“The Touch Plans webinar was an incredibly profound experience. The content not only deeply resonated with my experience but with others on the call as well as Aaron opened a powerful space for reflection and healing. Aaron also led us through challenging but necessary discussions about internal biases and how they shape both personal and collective experiences of oppression. It wasn’t just about theory; the real-life examples of "touch plans" gave tangible ways to incorporate these ideas into everyday life and relationships. What stood out the most was the way the session addressed not just the physical aspect of touch, but also energetic presence and the nature connection to our dogs. The emphasis on deep listening felt particularly empowering as a BIPOC person, helping to reclaim narratives of tenderness and care from a history steeped in violence. A powerful complement to the webinar was Aaron’s film Dark & Tender, which documented these explorations in greater depth that I'll be watching this week!”

Aaron Smith

“Wow! The work Aaron Johnson is doing applies to everyone. One of the best webinars I have experienced.

He got me thinking about so many sensitive subjects without evoking shame and blame. His empathy and thoughtful use of language immediately set the tone. If you are human, you should watch this webinar.”

Debbie Martin

“Wonderful webinar thought provoking and a must watch!! So enjoyed this incredible webinar with a very charismatic Aaron, we need more of these. Empowering and intelligent with compassion and love. ”

Yvette Potter

The Inspiring Power of Tenderness and Platonic Touch to Save Black Men's Lives

Aaron Johnson is co-founder of Holistic Resistance Grief to Action, Stellar Village. His workshop was the first harvest of our work together in Stellar Village, and we have lots of great opportunities coming up!

About the Dark & Tender portion of the webinar:
Join us in exploring the Black Brute archetype and the shaping of America’s extractive sexual and violent touch story that persists today. Platonic touch and holding are healing technologies, and include physical touch as well as energetic presence, song, movement, nature connection, and deep listening. Aaron will lead you through crafting questions to help you see your own internal bias and become aware of how oppression is shaped around this. Aaron also explored real-life examples of touch plans. This is aligned with Aaron's new documentary film, Dark & Tender that documents these explorations.

Disclaimer:
This was recorded for a mixed container. The first half hour or so introduced the basic concepts of racism, which may or may not be helpful for PGM folks (although Aaron, coming from a family of activists, has a long view on this work that we think is worth a watch). After that, the content is useful to people of all races.

  • Tenderness as an antidote to the harms of systemic oppression. This somatic, tactile, touch-based approach can save lives and improve quality of life.

  • This is a shame-free zone, because that actually gets in the way of coming to terms with this work.

  • The workshop opens with a nuanced, embodied overview of the basics of antiracism.

  • Explore the harmful 'Black Brute' archetype and expand awareness of your internal bias. You may believe in this myth more than you are consciously aware.

  • This is a recording of a live online event, co-produced by Stellar Village and the Grisha Stewart Academy of Dog Behavior.

  • You'll love the surprise bonus content! Access to Aaron's documentary!

Instructor: Aaron Johnson

Host: Grisha Stewart

Aaron Johnson

Touch Activist, Stellar Village Co-Owner

"Human connection is a primary disruptor of oppressive systems."

Aaron Johnson is a facilitator, public speaker, and touch activist who practices closeness as a way to break down barriers between people. As co-founder of both Holistic Resistance and Grief to Action, Aaron takes the time to hold the stories of Black people around homophobia, transphobia, internalized racism, and those that are Chronically UnderTouched.

Grief to Action is a semi-mobile camp with a land-based community in the Mojave Desert. The community holds space on the land and with the land for deep grief and rage that gives birth to the creative solutions we need to resist and end oppressive systems. The land and sanctuary are Black-owned and Black-led, centering the needed grief support for African-heritage folks and all People of the Global Majority.

Interrupting four hundred years of the Black Brute archetype. Tender, caring, platonic touch between Black men, the Chronically UnderTouched (CUT) Project’s short film, Dark and Tender, drops Fall 2024.

Because oppression is a part of historical and present American culture, the long term impact of those trauma stories should be acknowledged and held as a map for our collective healing.

Aaron Johnson practices and invites various methods of moving through these stories, such as the communal listening ear, sound healing, meditation, and closeness to the earth.

Grisha Stewart

Certified Dog Trainer, Author, Singer-Songwriter, Stellar Village Co-Owner

I'm a collaborative dog trainer, author, international presenter, singer-songwriter, and keynote speaker of European ancestry (best guess based on DNA and some genealogy is Scotland, "England & Northwestern Europe," Wales, "Germanic Europe," Ireland, and Norway). I've been helping people and dogs professionally since 2003. My passion projects are community weaving, grief tending, community singing, and woodturning.

I'm fascinated by animal behavior (including humans), somatic awareness, spirituality, psychology. My work is directed at wholehearted living for all beings, including dogs with a history of aggression, frustration, or fear as well as empowerment and trauma prevention inpuppies and my other favorite species: humans.

My Behavior Adjustment Training (BAT 2.0 book and BAT 3.0) is used worldwide to help dogs gain confidence and social skills. Well over 200,000 people have learned about BAT so far.

As an outgoing introvert, I refresh my batteries by singing, expressing grief in community, and savoring life with my husband (Tom), Labrador (Joey), cat (Garbanzo aka "Adventure Kitty" and "Baby Panther"), and Little Brown Dog (Zuki). I identify as a queer (pansexual), neurodiverse, middle age, white, raised in poverty and now of middle class, and US citizen, spiritual non-Christian leaning toward neo-Druid (but raised in Christian culture). My pronouns are she/her. I am working to live in reciprocity on the stolen river watershed of the Siuslaw people, who are part of the CTCLUSI.

Expand your awareness of self and community!

Learn about the vital positive effect of safe touch on survivors of oppressive harm

  • 2 Hours of Content

    What to Expect

    The recorded webinar includes Aaron's presentation and questions throughout from the host and the live audience. Accessibility: Recording includes automated session transcript and English captions.

  • Surprise Bonus Content

    Bring tissues

    In case you don't like surprises...it's Aaron's earthshaking documentary, Dark and Tender, which was screened at the Cannes film festival and many other locations worldwide!

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