PAST EVENTS List

Surviving a Sibling: a look at grief that's often overlooked

The grief of surviving a sibling is often a silent one. Referred to as "forgotten mourners," bereaved siblings are unable to fully express their grief when the focus shifts to parents or caregivers. They must navigate a complex emotional landscape with little acknowledgment or support.

Surviving a Sibling will touch on many of the following topics:

- The Lifelong Impact of Sibling Loss: Exploring grief experiences across all ages, from pre-natal loss to adulthood

- Complex Sibling Relationships: Addressing the added layers of grief when the relationship was complex or estranged

- Redefining Family and Self: Navigating shifting family roles and the impact on personal identity

- Anticipated vs. Sudden Loss: Examining the differences between anticipated and sudden sibling loss and their respective grieving processes

- Stigmatized Loss: Addressing the unique grief experiences related to deaths by suicide, overdose, incarceration, and other stigmatized circumstances

Our guest speakers—storytellers, authors, artists, podcasters, and grief educators—will provide practical tools and support for navigating the complexities of sibling loss. They'll guide us in maintaining connection with our siblings through storytelling and rituals, finding strength in community, and developing healthy coping mechanisms through mindfulness, creative expression, and the creation of legacy projects. We'll also explore the potential for growth and transformation in the aftermath of loss.

Surviving a Sibling: Let's Learn (Part 1)

We kick-off this Reimagine series with stories and guidance from bereaved siblings who are cultivating communities of support, educating, and fostering a grief-informed public discourse about their overlooked experiences.
This panel discussion for the Surviving a Sibling series features some of the most articulate and passionate voices in the grief space to explore the unique and nuanced experience of sibling loss. We’ll create a space to remember brothers and sisters – those with whom we share loving and complicated relationships – and to honor the “forgotten mourners” themselves.

How can we cultivate more empathy and understanding for those whose grief is so often under the radar?
What are various kinds of projects – both private and public – that we can take up to honor the memory of our siblings?
Our guest speakers bring both professional expertise and personal experience to the topic of sibling loss. They include: Moira Khan, founder of Griefspan; Judy Lipson, author of Celebration of Sisters: It Is Never Too Late To Grieve; Annie Sklaver Orenstein, researcher and author of Always a Sibling: The Forgotten Mourner's Guide to Grief; Grief educator and coach Dr. Julie Shaw; and moderator Nina Rodriguez, grief guide, founder and host of Grief and Light, a podcast and online community for grievers.

The program includes ample time for Q&A.

Moira Khan is originally from New Zealand, and now living in Madrid, Spain. She is the Owner and Founder of GriefSpan. After the loss of her parents and brother in a 5 year span, Moira became a Certified Grief Educator. She now helps and supports grieving individuals and groups all over the world through the most heartbreaking times of their lives. Grief Education enables grievers to process their grief in a safe space, while learning more about best practices and tools to help navigate the journey they never asked to be on.

www.griefspan.com

@griefspaneducation

Judy Lipson is the author of Celebration of Sisters: It Is Never Too Late To Grieve, winner of the Literary Titan’s 2021 Silver Award. The sole survivor of three sisters, Judy founded Celebration of Sisters, an annual ice-skating fundraiser to commemorate the lives and memories of her beloved sisters Margie and Jane to benefit Massachusetts General Hospital’s Eating Disorders Clinical and Research Program. Judy has shared her experience of losing two sisters at the Bereaved Parents of the USA Conference, The Compassionate Friends National Conference, Open to Hope TV, as a board member of the COPE Foundation, and previously as a Reimagine speaker. She received the 2020 Get Up Award from the U.S. Figure Skating Association for her resilience on and off the ice.

www.judylipson.org

judylipson.substack.com

Celebration of Sisters: It Is Never Too Late To Grieve

@celebofsisters

Annie Sklaver Orenstein is a qualitative researcher, oral historian, and storyteller who has spent over a decade collecting stories from people around the world. Annie’s brother was killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan. Her debut book, Always a Sibling: The Forgotten Mourner's Guide to Grief (Hachette Go, 2024) came about because she searched for guides to work through her grief as a mourning sibling and found nothing.

