The IMA is hosting a two-day conference entitled Celebrating Black Intimacy: An Overdue Conversation on Pleasure, Stigma, and Healthy Relationships. The virtual dialogue will be held July 30 from 6-8 p.m. and July 31 from 10-2 p.m. via Facebook Live.
BY J. S. COOPER, Contributor
ST. PETERSBURG — The Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance (IMA) will be hosting a two-day conference entitled Celebrating Black Intimacy: An Overdue Conversation on Pleasure, Stigma, and Healthy Relationships. The virtual dialogue will be held July 30 from 6-8 p.m. and July 31 from 10-2 p.m. via Zoom or Facebook Live.
The conference will feature liberating conversations about sexuality in the Black community, including panel discussions featuring diversity and inclusion practitioner Chevara Orrin, life coach Natasha A. Pierre, President of IMA-SP Rev. J. C. Pritchett, and will be moderated by Rev. Christie Hardwick.
Some of the topics the panel will discuss include sexual health and trauma, body positivity, and HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention.
“It’s not just about diseases; it’s about health,” said Hardwick. An ordained minister with the Centers for Spiritual Living, Hardwick is the founder and curator of Inspiration Gatherings and an executive coach.
According to the most recent data, Pinellas County is one of seven counties in Florida with the highest rates of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), the precursor to the deadly Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, or AIDS.
“If we don’t talk sex, then we’re not necessarily getting educated about it,” said Hardwick.
Urban communities face unique barriers and challenges to accessing HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment services. Hardwick believes there is a need to talk about sex in an open way within the Black community because “it is part of the gifts of being a human being.”
One of the conference’s main themes is dispelling the myths, tropes, and stereotypes of hypersexuality in the Black community.
“It’s more about our inner world, how we care about ourselves, how important do we feel about ourselves, how important do we feel about our health and wellbeing, and what we think we deserve,” stated Hardwick.
IMA was founded in 1925 as a non-profit organization. The organization is dedicated to bringing faith leaders together for positive change in their communities across the United States.
In 2018, Pritchett was elected president of IMA-SP, with a vision to assemble and activate a broad and diverse clergy coalition from multiple faith traditions as a force for compassion and social justice.
DAY 1 — Celebrating Black Intimacy: An Overdue Conversation on Pleasure, Stigma, Healthy Relationships
When: Jul 30 @ 6 p.m. Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting on Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAlcu2hrDotHdK2yeJdba2vwOaPOiIpKLBr
DAY 2 — Celebrating Black Intimacy: An Overdue Conversation on Pleasure, Stigma, Healthy Relationship, Part 2
When: Jul 31 @ 10 a.m. Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting on Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwucu6rqDIqG9HjaqALLE6oMzLFpuuVeUpg-
You can also view the conference on Facebook at IMA-SP.
