Healing Racial Trauma
Through Buddhist Communities
We Are All In This Together
In response to a flood of horrific racial attacks, Dharma Relief 2 seeks to bring together a wide spectrum of Buddhist teachers, centers, and temples in the United States to collectively heal the impact of racialized trauma against Black African-descended people. Dharma Relief 2 (DR2): “Healing Racial Trauma Through Buddhist Communities” aims to foster change through the targeted program discussed below.
The ongoing 400-year experience of racism against Black African-descended people has resulted in historical, inter-generational, and continuing present-day trauma similar to that experienced by all those who have suffered war, genocide, dislocation, and domestic violence. We believe that Black Dharma teachers are powerfully positioned to address racial trauma, a particularly engulfing and defining form of human suffering in Black communities.
Your generous support will benefit Black Dharma teachers in the US to become an effective social force for good and exemplars of compassionate action.
How To Support
There are two ways you can help our healing efforts: donation and participation.
Our Process
Multidimensional pathways to addressing racism.

How to Join
Our aim is to bring together all schools and branches of Buddhadharma to heal
racial trauma.
How to Support
Donations
Our vision is to fund an initial cohort of Black Buddhist Teacher Fellows. This first phase will fund individual fellowships for a duration of one year beginning in early 2023. The fellows may use the grant as they see fit, for example, for teaching-related expenses and health care, which were voiced as the top concerns in our survey of Black Buddhist teachers. Our initiative is a pilot project intended to show the impact of supporting Black Dharma teachers. DR2 is committed to collecting information on the results of the program, and we hope it will lead to future cohorts of fellows.
One hundred percent of your contribution will directly support this fellowship program.
We are grateful to the funding agencies, sponsors, and individuals listed at the end of the page. Click here to see our list.
Please Donate
Your contribution goes directly to enhancing resilience for Black Buddhist leaders and the communities they serve.
We are actively seeking donations to help us meet our goal. One may make a one-time donation by credit card, PayPal, or Bank Transfer.
We have raised $56,425 (94%) out of our goal of $60,000.
Supporters
Sponsors
Organizations that fiscally support the project
Gold (donated $50,000+)
Silver (donated $5,000-$49,999)
Lapis Lazuli (donated $1-$4,999)
Partners
Buddhist centers and organizations involved in outreach and participate in programs
Benefactors
Media and other in-kind support


Bodhisattvas
Individuals who financially support at any level
Gold (donated $1,000+)
Silver (donated $500-$999)
Lapis Lazuli (donated $0-$499)
Ashley Messenger
Athene Carras
Barbara Baatz
Belinda Li
Bill Millington
Binbin Deng
Bonnie Sarmiento
Carrie Pollak
Cheryl Giles
Craig Rosa
Daniella Molle
DaRa Williams
Dawn Toepelt
Diane Powell
Emmanuel Lartey
Elvin De La Cruz
Ginger Toll
Helen Hobart
JD Doyle
Jeff Wilson
Jimmy Lin
Jingwen Chen
Johanna Gorse
Joe Schuman
Karen McInerney
Katalin Kiraly
Kim Neuschel
Linda Grove
Liz Johnson
Lori-Ann Lima
Marsha Lawson
Marty Larch
Milton Vedder
Monica Solomon
Nancy Chu
Nancy Riemer
Nealy Zimmermann
Neil Ryder
Patrice Koelsch
Patricia Phelan Cabarga
R Amadea Morningstar
Rain Sussman
Raquel Adams
Ralph Quinn
Rev SeiFu Singh-Molares
Richard Swanson
Ryan Van Wyk
Rev. Bruce N Teague
Samo Skerbec
Sandra Medina Bocangel
Sarah O’Gara
Sara Khan
Siobhan Cassidy
steven cooley
Sufen Weiwu
Takaaki Okada
Terri and Ellis Delaney
Terri Barczak
Todd Finlay
Victoria Mausisa
Virginia Watson
Vonda Pearson
Yung-Yi Mosley
Fellowship Program
DR2 commits to raising awareness about the impact of intergenerational, historical, and continuing present-day trauma on African-descended people, and brings together a wide spectrum of Buddhist teachers and leaders from centers and temples across the United States to collectively heal the impact of racialized trauma against Black African-descended people. We believe that Black Dharma teachers are powerfully positioned to address racial trauma, and are prioritizing funding for these leaders to offer healing and support through a Buddhist lens for African-descendant communities in the U.S. The primary criteria for DR2 is straightforward: applicants must identify as descended from African peoples.
In this cohort, we aim to ensure there is diverse representation from across lineages, age, gender identity, geographic location and teaching experience. Teachers and leaders applying for this Fellowship will complete a written application as well as engage in a virtual conference with the selection panel. The selection panel will also engage with references provided by the applicant.
- Application (expected by the end of Q1 2023)
- Conference & References (expected to be held Q2 2023)
- Selection and Announcement (expected Q2 2023)
- Fellowships Awarded (expected to being Q3 2023)
Advisory Board
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