Joton: Destigmatizing Sex and Intimacy: Conversations and Clay Sculpting

BMHM is excited to announce the third Joton workshop, presented in collaboration with Sakhi for South Asian Survivors
About this Event

Conversations around sex, pleasure, and intimacy can often be treated as taboo, particularly within Bengali and South Asian communities. These cultural stigmas can make it difficult to ask questions, share experiences, and access open and affirming conversations about our bodies, relationships, and sexual wellbeing.

In this Joton workshop, presented in collaboration with Sakhi for South Asian Survivors, we invite participants into a supportive space to explore these topics through guided conversation, reflection, and clay sculpting. Participants will use clay as a creative tool for exploration and expression, creating models that they can take home at the end of the session.

No prior experience with clay is needed. The workshop will be held in person in DUMBO, Brooklyn, and the exact location will be shared with registered participants prior to the event. All clay and workshop materials will be provided, and participants will be able to take their clay creations home. Light refreshments will also be served!

While this workshop is completely free, we welcome any donations. Every contribution directly supports our ability to host more self-care sessions in the future!

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About Joton

"Joton (যতন )" is a Bengali word that can translate to care, tending, nurturing in English.

Joton: Creative & Embodied Self-Care Workshop Series is a multi-modal, community-based self-care program designed to support mental and emotional well-being within the Bengali community in New York City, through creativity, movement, mindfulness, and cultural connection.

Recognizing that healing does not look the same for everyone, Joton offers multiple pathways to care through hands-on creative practices, embodied movement, mindful engagement, and shared cultural experiences. Workshops serve as low-barrier entry points to mental health support by creating welcoming, non-judgmental spaces where participants can explore self-care without the pressure or stigma often associated with clinical settings.
Workshops are offered as standalone sessions or as part of a series and are facilitated by trained artists, wellness practitioners, and community educators using trauma-informed, consent-based approaches. Workshops will be no-cost or donation-based for participants, in order to remove financial barriers to participation.

Who Can Attend Joton?
Joton workshops are open to Bengali adults of all genders, immigration statuses, and experiences. No prior experience is required, just curiosity and the willingness to care for yourself. Workshops are no-cost or donation-based to remove financial barriers and ensure equitable access for participants.