Her work has been featured on NBC Nightly News, Comedy Central, Huffington Post, Politico, TIME, and Mother.ly. In 2020, driven by a desire to share these stories beyond the walls of corporate America, Annie founded Dispatch from Daybreak, a collection of letters written by womxn to their earlier selves. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, children, dog, and chickens.

https://www.annieorenstein.com/

Always a Sibling: The Forgotten Mourner's Guide to Grief

@anniesklaverorenstein

Dr. Julie Shaw (she/her) is an educator, grief wellness advocate, and experienced griever. Dr. Shaw is committed to building an inclusive community of grievers who are curious, ready to explore and moved to find ways they can integrate grief into their lives and continue to thrive. She is the founder of Hello I‘m Grieving, a community where grievers can find support and motivation through creative thought provoking in person and virtual events. Dr. Shaw has her doctorate in Leadership and is the co-founder of Lead Different Consulting where she works with global leaders in diverse industries and facilitates sessions on leadership development, DEI, and grief education. As a grief expert, Dr. Shaw has spoken on panel alongside David Kessler, contributed to the Empathy.com Cost of Dying Report, serves as a guest expert for HelpTexts, and her story is featured in the grief documentary Meet Me Where I Am.

https://helloimgrieving.com/

Hello I’m Grieving Podcast

@helloimgrieving

Nina Rodriguez (moderator) created the Grief and Light Podcast after the sudden and unexpected loss of her only sibling, Yosef, as an authentic exploration of grief and life after loss. Through each conversation, she aims to give a voice to the griever’s experience, and foster a more grief-informed, hopeful world. Beyond the podcast, Nina extends her heart-centered support through The Community, monthly circles, 1:1 grief tending sessions, speaking engagements, active presence on social media, and forthcoming in-person retreats. She has been featured in various publications and podcasts, regularly contributes to Get Griefy Magazine, co-authored Resilient A.F.: Stories of Resilience (2025), and completed the Grief Care Professional Certificate Program under renowned psychotherapist and best-selling author of It's OK That You're Not OK, Megan Devine.

https://www.griefandlight.com/

@griefandlight

About the Series “Surviving a Sibling”

The "Surviving a Sibling" series, presented by Reimagine in February 2025, offers a vital space for understanding and supporting the often-overlooked grief of bereaved brothers and sisters. Known as "forgotten mourners," siblings often find their grief minimized after a family loss, as attention naturally focuses on parents and other close relatives. This three-part series aims to change that, providing a platform for connection, healing, and education. Each session will explore different facets of sibling loss, from the lifelong impact across various ages and relationship dynamics to the unique challenges of sudden or stigmatized deaths. Through storytelling, expert guidance, movement, and facilitated discussions, the series will offer practical tools for navigating grief, maintaining connection with deceased siblings, and fostering growth and transformation.

About Reimagine

Reimagine is a nonprofit organization catalyzing a uniquely powerful community–people of different backgrounds, ages, races, and faiths (and no faith) coming together to create a more compassionate world. We support each other in facing adversity, loss, and mortality and channeling life's biggest challenges into meaningful action and growth.

www.letsreimagine.org

@letsreimagine

Grief Circle: Rediscovering you after loss

About this event
Loss changes everything—including our sense of self. Who are we when the roles we once held shift? When the future we imagined looks different? When grief reshapes us in ways we never expected?

Join us for a gentle, guided grief tending circle where we’ll explore the tender process of rediscovering ourselves after loss. Through reflection, witnessing, shared wisdom, and compassionate conversation, we’ll create space to honor who we were, who we are, and who we’re becoming.

🗓 Date: Thursday, February 6th, 2025
🕰 Time: 7:00 - 8:30 PM ET | 6-7:30 PM CT | 4-5:30 PM PT
📍 Location: Virtual (ZOOM Link provided upon registration)

This is a welcoming and inclusive space for all grievers—whether your loss is recent or years old, whether you feel lost or are slowly finding your way back to yourself. Together, we’ll tend to our grief and plant the seeds of self-discovery.

Facilitated by:

Nina Rodriguez, Certified Grief Guide and Founder, Grief and Light (podcast & community) @griefandlight

Melinda Chinen, Certified Life and Grief Coach, @melindachinen

Bring a cup of tea, a cozy blanket, and an open heart.

💜 You are not alone. You are still you. And you are becoming.

