Welcome to Our Community
At African American Community Healing, our mission is to foster a vibrant and cohesive community that embraces and respects individuals across generations. Through providing essential resources such as housing, recreational opportunities, wellness and self-help groups, as well as literacy and vocational training programs, we aim to empower individuals to thrive and contribute positively to society. Additionally, to ensure equitable treatment, we assist incarcerated individuals with legal counsel.
We are committed to honoring the historical contributions of our predecessors and celebrating their legacy. By promoting unity, peace, and harmony, we recognize that every member's contribution is invaluable in achieving our collective prosperity and self-reliance.
Together, we strive to build a resilient and prosperous community where every individual is valued, supported, and empowered to reach their fullest potential.
fOUNDER:
Darnell “Moe” Washington
I want to start my non-profit called, African American Community Healing. I would be able to fund summer camps for kids in the community, bring yoga, art and mindful meditation to them and mental health classes. There’s a great park in our community I’d like to remodel. On a day that we have mindfulness, people could go see a psychiatrist or mental health specialist then. They would be more likely to go being in the community so it’s more convenient to them. I know people who would go which would lead to other people going, as well. That’s something we really need in our community.
Our communities have a lot of healing to do. I thought about this a lot, I’ve had to deal with it myself. For example, when I wrote that piece for you at Humans of San Quentin, I got a lot of positive responses from that. That reflection is exactly what we need in our communities and the issues I feel are happening every day in our communities.
Credentials
Fatherhood Focus & Parenting Education Program
(Friends Outside)
Certificate of Completion in Fatherhood Focus & Parenting Education Program
An individual program designed to increase parenting competence, parental responsibility, and employability.
Training in Nonviolence
(Alternatives to Violence (AVP) California)
Certificate of Completion of Workshop for Training in Nonviolence
Has satisfactorily completed the Training for Facilitators Class in Nonviolent Resolution and is eligible to be an Apprentice Facilitator under the sponsorship of AVP California.
Yoga and Mindfulness
(Prison Yoga Project)
Certificate of Completion for 200 hours of training in Yoga and Mindfulness
Mr. Washington has demonstrated a consistent commitment to self-discipline and benefited greatly from his practice in terms of learning skills for increased self-awareness, emotional stability, impulse control, and improved overall mental and physical health. He has embraced one of the central tenets of yoga, which is a clear insight into the impact of the harm caused to others by one's thoughts, words, or actions.
Kingian Nonviolence Conflict Reconciliation
(East Point Peace Academy)
Certificate of Completion for 40 hours of training in Kingian Nonviolence Conflict Reconciliation
Completing the requirements to receive certification as an Assistant Trainer in Kingian Nonviolence Conflict Reconciliation.
Communication & Interpersonal Relationships
(TLN)
Certificate of Completion for recognized quality work and participation in Communication & Interpersonal Relationships.
Healing Emotional Literacy Program
(Houses of Healing)
Certificate of Completion for 30 sessions of Houses in Healing Emotional Literacy Program
Crisis Intervention Peer Counseling
(Brother's Keepers)
Certificate of Completion for 14 months comprehensive training in Crisis Intervention Peer Counseling
Met this challenge with courage, honesty, integrity, and humor, creating a safe place for himself and others.
Restorative Justice facilitator
(Programs in healing circles)
Certificate of Completion for 7 years comprehensive training in Restorative Justice facilitator
The power of "when"
An uncle's faith propelled Darnell Washington to college despite growing up in a gang environment. Hear how in prison Darnell uses positive belief and the power of "when" to transform lives.
Once Darnell entered prison he decided to turn his life around. He chose to walk away from a destructive lifestyle that was full of hurt, pain, and loss. In order to address his internal issues, Darnell would get involved with every self-help group that he could.
While at San Quentin he would be drawn to the Restorative Justice Roundtable, largely because it dealt with the healing of victims, offenders, and their respective communities. He would also become interested in the social justice program The San Quentin Alliance for C.H.A.N.G.E., which teaches participants how different forms of justice can be applied to building a healthy and self-sustaining community. Darnell has become a leader and facilitator in both groups.
His goal is to use his newly acquired knowledge to become a community activist and Motivational Speaker who educates and brings healing to the community.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx
PODCAST
The Science of Happiness
How (And Why) To Find More Beauty in the Everyday
What happens when we intentionally look for beautiful things in our day-to-day lives? We explore a lab-tested practice shown to help you feel happier.
Link to Transcript: http://tinyurl.com/yretvrkp
Episode summary:
When was the last time you witnessed a beautiful moment? Maybe it was a striking sunset, a kind exchange between strangers, or a hearty laugh between two friends. Beautiful moments surround us, and research suggests that taking the time to admire them can actually benefit our health and happiness. For our show, restorative justice advocate Darnell Washington looked for 9 beautiful things each day and reflected on them. In doing so, he recognized how admiring different types of beauty from nature to the goodness of others, can have a powerful impact on his own humanity. Later, we hear from the psychologist who created the practice, René T. Proyer, about how making it a point to notice different kinds of beauty benefits our happiness and reduces depression.
Guys Talking Yoga
How Prison Yoga Helped Darnell “Moe” Washington Win his Freedom and Life Back
We’ve heard from a lot of guys about how yoga has helped ease their back pain, work through stress, or improve their relationships.
Today’s episode has those elements, but it’s also something else entirely: the story of Darnell “Moe” Washington, a former gang member who found yoga while serving a sentence of 35 years to life in prison.
It’s the third and final episode in our Prison Yoga Project series, and it’s one of the most powerful conversations we’ve had on the show.
You’ll learn how Moe connected with former GTY guest James Fox while at San Quentin; the mental and physical capabilities he developed through his practice; and how yoga and mindfulness helped him gain his freedom and prepare for the rest of his life.
Links:
COMPLEX EVERYDAY CONFLICTS
Restorative Justice as a Means for Transformation With Darnell "Moe" Washington
I’m so delighted to share with you in this episode a conversation I had with Darnell “Moe” Washington about his experiences with and practices related to restorative justice.
Moe is the founder of Los Angeles-based nonprofit African American Community Healing and former president of the San Quentin Coalition For Justice. In his words: “If I can resolve situations in prison, why can’t we do this in our communities?”
Listen in to hear Moe share about:
How learning new conflict skills can change your responses, your relationships, and your life
Why it’s imporant to cultivate relationships with people from different social locations
What restorative justice is, and how it can transform relationships between harmed parties, responsible parties, and community members
How community-building communications can help prevent situations like the one that led to George Floyd’s murder in 2020
If you think this episode could help others you know, please share it! Share