City of Angels: Grieving in Community For Our Community

In the wake of the devastating fires in Los Angeles, grief has touched so many of us—whether through personal loss, witnessing the pain of others, or feeling the weight of collective grief. This virtual gathering is an opportunity to come together, no matter where you live, to process grief as a community. Join grief educator and death doula Gracelyn Bateman, end-of-life doula Erika Lim, grief educator and coach Dr. Julie Shaw, death doula Darnell Lamont Walker,  and other Angelenos and L.A. lovers for a heartfelt session exploring the power of collective grief and how it connects and impacts us all.

This event is open to anyone who seeks connection, understanding, or simply a space to grieve together. Whether you’ve been directly affected by the fires, are supporting someone who has, or are feeling the ripple effects of this shared tragedy, you are welcome here. Let’s honor our emotions, reflect on the meaning of collective grief, and support one another on the path toward healing.

What to Expect During the Session:

• A panel discussion on the impact of the Los Angeles fires and the role of collective grief in community healing.
• Opportunities to share your experiences and be witness to the stories of others.
• Guided reflections to help you process your grief and connect with a larger sense of community.

Gracelyn Bateman co-founded Luna Peak Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity that serves families affected by grief and cancer. Luna Peak Foundation creates multicultural books of survivor stories to help humanize the topic of grief and show people that they are not alone. Gracelyn runs the grief community Snapshots of Life After Loss which is powered by dark humor, and she is also an end of life doula, trained through the Going with Grace program. @snapshotsoflifeafterloss

Erika Lim is a friend, daughter, sister, ako, ninang, madrinha, end of life doula and occupational therapist. While she finds end of life a ripe time for unearthing love, meaning, and peace, she is most fascinated by the rich learnings of the life and death cycles that happen in our everyday life. If we approach death with a bit more curiosity, it reveals truths about how we want to live. She enjoys the work of bridging the cultural and communication gap between generations of loved ones regarding life and death while still respecting the values instilled by our elders. Erika completed her master’s degree in occupational therapy from the University of Southern California in 2018. In 2020, she became a certified death midwife with the Sacred Crossings Institute, and in 2024 she completed INELDA’s EOL doula training and has joined the INELDA team as an educator. She is a proud member of the PAUSE Starlight Business Development Residency for end-of-life entrepreneurs and is completing the Ablon/Hilot therapy practitioner program at the Kailukuan School of Indigenous Science. She plans to use this intuitive knowledge and wisdom in supporting those in her community and her work. @erikavlim

Dr. Julie Shaw (she/her) is a certified grief educator, grief coach, speaker and experienced griever. Dr. Shaw is committed to building an inclusive community of grievers who are curious, ready to explore and moved to find ways they can integrate grief into their lives and continue to thrive. Dr. Shaw committed herself to building an educational and supportive community of grievers as she found herself navigating her own grief after the death of her sister, Jennifer in 2020 and her struggles with infertility. She is the founder of Hello I‘m Grieving, a community where grievers can find support and motivation through innovative, thought-provoking events. As a former professional basketball player and collegiate coach, Dr. Shaw adds to her grief work a specialty in coaching high performers on their grief journey to help them reimagine success as they navigate their grief. Dr. Shaw has her doctorate in Leadership and is the co-founder of Lead Different Consulting where she works with global leaders in diverse industries and facilitates training on leadership development, DEI, and grief education. As a grief expert, Dr. Shaw has spoken on panels alongside David Kessler, contributed to the Empathy.com Cost of Dying Report, serves as a guest expert for HelpTexts, and her story is featured in the grief documentary Meet Me Where I Am. Dr. Shaw is also the host of the Hello I’m Grieving Podcast. @helloimgrieving

Darnell Lamont Walker is a dedicated death doula, guiding individuals and communities through the raw terrain of grief toward healing and happiness. With years of hands-on experience, he’s committed to helping others navigate the complexities of life’s final chapter while fully embracing the moments that come before. Beyond his work in end-of-life care, Darnell is an Emmy-nominated children’s television writer who has contributed to beloved shows like PBS Kids’ Work It Out Wombats!, Netflix’s Karma’s World, and Nickelodeon’s Blue’s Clues & You. Splitting his time between the serene Chattahoochee National Forest in Georgia and the vibrant energy of Johannesburg, South Africa, Darnell remains devoted to creating safe and joyful spaces for children, adults, and communities worldwide. @hello.darnell