Touch begins far before actually making contact.
The Touch Specialist training program acknowledges that holding, cuddling and getting close to each other through touch is a life-saving act.
The Touch Activist Program 2024 Cohort will be announced in Spring 2024.
Interested in being a part of the program? Fill out the 2024 Cohort Interest Form.
The Touch Activist Program is creating a critical mass of practitioners, touch activists, and every day humans to offer conscious, caring, carnage-informed holding for Black bodies and People of the Global Majority.
2024 SCHEDULE — Stay tuned!
Touch Specialist Cohort 2023 — Full Program Schedule (Aug. 22 - Dec. 12, 2023)
Facilitated by Aaron Johnson + Team
August 22 - September 5, 2023 (4 weeks, Tuesdays 5-7pm PST)
Online Class Series 1: Interrupting the Chronically UnderTouched Trauma Story
October 3-24, 2023 (4 weeks, Tuesdays 5-7pm PST)
Online Class Series 2: Anatomy of the Black Brute
July 21-23, 2023 November 10-12, 2023 — In Person Immersion Weekend at The Legacy Museum in Montgomery, Alabama
November 21 - December 12, 2023 (4 weeks, Tuesdays 5-7pm PST)
Online Class Series 3: Preparing the Body for Deep Holding
This program will benefit all People of the Global Majority (PGM), but will be focusing specifically on the Chronically UnderTouched Black body and will do a deep evaluation of the Black Brute archetype and the shaping of America’s extractive sexual and violent touch story today. Touch and holding include physical touch as well as energetic presence, song, movement, nature connection, and deep listening. The Touch Specialist Training is for both formal practitioners in these areas, as well as anyone who wants to interrupt the Chronically UnderTouched trauma story and be a part of the collective healing of closeness.
The Training
Full Program, Online Courses Packages (Individual Class Series or Class Series Package), and Immersion Only Packages available. All come with one-on-one support calls built in.
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August 22 - December 5, 2023
Includes In-Person Immersion Weekend at The Legacy Museum in Montgomery, AL; a three Month online Class Series Package; and three or more 1:1 calls with Aaron Johnson.Access: $4,000
Break Even: $8,000
Redistribution: $12,000Includes admission to the Legacy Museum; Access rate three 1:1 calls with Aaron; Break Even rate includes four 1:1 calls Redistribution rate includes 5 or more calls. Does not include travel or lodging for Immersion Weekend.
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To kick off the program, we will gather together for three days in Montgomery, Alabama, learning and focusing on physical sessions, holding each other and the material in real time as we work with the historical and present day content of The Legacy Museum.
NEW DATES
Nov. 10-12, 2023 Formerly July 21-23, 2023
Montgomery, Alabama
Includes admission to the Legacy Museum; does not include travel or lodging.Immersion Only
Access: $1000
Break Even: $2000
Redistribution: $4000 -
Each Class Series is 4 weeks of online class with an intimate cohort. Classes run Tuesdays, 5-7pm PST.
Classes are designed to be cumulative, and we encourage a single series drop-ins. Each series comes with a 1:1 call with Aaron Johnson.
Class Series 1: Interrupting the Chronically UnderTouched Trauma Story — Aug/Sept 2023
Class Series 2: Anatomy of the Black Brute — October 2023
Class Series 3: Preparing the Body for Deep Holding — Nov./Dec. 2023
Individual Class Series
Includes a 4-week Class Series and a 1:1 call with Aaron Johnson.
Access: $1,350
Break Even: $2,650
Redistribution: $4,000
Class Series Package
Includes all Class Series and three 1:1 sessions with Aaron Johnson.Access: $3,000
Break Even: $6,000
Redistribution: $8,000 -
We have 3 partial work trade positions for reduced tuition, estimated at 40-50 hours of work, each. These positions are designed for Full Program participants and will support our time together and the future of the program.
APPLY FOR PARTIAL WORK TRADE POSITIONS: bit.ly/2023worktradeappZoom Tech
Holds down the online zoom classes on Tuesday evenings for all 3 Class Series. Sets up breakout rooms as needed. Meets with the team briefly before the class to understand media sharing needs for that day. Experience with breakout rooms, screen sharing, and sound sharing desired. This might be you if you have consistent internet access or if you do well with multi-tasking to focus.
Video Archivist
Reviews class footage and captures memorable quotes and video clips; potentially using these clips to, in collaboration with the team, create a video about the program, if interested. Basic video editing skills desired. This may be you if you do well with processing information after the fact or enjoy slowing down with the content.Grant Writer/Resource Transfer Coordinator
Researches and, in collaboration with the team, applies for grants and funding for the first People of the Global Majority (PGM) Touch Specialist Cohort. This may be you if you have grant writing experience or are a passionate internet scourer.
Tuition for each position is $750.
Payment plans are available. Please complete final payment by the 15th of the third month of your program. Or, reach out to us for an alternate arrangement.
Or, apply with your voice.
Rather send us a voice message than fill out the form?
Click “Start Recording” to answer the application questions that way. Begin with your name and pronoun/s (if you like). There is a 90 second limit per voice message, so you may need to leave more than one message.
When you apply by voice, please email us at grieftoaction@gmail.com, so we have your contact information and can be in touch about your application.
Would you like to support People of the Global Majority (PGM) to participate in this training at low to no cost?
We are fundraising for scholarships for a PGM Touch Specialist Cohort, which, if funded, will run in 2024.