The How Spirit Moves Us (HSMU) Project is a community based arts project focused on using performance art to celebrate the histories of struggle, resistance and resilience of Black Queer and Trans (QT) folks.

By creating spaces to highlight experiences of QT Black people to come together through art, HSMU seeks to share strategies for self healing and liberation and create interactive opportunities for QT Black folks to imagine our most outlandish freedom dreams: to envision what our society could look like when we get free

We are specifically applying for our Calling on Spirit (COS) Healing Arts workshops. The Calling On Spirit (COS) Healing Arts Workshops seek to build community spaces for Queer and Trans Black folks to heal from trauma through empowering arts practices to restore a sense of agency and self love.
Supporting participants in developing artistic skills in a variety of mediums (including writing, music and dance) and create work that highlights the struggles, resistance and healing practices of folks in our communities.

Each workshop series will culminate with an event highlighting pieces by workshop participants as well as a few guest performers. The event will highlight both artistic and community organizing movement work that seeks to uplift and empower Queer and Trans Black people in Oakland. In addition to performances, the event will also include guest speakers from community organizations.

2016 Workshops include
Monthly Calling on Spirit a Queer& Trans Black Writers Group
Calling On Spirit- Moving in Greatness Dance Workshop
Calling on Spirit- Lift Every Voice Music Workshop

We currently seeking funds for our Spring COS Moving in Greatness Dance Workshop. Over the 9 week workshop series, participants will focus on the idea of creating safe haven and the constructs of race in America through developing pieces for performance and mentorship by guests artists.