When people share knowledge, empathy, and understanding towards chronic illness, it feels like a type of medicine to those who are suffering. Join Julie Broderick, a chronic pain warrior and wellness facilitator, for a presentation about empathy in the context of chronic illness. Participants will learn how to cultivate empathy in their relationship to self, their relationships with loved ones, and even for those who voice insensitive remarks. Bring a journal and writing tool of your choice. There will be opportunities to share using the chat feature.

This workshop will be taking place on Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent out in advance of the event. Please check your junk mail/clutter inboxes if you do not see a link in your inbox.

The event organizers reserve the right to block a participant during the event if contributions are inflammatory, aggressive, disruptive and/or make other participants feel unsafe to participate. In any such case, no refund will be offered.

About Your Facilitator

Julie helps people look, learn, know, and transform the unique challenges that often accompany(invisible) chronic illness. Julie is a wellness facilitator with over 10 years of experience working in educational settings. As a differently abled person with an invisible chronic pain condition, Julie seeks to understand the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual changes that often accompany (invisible) chronic illnesses. With a master’s degree in sociology, and a certificate in meditation and mindfulness, Julie seeks to not only understand the various mechanisms that cause our pain, but she uses her knowledge to help others look, learn, know and transform them.

Her approach to guiding others is inclusive, and she aims to make safe space for others while acknowledging that she has not stood where they stand, and therefore does not know directly how structures of power have shaped their human experiences. With a genuine spirit of empathy and kindness, Julie facilitates with the intention of guiding others towards their own sense of purpose, meaning and wholeness.

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Empathy Week 2022 is curated by Humainologie and partner organizations, Campfire Kinship and Prospect Human Services. For the full line-up, see the program here.

Empathy Week (June 1-7) is an annual festival created by Humainologie, a not-for-profit based in Calgary, Alberta. It is a community initiative with numerous organizations and individuals coming together to host a variety of events relating to empathy, human connection, and our shared humanity.

All Empathy Week events are free to attend, however, we are humbly accepting donations on a sliding scale between $5 and $20. All donations are reinvested into Empathy Week programming and Humainologie.