In Residence at Sip & Sonder and Sonder Impact present …
The Cypher Sessions with Dr. Byron Young
Join Sonder Impact, Sip & Sonder, and DoingItWell.org as they present Dr. Byron Young’s “The Cypher Sessions,” where community, culture, and critical dialogue converge.
This month’s Cypher Session dives into a powerful and often overlooked truth: intimacy is liberation. Not the romantic kind, but the closeness we build through presence, deep listening, shared ritual, and care. Together, we’ll explore how intimacy, in all its forms, disrupts isolation and strengthens the emotional fabric of our communities.
How can connection be a healing act in a world that too often teaches us to protect, perform, and retreat?
We’ll unpack the four types of intimacy—emotional, intellectual, physical, and spiritual—and reflect on how each one serves as a pathway to safety, selfhood, and collective restoration. Grounded in emotional intelligence, this conversation will invite vulnerability as a source of power.
Joining Dr. Young is co-moderator Empress Varnado, a wisdom-centered leader and healing practitioner who brings intention, presence, and radical softness to every space she enters. Her exhibit “Acts of Intimacy” is currently On View at Sip & Sonder Inglewood for the month of September.
Drawing from research and community wisdom we’ll explore how intimacy:
Regulates the nervous system (lowering cortisol, increasing oxytocin)
Builds micro-connections that interrupt loneliness
Validates identity through presence and care
Strengthens trust and vulnerability in relationships
Sows the seeds for liberation, not just survival
What to bring:
- Your mind
- Your phone
- Your truth
- Your love of music
Suggested Donation: $5
about the cypher sessions
The Cypher Sessions bring together the minds and ideas of the community to uplift, empower, and inspire one another. Led by community psychiatrist and wellness consultant Dr. Byron Young, this interactive, community-based education experience deconstructs Black music to spark meaningful dialogue around social justice, emotional health, and radical resilience.