with the Smith Center Community
Join us for 108 Sun Salutations in memory of Laura Gobbi to benefit the Smith Center for Healing and the Arts (smithcenter.org). Laura studied yoga with Beth, the co-host of this event. Laura’s joy and gratitude shone through her every word and action in and out of class. She died of breast cancer about a month ago. In her obituary, Laura asked people who were moved to donate to the Smith Center. The sun salutations are one way we can celebrate Laura and the work the Smith Center does.
108 is an important number in many yoga traditions. While we will be leading 108 sun salutations, you can participate and do as many or as few as you like!
$10 to the Smith Center for Healing and the Arts
RSVP via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/659827651298699/
with Donna Smith, JD
Compassion & Choices will host a week of events to highlight the passing of the Death with Dignity Act
DC Week of Compassion
Tuesday, February 18th – Smith Center Presentation and Discussion
Donna Smith, JD, will present her passionate work with Compassion and Choices DC to Smith Center participants. Donna’s talk will focus on options for end-of-life journey options. Food and drink will be provided and all are welcome!
Other Off-Site DC Week of Compassion Events:
Thursday, February 20th – Busboys and Poets forum
Sunday, February 23rd – Compassion Sunday- We are asking faith leaders to take a moment and honor all those who have passed within their congregation.
Compassion & Choices improves care, expands options and empowers everyone to chart their end-of-life journey. We envision a society that affirms life and accepts the inevitability of death, embraces expanded options for compassionate dying, and empowers everyone to choose end-of-life care that reflects their values, priorities, and beliefs. Their programs include: End-of-life Planning, Community Outreach, Legal and Political Advocacy, and Access Campaigns
About Donna Smith, JD
Donna Smith is an accomplished professional with over twenty years of experience in political consulting, legislative advocacy, public affairs, policy and program management.
Donna was the Chief of Policy and Community Programs for eight years at the Maryland Department of Aging. She led a team of program managers that implemented aging statewide programs for the aging and their caregivers. She was also detailed to work on the White House Conference on Aging in as a public relations specialist.
In 2014 she was a political consultant to the Donna Edwards Senatorial campaign where she focused on organizing women and seniors.
Donna has been employed by Compassion and Choices (C&C) for 4 years. She is the National African American Director and the Director of Political advocacy for DC and Maryland. In this capacity she led the campaign to pass end of Death with Dignity legislation in both the District of Columbia (the legislation passed in Feb. 2017) and Maryland, where she organized and engaged over 17,000 volunteers to help pass legislation and acted as a spokesperson on behalf of C&C.
A graduate of Tuskegee University and George Washington Law School, she has one son and resides in Laurel, Md.
With Varahi Kelsang, MD, MA, MS
In this workshop we will explore and enjoy what our own body is expressing and creating through movement and dance. When we ground ourselves in our bodies we become present to our moment to moment experiences. Through the poetry or our movement we are sharing our story and feelings. In the process we release pent up energy and emotions in a lighthearted way. We can then enjoy the experience in each moment rather than thinking about it!
About Varahi Kelsang
Varahi is currently working for Capital Caring as a Bereavement Counselor and is a retired physician. She received her Master’s degree from NYU in Dance Therapy. After which she developed the first Movement/Dance Therapy program at Connecticut Valley Hospital in Middletown Connecticut. Over the years Varahi has been asked to lead workshops for adults, adolescents and children in a variety of settings.
With Varahi Kelsang, MD, MA, MS
Grief is an essential thread in the fabric of our life. It is there both individually and in the context of our community. It has the power to change us. At best grief will awaken a person. However we need to heal in order to move forward. This workshop will give participants ways to understand grief so that they can heal and transform this painful event.
About Varahi Kelsang
Varahi is a physician with CenseoHealth performing in house assessments and exams for the elderly and chronically ill. She is a bereavement counselor at Capital Caring Hospice in Virginia and DC and is known for her ability to present with clarity and humor. In addition, she has served as a chaplain fellow at Capital Caring Halquist in the In Patient Hospice Unit in VA and has spent over 15 years as a resident teacher at the Vajrayogini Buddhist Center in Washington, DC.
