In 2024, an all BIPOC speakers series focused on psychedelics in Colorado is taking place in Denver. The events with eleven different presenters are free and in-person.
BIPOC refers to Black, Indigenous and Other People of Color.
Project Goals
- Create a repository of free educational materials (videos, companion presentation guides/policy briefs) produced by BIPOC individuals who support genuine equity in psilocybin and other spiritual medicine rule implementation in Colorado
- Increase solidarity among local psychedelic community members self-identified as BIPOC who advocate for spiritual medicine and social equity praxes
The project will include the creation of a repository of eleven educational webinars (about 1 hour each) featuring eleven citizen scientists and sacred plant medicine stewards who devote their labor to BIPOC-related issues pertaining to decriminalization and legalization of psychedelics in Colorado.
This project is designed to provide educational material and community input to psychedelic policy makers in Colorado and elsewhere, incluing Denver's Psilocybin Mushroom Policy Review Panel and its working groups, and the 15-member Natural Medicine Advisory Board created by the passage of the Natural Medicine Health Act (Proposition 122) in November 2022.
The series is part of the project called "Citizen Science and Community Education in Colorado’s Legal Psilocybin Sector: BIPOC Responses to Increase Policymakers’ Accountability." Funds provided by the Source Research Foundation Community Grant Program (2023-24).
Marty Otañez, PhD, Associate Professor, Anthropology Department, CU Denver, is organizing the project in partnership with BIPOC Psychedelic.
Presenters and Schedule
- Daniel Castro-Kuthoomi, A Decolonial Overview on the Arising Use of Plant Medicine in the Western Realm, Ant Life (venue), 7-8:30pm Wednesday 20 March. Watch Daniel's presentation (53 minutes) here.
- Ana Medina, A World Class Ethical Dilemma, Ant Life (venue), 7-8:30pm Wednesday 17 April
- David Martinez, Perspectives of Being a Member of the Native American Church, Ant Life (venue), 7-830pm Wednesday 15 May
- Gabriela Galindo, Unearthing the Root Causes of Our Collective Struggles: Nurturing Intergenerational Healing of Land and People, Ant Life (venue), 7-8:30pm Wednesday 22 May
- Gary Perez, Rethinking the Interaction of Peyote and Humans, Ant Life (venue), 7-830pm Wednesday 29 May
- Valeria Martinez, The Power of Ceremony, Green Spaces (venue) 7-830pm Wednesday 10 July
- Jeff Campbell, Sharing Our Personal Journeys: Discovering Our Commonalities Beyond Psychedelics, Green Spaces (venue), 7-830pm Wednesday 7 August
- Benu Amun-Ra, Elders, Elder-Care, Transitions and Access, Main Studio, Denver Community Media (venue) 2101 Arapahoe St Unit 1, Denver 80205, 530-7pm Wednesday 14 August
- Andrea Valeska, A Heart-Led Perspective in the Entheogen Community, GreenSpaces, 2590 Walnut St, Denver 80205, 7-830pm Wednesday 4 September; Eventbrite RSVP link
- Elijah Smith, Shift Culture: Mental Health in the Black Community and How to Integrate Psychedelics, venue details coming soon, 7-830pm Wednesday 11 September (tentative); Eventbrite RSVP link coming soon
- Melanie Rose Rodgers, A Path to Healing, Lessons Learned and Insights from almost a Decade in Cannabis and Psychedelic Activism in Denver, Colorado, venue details coming soon, 7-8:30pm Wednesday 25 September; Eventbrite RSVP link coming soon
Each of the events will include a crowd-sourced one-page companion educational guide/policy brief based on input from presenters and audience members.
Presenter Bios
