusivity, research, and community. She has organized events that are for people of color only to provide a safe space for conversations specific to that community. Yarelix was an organizer on the first People of Color in Psychedelics conference, Empyrean in Washington D.C..
Yarelix currently works as a City Research Scientist with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene conducting community-based substance use harm reduction outreach and research. Part of those research responsibilities include coalition building amongst city agencies, elected officials, and community members while using research to solve issues related to drug user health and safety. Yarelix is also on the board of SALUD, Supporting and Advancing Latino Unidos at DOHMH, the Latino Employee Resource Group, where she is working to highlight the needs of Latino health in New York City, as well as organizing support for Indigenous communities and their health in the city. She received her bachelor’s degree and Master of Science in Public Health in Health Policy at the Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, respectively.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yarelix15 , https://www.facebook.com/nycedelic1/
Instagram: Yarelix15, nycedelic
Twitter: Yarelix15
Our Panelists
Charlotte James
Charlotte James has been a harm reductionist and psychedelic explorer for over 10 years, but her path through this work has certainly not been linear. After leaving harm reduction years ago because of rapid burn out, she is returning to this work with a new energy - thanks to the power of healing with plant medicines. Charlotte is fascinated by communication, has a love of language, and is captivated by the power of human connection. She has been in fearless pursuit of her passions since she can remember, always gifting herself new experiences and opportunities to expand her mind. Charlotte works to create a world in which everyone is able to live in fearless pursuit of their radical transformation. She uses her skills as a marketing strategist and content creator to build and engage a virtual community focused on pursuing equitable liberation.
Website: https://www.thesabinaproject.com/
Instagram: @thesabinaproject
Undrea Wright
Undrea Wright has been working to heal himself with sacred medicines for over 11 years. He is a cannabis entrepreneur that was instrumental in the decriminalization and medical bill pass in Maryland. He has a focus on equity and inclusion in all healing work and communities. Dre practices in the Traditional Amazonian ways, informed by the South American Shipibo-Conibo and Quechua-Lamista lineages, having trained with various global indigenous masters. He focuses on ancient teachings as a means to achieve spiritual enlightenment. At the core of the teachings lies the transformation of consciousness, a spiritual awakening that he sees as the next step in human evolution. An essential aspect of this awakening consists in transcending our ego-based state of consciousness. This is a prerequisite not only for personal happiness but also for the ending of violent conflict endemic on our planet.
Website: https://www.thesabinaproject.com/
Instagram: @thesabinaproject
Annie Oak is the founder of the Women’s Visionary Congress (WVC) http://visionarycongress.org the first U.S. non-profit organization to focus on women who work with non-ordinary states of consciousness and traditional medicine plants. Trained as a journalist, Annie conducts human rights research and is a partner in a San Francisco, CA-based event production company. Annie also created the Full Circle Tea House which provides a place for festival participants to rest, hydrate and integrate. Together with a group of other writers and researchers, Annie drafted the Manual of Psychedelic Support http://psychsitter.com a comprehensive guide to setting up and running compassionate care service for people having difficult drug experiences at music festivals and similar events.
