MIssion & Story
Our mission
Our mission is to heal internalized and externalized white supremacy and anti-Blackness, build deep meaningful relationships with one another, and celebrate our inherent wholeness as multiracial individuals.
Our Story
In the midst of the immense loss of COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter uprisings, the initial seeds of this group were planted. As half-Asian, half-white women, who had meditated with BIPOC groups before, Adriana and Kristina felt the need to create a space for those who are multiracial to reflect on the nuances of how they’ve both been affected by and perpetuated racist, anti-Black, and white supremacist norms. They knew that part of healing internalized and externalized racism started with meaningful reflection, accountability, and community.
Founders & Facilitators
Adriana DiFazio (she/her) is a meditation teacher, writer, and facilitator. She identifies as second-generation half Filipina-Chinese and half Italian-Greek. Her work is centered on healing racial karma, eco-grief, and the human-animal divide. Adriana began practicing meditation in 2012 and took refuge in the Shambhala Buddhist tradition in 2018. She completed a Masters of Divinity in Buddhism and Interreligious Engagement from Union Theological Seminary in 2023. You can connect with her at www.adrianadifazio.com.
Kristina Garrity (she/her) is a committed book club lover, accomplished Zoom gathering hostess, Ashtanga yoga enthusiast and fledgling anthropologist. She identifies as half Chinese-Indonesian and half white American. Her interests center on commoning, mutual aid, eco socialism and Earthships. Kristina currently lives in Flanders, Belgium, where she is wrapping up her Masters in Social and Cultural Anthropology at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and experimenting with urban farming. You can check out her artwork and request astrology readings via kgrrty.com.
Community Facilitators
Kane Barr (he/him/they/them) is a co-facilitator for Gainesville Shambhala's Queer and Trans Dharma Meditation Group and the facilitator of Melanin Meditation Group, a racial minority group open to all backgrounds. Kane co-facilitates monthly gatherings and helps lead the weekly sits. Kane also participates in shamanic and intuitive practices and teaches.
Pollyanna Fernandez Macchiano (she/her) is a multiracial writer, artist, healer, and feminist in love with language and the depths of human emotion. She co-facilitates monthly gatherings and helps hold space during the group’s weekly sits. Pollyanna also practices yoga and breathwork to inform her evolving understanding of true embodiment.
Victory Matsui (they/them) is a mixed-race person of Japanese American and Scottish-English-Canadian descent. A former book editor, Victory has been practicing in the Soto Zen Buddhist tradition for the past seven years. They are an ordained Soto Zen Priest and Director of the Ancestral Heart Zen Temple in Millerton, NY.
Gabe Pressnall (he/him) guides meditation at MRMG monthly gatherings and book groups. His mother is Chinese American and his father is white American. He is trained in giving meditation instruction in the Shambhala tradition and practices Vajrayana Buddhism. Professionally, he supports people's healing as a bodyworker. Most of all, he loves being a dad and husband.
Lenora Yee (she/her) is a poet, singer-songwriter, and multiracial overseas language educator. She finds deep meaning in creative community building and empowering youth in her communities, and in her deepening practice of yoga and meditation. Lenora helps hold space for MRMG Monthly Gatherings.
Natasha Eberhart (she/her) is a Filipino/Persian/Indian first generation Yoga Guide, Bodyworker, and a lifelong student. Her learnings and practice are rooted in honoring South Asian ancestral roots as well as prioritizing power and intuition through movement, breath, meditation. Her intentions are to guide others through finding their practice and reclaiming their power and intuition. Natasha holds space for MRMG guided meditation practice sessions.