BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) \u2014 For many women, healing after loss can feel isolating. But two Bakersfield women say community can make all the difference.<\/p>\n
That belief is behind the Women\u2019s\u00a0Healing\u00a0Brunch, an event designed to bring together women navigating grief, trauma and personal hardship.<\/p>\n
One of the organizers, Shameika Robinson, says the idea grew from her own experience with loss.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy experience with grief \u2014 last year my granddaughter passed away in a car accident,\u201d Robinson said. \u201cShe was only one month, and it was sudden. It just happened.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robinson said the loss of her granddaughter, Leon Sterling, changed everything. As she tried to support her son through the tragedy, she began learning more about grief and how families cope.<\/p>\n
Just two months later, tragedy struck close to home again.<\/p>\n
Stephanie Soerjono, who helped organize the event, lost her 8-year-old son, Xxavien Hernandez, after a drunk driver crashed into him late last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was one of the first calls that I made after the incident happened,\u201d Soerjono said of Robinson.<\/p>\n
The two women say sharing their experiences deepened their friendship and inspired them to create something meaningful for others facing similar loss.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou just want someone to be there,\u201d Robinson said. \u201cYou don\u2019t want to ask them \u2014 you just want them to be there.\u201d<\/p>\n
That idea of simply showing up for one another is at the heart of the Women\u2019s Healing Brunch.<\/p>\n
Organizers say the event will feature therapists, life coaches, community resources and speakers who will share their personal stories of grief and resilience.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith loss, it\u2019s a little bit different,\u201d Soerjono said. \u201cIt\u2019s a lot different than any other kind of trauma or grief that you can go through.\u201d<\/p>\n
The organizers say professional help is important, but connecting with people who truly understand the pain can also play a key role in healing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe create this place for people that actually experience this so we could all come together, talk about it, get resources and understand each other,\u201d Robinson said.<\/p>\n
Through workshops, conversations and shared experiences, the women say they hope attendees leave knowing they are not alone in their healing journey.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s okay to still be broken. It\u2019s okay to still be hurt. It\u2019s okay to still be confused,\u201d Soerjono said. \u201cSometimes you just want an ear. That\u2019s it.\u201d<\/p>\n