Grief Circle: Navigating Estrangement & Complicated Relationships

The holiday season can bring up many emotions, especially when family relationships are marked by estrangement, unresolved conflict, or feelings of disconnection. If you’re navigating complex relationship dynamics and feeling the weight of these challenges, this virtual grief tending circle is a space for you.

Join us for an evening of guided support, connection, and reflection. Together, we’ll explore ways to care for ourselves during this sensitive season, set boundaries, and establish moments of peace amid the challenges.

Date : November 19, 2024

Date & Time: 7:00 - 8:30 PM ET | 6-7:30 PM CT | 4-5:30 PM PT

Location: ZOOM

RSVP Required

In this 90-minute circle, we’ll:

Share stories and experiences in a safe, non-judgmental space
Explore practical tools for setting emotional boundaries
Connect with others who understand the unique grief of family estrangement
Create space for hope and healing as we approach the holidays
Who Should Attend:
This gathering is open to anyone experiencing grief, tension, or estrangement with family or loved ones, especially those feeling the heightened emotional impact around the holidays.

Facilitated by:

Nina Rodriguez, Certified Grief Guide and Founder, Grief and Light @griefandlight

Melinda Chinen, Certified Life and Grief Coach, @melindachinen

Bring a cup of tea, a cozy blanket, and an open heart. Let’s navigate this tender season together.

Forever a Sister: a virtual Holiday Grief Support Experience for Bereaved Sisters

The holiday season can be a snowstorm of emotions when you’ve lost a sibling. Between awkward family gatherings, empty chairs, traditions that just don’t feel the same, and memories that hit you out of nowhere, it’s a lot.
But what if, this year, we faced it together?
Join us for Forever a Sister: A Holiday Grief Support Experience for Siblings—a 4-week virtual support group for those of us missing our siblings during the holidays.

Grief Support for Hurricane Survivors

If you've been affected by Hurricanes Helene & Milton, you’re not alone. Join our free online grief support circle, hosted by Grief Span & Grief and Light, for a space to find strength in community.
In the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the emotional storm can feel as overwhelming as the physical one.

If you've lost loved ones, homes, or the sense of normalcy you once had, you're not alone. We’re here to hold space for you.

In partnership with GRIEF AND LIGHT, and GRIEF SPAN, we’re offering an online grief support circle for those affected by these hurricanes.

This space is for you—whether you're processing loss, shock, or the complicated emotions that follow disaster.

Together, we’ll create a safe, compassionate space to honor your grief, connect, and find solace.

🗓 Date: Wednesday, October 23, 2024
⏰ Time: 9 am PT | 11 am CT | 12 pm ET
📍 Where: (link provided upon registration)
💙 FREE to Join
Facilitated by:

Nina Rodriguez, Certified Grief Support Specialist, Grief and Light (griefandlight.com/about)
Moira Khan, Certified Grief Educator, Grief Span (griefspan.com/meet-me)
Please note we are not licensed therapists, and the support offered is not medical advice or therapy.)

Come as you are. Let’s find strength in connection and community.

We're in this together,

Nina & Moira

Grief Tending Circle: Guilt, Joy and Grief (live on Zoom)

Welcome to our monthly virtual grief-tending circle

Details:

📅 Date: Tuesday, Sep 17th
⏰ Time: 4:00 pm PT • 6:00 pm CT • 7:00 pm ET
📍 Platform: Live on Zoom

RSVP Required

The intention of our grief tending circles is to bring us closer to ourselves. To awaken our inner nature, and trust our journey with life and loss.

This month's circle is an exploration of guilt, joy and grief.

Grief is a complex journey that often intertwines with unexpected emotions like guilt and joy. In this virtual grief tending circle, we will explore the delicate balance between these feelings, recognizing that they can coexist and even shape our steps forward.

Whether you're struggling with guilt over moments of joy or finding it hard to embrace happiness in the midst of grief, this space is for you.

Join us as we come together in a compassionate and supportive environment to share our stories, reflect on our experiences, and find comfort in knowing we are not alone. This circle is designed to honor your individual grief journey, holding space for all emotions to be acknowledged and expressed without judgment.

We witness, and we trust. We allow and nurture.

Whether it's grief due to the death of your person or pet, estrangement, divorce, diagnosis, global grief, or any other source of grief, it's meaningful to explore how life-altering change and loss affect our relationship with life.

We are allowed to question everything, rebuild, and rediscover our beliefs and life after loss.

