WELCOME TO DEATH POSITIVE DC
About Death Positive DC
Death Positive DC is the first organized death positive group in the Washington, DC-area (covering DC, Northern VA, and parts of Maryland near DC). Death Positive DC promotes conversations about death and connects people around this topic through social media and in-person/virtual events.
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Death Positive DC is inclusive and welcomes people of all sexual, gender, racial, and religious identity, immigration status, and geographical location. Death Positive DC strives to be a safe and judgement-free space.
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Death Positive DC is here for people who want:
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to discuss death, death culture, grief, and end-of-life issues with openness and curiosity
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to ask questions, share stories and experiences, or simply listen
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to cultivate an ongoing awareness of death
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to live with intention and purpose in the face of mortality
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to build community and connect with others
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to normalize death as a part of life
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to gather for death cafes, book clubs, art exhibits, movies, workshops, and other activities designed to explore death
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to talk about pet/animal death and grief
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to learn about how racism and racial disparities impact how people experience end-of-life care and death
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to find out about events going on in or near DC
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Death Positive DC welcomes people who are comfortable talking about death as well as people who have anxiety around death and may be having their very first conversation about it. Wherever you are on that spectrum, you are welcome to participate as much or as little as you want.
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Death Positive DC started as Facebook group on May 15, 2017. It is now an active online community (with various social media platforms) and a very engaged in-person/virtual community.
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Connect with Death Positive DC
on Social Media
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About Me
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I have been fascinated by death since childhood. Death has been a big part of my life, so it feels normal and natural for me to think and talk about it.
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I created Death Positive DC on May 15, 2017 because I couldn't find many (or any) death positive happenings in my area. I knew there were others who feel the same as I do...it was just a matter of finding ways to connect with those people.
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Death Positive DC is a grassroots effort and a true labor of love. I--along with hundreds of people who have joined me--are building a community of kind, caring, curious, smart, open-minded, and warm-hearted people whose common ground is a desire and willingness to talk about death.
In September of 2016, I attended an end-of-life doula training workshop with the International End-of-Life Doula Association. My plan was to start work as an end-of-life doula, but I quickly discovered a different path. Creating safe and comfortable spaces (online and in-person) for people to explore death--that is where my work is.
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I have been hosting death cafes in-person and online since November of 2016. I also offer book clubs, a "write your own obit" workshop, and other events.
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I trained with Amy Wright Glen of the Institute for the Study of Birth, Breath, and Death to support people through pregnancy and infant loss. I have a strong interest in and passion for the birth world and improving the way pregnant people are treated during prenatal care, labor and birth, and postnatal life. I read Spiritual Midwifery in my early 20s and it radically changed the way I think about women and birth. The parallels between reclaiming birth and reclaiming death are a natural connection for me to make.
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I was born in Washington, DC and grew up in Maryland, where I still reside. I live with my husband, our three cats, and our three children. Our kids are the most fun, interesting, and loving people I know. I spend a lot of time with them, always learning and growing and playing.
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I'm glad you found my website. Email me at sarah@deathpositivedc.com if you want to connect!
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-Sarah
(she/her/hers)
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Caitlin Doughty (right) and me at her book signing
