Breathe. Speak. Connect.
An evening of stillness, stories, and shared humanity
A gentle community gathering to pause, listen, and support one another during a heavy moment in our city. This is a space to breathe together, hear lived experiences, and connect with care, without debate, pressure, or performance.
Proceeds from this event will go to mutual aid efforts to support the impacted people.
Receipts will be posted for transparency.
Saturday, Feb 7th, 6:30-8:30 PM
at Unwind Corner Cafe, Mpls.
Food and drinks are available for purchase.
Event Structure (2 Hours)
6:30–6:45 | Arrival & Check-in
Warm lighting and quiet ambient music. Settle in, get seated, and arrive at your own pace.
6:45–7:00 | Grounding Meditation
A guided breathing and body-awareness session to help regulate the nervous system before sharing. There is no “right” way to participate. You may sit quietly, close your eyes, or simply listen.
7:00–7:20 | Public Open Mic: Lived Experience
Purpose: Collective witnessing
3–4 pre-selected speakers will share their lived experiences, under current circumstances, in Minneapolis. If you or someone you know wants to share their story in this open mic, please let us know.
Speaker prompt:
“Describe a lived experience that has shaped how you’re moving through the world right now.”
Guidelines:
- Speak from “I”
- Personal over political
- Share stories, moments, and feelings
Audience role:
Listen without interruption. No Q&A or debate. Gentle applause. Phones away if possible.
7:20–7:30 | Reset
A short break to shift from listening to participating. Grab food or drinks, stretch, and take a collective breath.
7:30–8:15 | Small Group Connection Circles
Connect with others, express support, and build community.
Tables will have optional prompt cards. Guests may use the prompts or connect organically. Examples:
- “Something I’ve been carrying quietly.”
- “A moment I felt seen or unseen.”
- “What’s been giving me strength lately?”
8:15–8:30 | Collective Takeaway & Closing
Each participant writes a message to the community or a sentence to themselves.
Messages will come together as a shared collage, something to reflect on, photograph, and carry forward. (Format: physical or digital, to be finalized.)