Over the last four years, thousands of people have participated in our monthly virtual education offerings.
Through these monthly virtual events, we aim to provide education on grief by focusing on rituals and remembrance in our bereavement journey. By introducing various practices, we hope to help members of our community express their pain and loss, allowing them to find opportunities for healing.
All sessions are free of charge. Join us now!
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Previous 2025 Presentations
Re-membering through Ritual January 16th, 2025 | 6-7:30 pm (MST)
Candi K. Cann kicks off the 2025 season of Roots & Roads’ series Ritual and Remembrance by highlighting various rituals and practices surrounding grief around the world. From food rituals to embodied practices honoring the dead, Cann argues that all losses should be honored, and points to grief practices as a successful example of reinserting the dead into memory construction. Utilizing continuing bonds theory, Cann argues that it is important to continue our relationship with the dead, re-membering them through ritual, and allowing the dead to find a place in life after loss.
Death and Dying: An O’odham Point of View February 20th, 2025 | 6-7:30 pm (MST)
Dr. Ned Norris, Jr., an enrolled citizen of the Tohono O'odham Nation will share his perspective on how he and many other O'odham citizens experience the dying, grieving and emotional process of the passing of a loved one. He will also share with the audience the pre and post process of how many O'odham prepare for the eventual passing, the preparations taken by many O'odham to the point of laying the deceased to rest and the time after death.
You Lost Someone, Not Something: Explaining the Grief of Pet Loss March 20th, 2025 | 6-7:30 pm (MST)
Despite the important role pets play in our lives their passing is often treated as minor and the profound depth of the loss diminished by well-meaning, but misguided, friends and family. This talk will explore why pet loss grief is different than losing a human, why it is valid, why it is so very hard, and ways that a pet’s lifetime of love and devotion can be celebrated and memorialized.
Culture is the Cure: Use of Tribal and Latino Practices to Treat Substance Abuse and Navigate Grief April 24th, 2025 | 6-7:30 pm (MST)
The Native Ways Program of The Haven offers women with substance use disorders an opportunity to establish and grow their recovery with a setting and focus that respects the cultures and traditions of indigenous people of Arizona. In this session, Miguel Flores and Natividad Cano will highlight beliefs systems of Native American and Latino cultures that help people navigate and understand grief and loss through ceremonies. Participants will gain cultural awareness of healing practices to treat substance use and the grief associated with this journey.
Honor Flight Southern Arizona May 15th, 2025 | 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm (AZ Time)
Honor Flight Southern Arizona is deeply committed to paying tribute to our nation’s veterans. These flights are important rituals to ensure the veterans’ stories, struggles, and sacrifices are remembered by future generations. Join us as we learn about this amazing program, its history and accomplishments, who is eligible to participate, and about the meaningful elements of each Honor Flight. Honor Flight Southern Arizona is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a member of the Honor Flight Network. The Honor Flight program is entirely funded through private donations. We will also learn ways we can help support this work.
Jewish Perspectives on Rituals of Death and Mourning June 12th, 2025 | 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm (AZ Time)
Jewish tradition prescribes a fixed set of rituals from just before a death, through the first week, month and year after, and annually beyond that. These rituals are designed to both honor the dead and comfort the mourners. What are these rituals, and how do they support the process of grieving? Join Dr. Gila Silverman as we explore Jewish rituals through the lenses of ancient text, modern psychology, and lived experience.
Text by Text: Weaving Ritual & Remembrance into Text-based Grief Support September 18, 2025 | 6:00 pm -7:30 pm (Arizona Time)
Join us as we explore how Help Texts harnesses the power of ritual in grief support through carefully timed, expert-curated text messages. Learn how this innovative approach provides permission, ideas, and reminders for meaningful rituals throughout the bereavement journey. We'll share text examples from our grief, pregnancy loss, and pet loss services and demonstrate how digital support can honor significant moments like holidays, birthdays, and deathiversaries - during a time when additional guidance is often needed. Discover how these simple yet profound and reflective messages help both grievers and their supporters engage in healing practices, while creating connections through technology that still honors the age-old traditions of ritual and remembrance.
Gain Insight: Islamic Death & Mourning Rituals October 16, 2025 | 6:00 pm -7:30 pm (Arizona Time)
Discover the rich meaning behind Islamic death and mourning rituals with Imam Burhan Hamdan. These practices are not just traditions; they are affirmations of life's sanctity and the belief in the hereafter. This open event offers valuable insights into their spiritual and communal importance, promoting greater understanding and dialogue for everyone in our diverse community.
Living Rituals November 20, 2025 | 6:00 pm -7:30 pm (Arizona Time)
Ritual is an alchemizing blend of acknowledgment, remembrance, and expression. It acts to honor what not only was, but is, sometimes looking to ancient practices, often leaning into intuition, and always incorporating sacred intent. Drawing on the experiences and practices of participants in this communal discussion, Roots and Roads & Right at Home will facilitate a hearty & meaningful conversation that connects us through the art of symbolism and storytelling.
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