Empower HER

I was thrilled to connect with Zhou Fang on the The Intersection podcast, where we discussed epigenetic grief, organizational mentorship, compassionate leadership, Iceland, and more.

Now on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2BDN8uI5XvbOF905ndE5y6

Art as Release is back at the Portland Grief House () with another four-part workshop series taught by Sandra Hunter. This series explores how creativity can help us move through grief with gentleness, honesty, and connection. You can attend all four workshops or select the ones that work best for your schedule.

Together, we’ll work with hands-on art and craft activities (no experience needed) to explore the ways we try to hide or control our grief—and how we can begin to let go, express, and connect.

📅 Workshop Schedule:

The Illusion of Control: Grief and the Fear of Falling Apart – Wed, April 8th 6:30–8:00pm

Wearing the Mask: How Fear Shapes the Grieving Self – Thu, April 23rd, 6:30–8:00pm

Cracks in the Armor: Releasing the Need to Hold It Together – Wed, May 13th, 6:30–8:00pm

Open Hands, Open Heart: Grief, Connection, and Creative Witnessing – Wed, May 27th, 6:30–8:00pm

💸 Sliding Scale Pricing:
$40 pay-it-forward / $30 standard / $20 community

Each session is a space to feel, make, reflect, and be witnessed—at your own pace, in your own way. Come for one, or join us for the full arc.

You can learn more and purchase tickets by clicking the link in bio!

“For many entrepreneurs, the prospect of a conference is filled with joyous anticipation. The meeting and greeting and discussing speaker events and laughing and talking and dressing up and going to parties.

I’m in not in that demographic…”

Read Sandra’s article, The Introvert and the Conference, on empowerHER.com, under Articles.

“Shame is internal, endlessly and painfully focusing inwards.

What if I were to engage in a practice that focused outwards? Would that begin healing?

Altruism, for example, located on the opposite end of the spectrum from shame. Is it possible to practice compassion and service and not be aware of that afterglow of “doing good” which makes any such act transactional?”

Read Sandra’s article, Through Shame to Altruism, on http://EmpowerHerToRise.com under Articles.

I really enjoyed presenting “The Illusion of Grief, Loneliness, and the Fear of Falling Apart” at the Healthy Worksite Summit, and sitting in on the amazing keynotes and presentations from other speakers. But what made the whole conference experience even more meaningful was the chance to meet the incredible participants who traveled from across Washington State and beyond.

I had the privilege of connecting with people on the frontlines of service—those working in ER services, housing shelters, centers for abused women, education, city planning, and administration. Hearing about the work they do every day to support and strengthen their communities was inspiring, humbling, and moving.

We talked about how to create a healthy worksite for people who are constantly supporting clients and who can’t just slip away for a spa appointment.

Grateful for the conversations, the shared purpose, and the reminder that so many dedicated people are working hard to care for others.

“If you’re struggling in grief, please know you’re not alone.
It will get worse and better in cycles.
It will never leave you, and believe me, you would not want it any other way.”

Read Sandra’s article, “The Grip of Grief: Managing the Physical and Emotional Costs of Loss at Work” at https://www.empowerhertorise.com/post/the-grip-of-grief-managing-the-physical-and-emotional-costs-of-loss-at-work.

Image credit: David Popa

Leadership is not only about the people inside your organization—it’s about how you show up in your entire professional ecosystem.
Responding to partners’ grief with steadiness and care builds relationships based on trust, humanity, and long-term mutual respect.

Thank you to for fostering community and sharing at !

Join Sandra at the Healthy Worksite Summit, where she will present “The Illusion of Control: Grief and the Fear of Falling Apart” on March 4th-5th.

Presented by the Association of Washington Cities, the Healthy Worksite Summit is dedicated to making workplaces healthy places. Come together and meet your peers to learn, share, and explore ways to create a workplace where people can connect and thrive.

Single-day or full-conference tickets are available at https://wacities.org/events-education/conferences/healthy-worksite-summit.

What does “home” mean when the places and people we come from have changed—or when we’ve had to start over? Some of us have never felt at home anywhere. Sometimes grief displaces our sense of home. Many of us have multiple cultural and ethnic backgrounds that reach back many generations. Finding Home invites you to explore ideas of origin, belonging, and identity through creative expression.

Next Wednesday, we return to Grief House for the last session in the Finding Home series, Home Within.

Participants will use drawing, painting, writing, collage, and simple crafts to create personal “home maps” that tell our stories. Each session offers space for reflection, connection, and gentle making as we look at how displacement, memory, and heritage shape our sense of home—and how we can begin to build it again, wherever we are.

You can attend as many—or as few—sessions as you want in the series, so even if you haven’t attended any of the previous sessions, feel free to join us.

📅 Wednesday, February 18th from 6:30 to 8PM

📍 The Portland Grief House

💸 Sliding Scale Pricing: $40 pay-it-forward / $35 standard / $25 community / $20 no one is turned away

🔗 Learn more and buy tickets here: https://www.griefhouse.org/event-details/art-as-release-finding-home-a-4-part-workshop-series-2026-02-18-18-30

What does “home” mean when the places and people we come from have changed—or when we’ve had to start over? Some of us have never felt at home anywhere. Sometimes grief displaces our sense of home. Many of us have multiple cultural and ethnic backgrounds that reach back many generations. Finding Home invites you to explore ideas of origin, belonging, and identity through creative expression.

On Wednesday, we return to Grief House for the third session in the Finding Home series, Uprooted Again.

Participants will use drawing, painting, writing, collage, and simple crafts to create personal “home maps” that tell our stories. Each session offers space for reflection, connection, and gentle making as we look at how displacement, memory, and heritage shape our sense of home—and how we can begin to build it again, wherever we are.

You can attend as many—or as few—sessions as you want in the series.

📅 Wednesday, February 4th from 6:30 to 8PM

📍 The Portland Grief House

💸 Sliding Scale Pricing: $40 pay-it-forward / $35 standard / $25 community / $20 no one is turned away

🔗 Learn more and buy tickets: https://www.griefhouse.org/event-details/art-as-release-finding-home-a-4-part-workshop-series-2026-02-04-18-30

“I have regained full belief in myself and my gifts as an artist, in the midst of challenges and celebrations. Sandra is surely a coach that I recommend for long-term change in one’s life.”

— Manique Buckmon

Ready to embark on an enlightening, supportive journey? Message for details on coaching services today.