COMMUNITY News:

Leah Blackwell and Rumi Sauñe will present a forum on Navigating the Complexities of Grief and Loss at the Sunday Forum at the Unitarian Church of Los Alamos at 12 p.m., Sunday, March 8, at 1738 North Sage Street. The Forum program endeavors to educate the public about issues that affect the community. It is independent of the religious mission of the church.

Grief and Loss are an integral part of our lives. Loss affects us from the time we are born in the form of change. Grief is the natural, multifaceted response to loss—encompassing emotional, physical, cognitive, social, and even spiritual reactions that arise when someone or something deeply meaningful is taken away. In this presentation, we will explore the complexities of grief and loss by first defining what grief is and dispelling common myths about how it “should” look or unfold. Together, we’ll discuss the wide range of normal grief responses to foster greater understanding, compassion, and resilience in the face of loss. Through grief literacy and education, we can become active participants in our own healing and in the lives of others.

Leah Blackwell served as a chaplain at Los Alamos Visiting Nurse Service where she helped others navigate and find meaning in end of life. She is also a grief group facilitator through Golden Willow Retreat Center. She currently works at Los Alamos Retired and Senior Organization doing programming and marketing. She is passionate about grief education for all ages.

Rumi Sauñe is a licensed New Mexico attorney by day and a volunteer grief facilitator with The Grief Center of New Mexico, where he has supported grieving youth and families for the past nine years. He also helps train new grief facilitators. Drawing from both personal experience with loss and more than 20 years of public speaking, Rumi brings deep empathy, compassion, and practical insight to young people and others he serves.