Muhsana Center for Health and Healing (Muhsana) is pleased to invite you to submit proposals for presentations, special sessions and immersion tours for the 2nd Black Women’s Health and Healing Conference and Festival The Festival will be an opportunity for different sectors within and outside the San Francisco Bay Area to share experiences and address needs related to the health of the African-American community.

Based on our 1st successful Black Women’s Health and Healing Conference in 2004, the newly named conference/festival is a place to celebrate the health successes, resources and tools available in our community. This bi-annual event integrates the need for Bay Area African-American women to address critical health issues in their community while immersing its participants in creative alternatives for healthier lifestyles.

The Conference and Festival will take place in Oakland, CA. at the beautifully renovated Oakland YWCA from September 28 to October 1, 2006. We anticipate 400-500 participants. Registration will begin April 2006. If selected, you will be notified which area we have chosen for your submission and if further information is needed.

Submissions in formats such as roundtable discussions, film/video, performance or visual art will also be considered. We will choose papers based on our submission criteria, which will be placed in the following categories:

-Workshop Presentations –Individuals or teams of individuals who can lead a 1 to 1 ½ hour workshop on a topic that fits within our theme are welcome to submit a paper.
-Mini Presentation – Papers selected for this category will have up to 15 minutes to present his/her paper. There will be a question and answer period following each presentation.
-Immersion Week – During the 2 weeks before the Black Women’s Conference and Festival, we are organizing a series of events and opportunities to highlight the health practitioners within our community. Similar to “open studios” for artists, this will be an opportunity for practitioners to open their space and offer services at a discounted rate.
-Healing Stories Journal – Papers selected will be featured in our “healing stories” journal (online and print) which will make its debut during the festival/conference and will be distributed semi-annually from that point on.

Shaping your submission

We welcome papers that explore all questions relating to our theme. We encourage participation from scholars, educators, traditional healers, health practitioners, lay healers as well as others interested in the health of African-American women and their families. Submissions in formats such as roundtable discussions, film/video, performance or visual art will also be considered.

Papers and presentations can be submitted under the following tracts:

Historical, physical, mental, emotional, political and spiritual and may include discussions around health and emotions, attitudes, nutrition, caregiving, rites of passage, finances, relationships, thought patterns, fitness /movement, building community, networking, mental health,medicine and racism/oppression, spirituality/religion and health art / music/ dance therapy, healing, and more.

To request an application, please email us at conference@muhsana.org or call 510-367-2281

DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: Friday, February 17, 2006
DECISIONS ANNOUNCED: Friday March 17, 2006