Join us as you are, from a comfy corner of your couch, or most comfortable place of your choosing.

Feel free to bring a photo of your person, or any item(s) you would like to share.

In this together,

Nina Rodriguez, certified grief support specialist and podcast host (@griefandlight) & Melinda Chinen, certified grief coach (@melindachinen)

Monthly Grief Circle: Spirituality & Grief

Welcome to our monthly virtual grief-tending circle

Details:

📅 Date: Tuesday, Aug 06
⏰ Time: 4:00 pm PT • 6:00 pm CT • 7:00 pm ET
📍 Platform: Live on Zoom

RSVP Required

The intention of our grief tending circles is to bring us closer to ourselves. To awaken our inner nature, and trust our journey with life and loss.

This month's circle is an exploration of spirituality and grief.

How is grief spiritual?

How is it not spiritual?

How can spirituality help us redefine life after loss?

How do our beliefs shape our grief experience?

How has spirituality played a role in our grief to-date?

What comes up for you when you think of spirituality and grief?

Why Spirituality?

We believe this level of self-exploration is loving for every griever. Rarely are we given the space to unravel, question, and share our beliefs about spirituality/faith. In our space, we will never correct or "fix" you.

We witness, and we trust. We allow and nurture.

Whether it's a romantic separation, global grief, death of a loved one, a pet, or any other source of grief, it's meaningful to explore how life-altering change and loss affect our relationship with life.

We are allowed to question everything, rebuild, and rediscover our beliefs and life after loss.

Join us as you are, from a comfy corner of your couch, or most comfortable place of your choosing.

Feel free to bring a photo of your person, or any item(s) you would like to share.

In this together,

Nina Rodriguez, certified grief care specialist and podcast host (@griefandlight) & Melinda Chinen, certified grief coach (@melindachinen)

July Grief Tending Circle | Topic: Self Care + Grief

Join Our Monthly Virtual Grief Tending Circle

Grief touches every part of our being—mind, body, and spirit—and can feel overwhelming to navigate alone.

Finding support within a community can make the journey through loss more manageable. It can even help us discover new meaning, realign with our true purpose, and experience post-traumatic growth.

At its core, grief wants to be seen and expressed.

Grief tending is the practice of dedicating time to connect with your grief, to witness and express it, and to let it breathe. Doing this in community can be profoundly life-affirming.

Event Details:

📅 Date: Tuesday, July 9th
⏰ Time: 4:00 pm PT • 6:00 pm CT • 7:00 pm ET
📍 Platform: Zoom

Join Grief Coach, Melinda Chinen (@melindachinen), and Grief Guide Nina Rodriguez (@griefandlight) for this virtual circle. This space is designed to provide a safe and welcoming environment for you to explore your grief, share your stories, and connect with others who are also navigating loss.

Led by experienced grief-care facilitators, this event aims to offer support and guidance as we honor our emotions, witness our grief in community, and practice self-care. Whether you're in need of healing or simply seeking community, we welcome you to join us for this special gathering to tend to our grief and nurture our hearts.

July is also Bereaved Parents' Month, and we will acknowledge this important time during our circle.

Register now and take a step towards healing.

💜

Redefining Father's Day After Loss

Description: Join us for a virtual gathering where we come together to honor and support those who have experienced loss on Father's Day. This event is a safe space for sharing stories, memories, and emotions. Let's redefine Father's Day in a way that feels meaningful as we navigate loss. All are welcome to join this heartfelt circle of support and understanding.

Miami Podcaster Meet Up

Come meet and hang out with other creators in your area, exchange ideas and advice, network, get inspired, and grab some Riverside swag, all over a (free) drink.

We'll meet on Wednesday, May 22nd starting at 5:30PM at American Social in Brickell, located at 690 SW 1st Ct.

If you have any questions beforehand, feel free to reply to this email.

A special thank you to Nina from the Grief and Light Podcast for helping us put on this event.

And if you're looking to connect with more creators, you're invited to join Riverside's community of thousands of creators on Facebook.

Redefining Mother's Day After Loss | Virtual Grief Circle

Join us for a virtual gathering where we come together to honor and support those who have experienced loss on Mother's Day. This event is a safe space for sharing stories, memories, and emotions. Let's redefine Mother's Day in a way that feels meaningful as we navigate loss. All are welcome to join this heartfelt circle of support and understanding.