Batul's BoutiQue Fundraiser

Hello, 

My name is Batul True Heart. My pronouns are they/them/and aapo. Aapo means she, he, & they in our Yaqui language. I am Yaqui, Chicane, & Panamanian- American identified. I have Native American ancestors, African ancestors, and Spanish & English ancestors. I am a traditional medicine practitioner, community herbalist, and death companion. 

Last December I made a prayer on my knees. I was in a place where I needed guidance for the next steps for my life and for my role within the community. In that questioning yet meditative moment, I heard my ancestors ask back to me, "so what is that you want, exactly?, what is it that you really need?" It was at that very moment that it became crystal clear to me that me and my people, a mostly Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, People of Color (QTBIPOC) community, needed a place. We needed somewhere to safely go to learn how to live life and study death.

It was then that I carefully began to curate my prayer. I said I wanted the space to be in my neighborhood, walking distance from my home and my gardens, where I've been growing herbal medicine these past 15 years. I said I wanted it to hold at least 20 people in a circle, have lots of light, and ideally have an outside space that we could utilize.

That very same week I was driving on a main street near my home when my heart skipped a beat after seeing the cutest little boutique that I'd driven by ten million times before, now empty. Though I felt concern for the folks who had to leave, I felt excited for the possibility of what was next for the place. My ancestors quickly guided me to stop the car, pull a piece of paper outta the glove box, write a note about my interest in the space, and slip it under the door.

Almost 2 months went by (along with much of my hope:) before I randomly received a text from the landlord saying the space was now ready and available. I would be the first one to view it if I still was interested. I immediately ran to see the place and all its potential.

As soon as I walked in, it was easy to imagine at least 20 of us circling up there. I was thrilled to see that the space had been renovated with a new floor and a fresh coat of white paint on the walls. I was ecstatic that there were so many windows in the space and that so much natural light came though.I was even more excited to learn that there was also a private area outside that was also included!

It wasn't long before the landlord called to tell me that I got the place. Everything went so fast yet so smooth. Soon I was off getting my City of Oakland Business Tax License (the City deemed us a "school/place of assembly."), Fictitious Business License, & Zoning approval. I also purchased my first items for the space...20 back jacks, chiavari chairs, seat cushions, window curtains, rugs, cleaning materials, etc.

This is all a prayer. It started as a prayer and continues to be a prayer. 

Since April, my friend and Floripondio End of Life Planning & Services colleague, Melissa Reyes, and I held 2 rounds of Herbs for Endings: A 3-week intro to 9 herbs and flowers that support in times of loss, death, and endings. 28 QTBIPOC were served.

This summer we also taught Embracing Endings: A 6-week decolonial and ceremonial death companion training course that weaves in aspects of Curanderismo, and are getting ready to do it again this fall! 24 QTBIPOC were served.

We also offered a QTBIPOC Community Self-Limpia Ceremony that was organized by the Healing Clinic Collective. 15 QTBIPOC were served.

And most recently, one of our Embracing Endings students, Raquel, started a QTBIPOC Bookclub! We are currently gathering and reading Estela Roman's book Nuestra Medicina. 15 QTBIPOC are served. 

As you can see, this has all been a prayerful, grassroots effort. Your financial support is needed. It is needed now, and honestly, it is needed in the future. My current year long lease goes until April, 2025. I'm hoping to gain enough community support with the space that we can keep it going next year, and for years to come. 

I'm currently raising $13,000 worth of funds to provide the next round of needs for the space along with some breathing room towards rent, insurance, and utilities these next 6 months.

Please contribute to the boutiQue if you can. If you're able to give ANY donation amount now, it is so appreciated. If you're not able to give now, but feel it in your heart and would love to give later, please do. And if you can give now and later, know that I/we are always out here ready to receive your financial support so we can continue serving our QTBIPOC communities.

You are also welcome to contribute each month! You will see this option when you donate.

Also...maybe there's a particular item that you want to purchase for the space? Some items we are needing next are a farm table, shelves, a vacuum, screen projector, wood barrels, soil, outside plants, etc. Let us know if you want to give a gift!

And lastly, feel free to share! Please send this email out to anyone you feel may want to contribute to the boutiQue, a community space where Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, People of Color (QTBIPOC) & allies can safely gather for educational and medicinal life and death studies. 

Chiokoe uttesia! (thank you!),

Batul True Heart (they/them/aapo)

To see more about the work that Melissa & I do at Floripondio, you can check out our website here...https://floripondioendoflife.com/

To order my Maaso Medicina: Flower Medicine for Ancestral, Generational, & Personal Pain, go here: https://maasomedicina.bigcartel.com/