A diverse group of people at a protest holding signs with messages like “Morality Not Murder” and “Don’t Shoot”; the crowd is gathered in front of a brick building with a marquee overhead.

Communities Healing Together.

Mental Wellness from the Root

Kneeling protestors with their raised fists in solidarity.

Healing Through Popular Education

Popular education spiral. The center starts at The Call: Acknowledge & Equalize Power Dynamics - Ongoing Reflection. Step 1 is draw out wisdom from lived experiences. Step 2 is identify & make sense of patterns in experience. Step 3 is add new information & theory. Step 4 is practice skills, strategize, & plan for action. Step 5 is apply in action. The last steo is share collective learning.

Why Does OSE use Popular Education?

OSE develops collaborative learning experiences through participatory workshops and curricula using Popular Education because we believe that removing barriers unites communities. By prioritizing lived experiences and minimizing power dynamics, these sessions create a reciprocal and healing environment. This empowers individuals to recognize their collective knowledge and collaboratively develop solution

Group of students and a facilitator in a classroom setting; one student raises their hand while others listen and engage, with sunlight streaming in from the corner

“If the structure does not permit dialogue the structure must be changed”

― Paulo Freire

Upcoming Community Events

Tend the Root 5K Fundraiser

Our community is experiencing profound grief, anxiety, and distress. This is often misdiagnosed as an individual mental health issue, when its true roots are systemic. Traditional support systems can leave folks feeling isolated and pathologized, without addressing the communal wounds or empowering them to be agents of change.

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