INELDA Update – FEBRUARY/MARCH 2026
Warm Vibes at Santa Monica Training
It’s always a treat when we are able to hold a training in person. This month, educators Erika Lim and Nzinga Abdullah-Aziz had the opportunity to bring together 45 learners for a weekend training in Santa Monica, California. Participant Cassandra Zamora shared, “I entered INELDA’s training without many expectations. With some exposure to hospice and end-of-life care, I thought I had a sense of what the experience might be like. Instead, it gently surprised me. While the training provides thoughtful and grounded preparation for supporting individuals and families at the end of life, what touched me most was how much space it creates for inward reflection. We were not only learning how to walk alongside others—we were invited to sit with ourselves. With our mortality. With our values. With the quiet questions we often don’t pause long enough to ask.”
The next two months in-person trainings will be held this March in Washington, D.C. and in April in Boone, North Carolina.
Dr. Shamsian: We Appreciate You!
Dr. Arash Shamsian joined us at our doula training in Santa Monica. The founder of Golden Gate Hospice Care and a physician focused on expanding compassionate, community-based end-of-life care, Dr. Shamsian partners with end-of-life doulas and community partners to help patients receive earlier supportive care, strengthen family support systems, and improve quality of life at the end of life. His work centers on improving access to hospice and palliative care through partnerships with physicians, community organizations, and supportive service providers. Golden Gate Hospice Care focuses on culturally responsive care for underserved communities, including Latino, Iranian, LGBTQIA2S+, and HIV populations, with services available in English, Spanish, Farsi, and Tagalog.
INELDA is a proud partial sponsor of In the Wake of Life: An Immersive Experience About Not Getting Lost in Loss, produced by Elizabeth Coplan, founder of Grief Dialogues, and directed by Dani Davis. The immersive theatrical experience, which will take place Tuesday, May 5, combines short plays, poetry, music, interactive sculpture, and guided audience reflection to explore dying, death, and grief. The piece will be staged at The War Memorial in metropolitan Detroit, in the neighborhood of Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan. Come join co-creator and Detroit lead Pastor Corey Kennard and special guests Qwynn Galloway-Salazar, PhD, MA, and Marla Ruhana, LMSW, community liaison, for innovative storytelling and optional participation. The experience creates a supportive space for honest dialogue, inviting audiences to challenge stigma, examine cultural assumptions, and reconnect through shared stories.
This free experience is participatory, but participation is always optional. Audience members are invited to engage at their own pace while observing, moving, writing, or simply being present. Trained grief facilitators will be available throughout the evening, and quiet spaces will be accessible if needed. Contributions support Detroit-based artists, grief facilitators, and free community access through Grief Dialogues, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. If you are in the area, please register to join!
Loss of Advisory Board Member Subrina Wood
Subrina Wood (1956-2025) served on INELDA’s advisory board, offering her deep experience in tax, assets, and management. INELDA was so lucky to have had the opportunity to work with Subrina. As an advisory board member, Subrina brought her extensive expertise, energy, deep laughter, and insights to the organization. Not only was she a whiz with numbers, her deep love for sci-fi and commitment to the arts led her to cofound SyFy Sistas Podcast and CinnCinne Goes SyFy Podcast. Subrina will be honored over the course of the year with virtual events, culminating with her 70th birthday celebration in September 2026.
In The News
The Funeral Service Insider podcast host Tony Russo spoke with INELDA’s executive director, Douglas Simpson, about end-of-life doulas and the bridges we build between care systems and circles of care. Tune in to the episode, “Douglas Simpson on Mentorship and the Future of Death Doulas” for how professional training is evolving to include hands-on experience and community-led support.
Posted 2/24/2026