In this SAND Community Gathering (September 2024) Zaya and Maurizio sat down with Jess Semaan, poet, psychotherapist and facilitator to explore the intersection of poetry and grief in the context of genocide. They drew from her research on genocide, as well as her personal and professional experiences, Jess tended to our psycho-spiritual profound sorrow and loss in this time.

By giving voice to the unspeakable and providing a means of bearing witness to the stories of those impacted by the trauma of large-scale atrocities, we are making space for individual and collective healing.

Poetry helps us navigate the complex terrain of grief, injustice, and human suffering. Come and honor the resilience of communities that have endured such immense trauma.

Jess Semaan is a queer Lebanese poet, psychotherapist, group facilitator and speaker. She researches, writes and speaks on subjects of healing from complex trauma, immigration, war and belonging. Her first poetry book Child of the Moon was published by Andrews McMeel and sold over 14,000 copies. Her second book Your Therapist is Depressed Too came out in December 2023. She immigrated to the United States from Beirut.

She has an MBA from Stanford and an M.A. in counseling Psychology from CIIS.

She identifies as SWANA (South West Asia and North Africa), with grandparents from Syria, Palestine and Mount Lebanon and resides on Ohlone land (Oakland, California), with her partner Berk and their two cats.

Topics:

00:00 – Introduction and Greetings
00:43 – Special Guest: Jess Semaan
00:56 – Reflecting on Recent Screenings
02:12 – Jess Semaan's Background and Work
03:03 – Poetry Reading: Let Gaza In
06:26 – Technical Difficulties and Reflections
07:56 – Discussing Genocide and Dehumanization
09:05 – Personal Journey and Psychological Insights
11:11 – The Complexity of Beirut
12:59 – The Psychological Impact of Diaspora
15:51 – Research on Genocide and Human Cruelty
26:46 – Poetry Reading: Is it a Massacre if it's a Palestinian?
28:51 – Healing Workshop and Collective Trauma
30:13 – Understanding My Mother's Trauma
31:51 – The Collective and Individual Psyche
34:07 – Critical Thinking and Cultural Differences
36:04 – The Role of Bystanders in Conflict
43:24 – Grieving Amidst Ongoing Conflict
51:29 – Poetry of Resistance and Grief
57:31 – Closing Reflections

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#102 Poetry and Grief in Times of Genocide: Jess Semaan

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