the movement community
We believe that no one should have to grieve alone.
That’s why we designed the Movement Community Model — a movement-based grief group that invites people to move together with their loss. We imagine a global movement - where every neighborhood, everywhere, has access to this simple, yet profound way of integrating the power of movement, community and ritual to take care of ourselves and each other through loss.
why join the Movement Community?
Watch the videos to hear directly from our Movement Community members about the transformative power of the experience.
the movement community experience
The Movement Community Model is a grief-informed, movement-based program designed to deepen community connection and support coping during times of loss.
Once a week, participants gather for a group movement—such as a run, walk, hike, or bike ride—and are guided through intentional grief practices that encourage moving with life’s hardest moments rather than moving on from them. The program spans 8-10 weeks and culminates in an organized group movement, such as a 5K walk or 10K run. Each group is led by a trained E-Motion Facilitator and includes 8-20 grievers.
core components
in-person movement & gathering
Participants meet in person once a week for a group movement activity, such as a walk, run or hike.
Each gathering begins with an E-Motion Sacred Circle, offering participants the opportunity to practice E-Motion Rituals and embody the organization’s Core Values. The group then completes their movement for that week.
grief conscious content
E-Motion provides a carefully designed, multi-week curriculum that integrates grief-conscious content throughout the experience. This program includes essential grief concepts, movement-based grief reflections, powerful poems, and a weekly workout.
The grief-conscious content is delivered in two formats: templatized emails and an audio series.
culminating movement event
At the end of the experience, participants can complete an organized movement event together. The distance is less important than the experience.
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"Since my child died, I rarely moved my body. I hadn't run in 20 years. Yesterday I ran 6.2 miles. It was the community and the connection that got me to put on my running shoes each Sunday. To be vulnerable. To show up to be part of something bigger. To move my body with others who understood my pain in a way that no one else ever could. And to move with the pain. Together."
Movement Community Participant
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"“I feel like I was working so hard to do all the right things to grieve: read the right things, and attend the right groups, just be the best griever. But it’s such a lonely experience at the core and joining a movement community was like catching a wave. Like instead of treading water, I was catching a wave with all these other people and it completely changed my grieving experience.”
Movement Community Participant
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“E-Motion is very unique to me because of the people I have met. It helped a lot that it was centered around an activity that we did together every Sunday. It wasn’t just sitting around and talking about our grief, but we were actually experiencing it in a physical form and sharing it with other people as we were running together.”
Movement Community Participant
upcoming movement communities
upcoming movement communities
Spring 2025
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Hamden, CT
Dates:
Sunday, April 6 - Sunday, May 25
Facilitator:
Laura Chomentowski
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Concord, MA
Dates:
Saturday, April 12 - Saturday, June 8th
Facilitator:
Leslie Pelton Nichol
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Pittsfield, MA
Dates:
Sunday, April 6 - Sunday, May 25
Facilitator:
Kate Cimini
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Syracuse, NY
Dates:
Thursday, April 10 - Saturday, June 7
Facilitator:
Lynda Poole
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Brooklyn, NY
Dates:
Sunday, April 20 - Sunday, June 8
Facilitator:
N’keya Peters-Camille
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San Diego, CA
Dates:
Sunday, April 6 - Sunday, May 25
Facilitator:
Lisa Keefauver, MSW
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Port Angeles, Washington
Dates:
Week of April 6 - Week of May 25
Facilitator:
Mikki Proffitt
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Tacoma, Washington
Dates:
Sunday, April 6 - Sunday, May 25
Facilitator:
Natalie Louise Park
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Belfast, Maine
Dates:
Saturday, Feb 8 - Saturday March, 22
Facilitator:
Betsy Connelly, Russell Werkman
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San Antonio, TX
Coming this fall
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Worchester, MA
Coming this fall
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Boston, MA
Coming this fall
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Phoenix, Arizona
Coming this fall
don’t see one in your neighborhood yet?
We envision Movement Communities in neighborhoods everywhere and are continually expanding to new cities. If you're interested in joining a Movement Community when one becomes available near you—or if you're inspired to bring one to your neighborhood by becoming a trained facilitator—please complete the form below.
FAQ
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Movement Communities are designed for anyone who has experienced a life-disrupting loss.
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We are working towards bringing Movement Communities to communities across the country.
All active and upcoming Movement Communities are listed above. If you're interested in joining one of these Movement Communities, please reach out to the relevant E-Motion Facilitator.
If you're interested in joining a Movement Community and there isn't one in your city yet, please reach out to us here.
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The Movement Community Experience typically ranges between 8-10 weeks. The duration depends on the interest level of the group and the distance of the culminating movement experience.
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A typical Movement Community is comprised of 8-20 Movement Community Members and one trained E-Motion Movement Community Facilitator.
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Every Movement Community has one or two trained E-Motion Movement Community Facilitators who are responsible for starting the Movement Community and moving the group through the experience. All Facilitators have completed E-Motion’s required Movement Community Facilitator Training.
If you are interested in getting trained to become an E-Motion Facilitator, please reach out to us here.
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Has experienced a significant life-disrupting loss or is a clinician aligned with the E-Motion approach.
Sees importance in movement, specifically running/walking, as supportive of your grief.
Aligns with E-Motion’s Core Principles and has exposure to similar philosophies.
Has the time and capacity to devote 1-2 additional hours per week to the Movement Community, outside of the group rmeet-ups.
Recognizes the value of connecting with others who have gone through loss.
Is at a place in their own grief journey, where they would be able and available to consistently and predictably create space for others:
Consider yourself beyond the acute phase of loss
Capacity to sustain energy level and focus on things such as email correspondence and preparation of weekly gatherings
While in the role of facilitator, prioritize others' emotional needs over your own.
Has completed E-Motion’s Movement Community Facilitator Training.
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Please read the criteria above. If this feels like a good fit, please reach out to the E-Motion Team here.
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In order to start a Movement Community, there must be a person who is interested and willing to become the E-Motion Movement Community Facilitator. The Facilitator is responsible for managing three core steps to ensure a successful launch: preparation, implementation, and closing with care. The Facilitators are introduced to all these steps during the Facilitator Training and also receive ongoing support from the E-Motion HQ Team during the leadup and implementation of the Movement Community.
join our movement
If you’re interested in starting a new Movement Community or learning more about the Movement Community Model in general, please click the button below.