THE MERRITT DIALOGUES: NO MORE NORMAL

“No More ‘Normal’: Radical Healing in a Hurting World” is the next installment of the Merritt Dialogue Speaker Series, a program of the Bay Area Book Festival, bringing together renowned physician and trauma expert Dr. Gabor Maté and social worker and wellness practitioner Nicole Steward for an evening of deep conversation about how we heal in a time of pervasive stress, inequity, and collective grief. Moderated by author and cultural critic Jeff Chang, this event at The New Parkway in Oakland invites participants to question any desire to “get back to normal” and instead imagine forms of radical, community-centered healing that address the roots of personal and social suffering. Through an engaging dialogue that weaves together stories, research, and practical insight, the speakers will explore the connections between trauma, the body, and our broader systems, and offer pathways toward more compassionate, just, and resilient ways of living together. In-person and virtual tickets are available, making it possible to join the conversation from Oakland and beyond.