Before We Go: Death, Laughter & Good Company

Join Darnell Lamont Walker & friends for a salon-style night of stories, laughter, & real connection at PRS! Before We Go: Death, Laughter & Good Company with Darnell Lamont Walker & Friends Before We Go is a night to mix, mingle, and get to know people who think about death as much as you do. Doulas and hospice workers. Caregivers and grievers. Funeral directors, chaplains, and the curious. The person who already has their funeral playlist saved. Come for the conversation. Stay because you found your people. Underneath it all is one question: What becomes possible when we stop waiting for a crisis to talk about death?. How the night unfolds: We'll start loose: snacks, mingling, and maybe the funniest thing that ever happened at a funeral. From there the night goes deeper, with honest conversation, and people saying the things they don't usually say out loud. You'll laugh more than you expect. You might tell a stranger something you've never told anyone. And you'll leave having done one thing you've been putting off. Who it's for: Anyone mortality has touched, which is everyone. You don't need a loss, a credential, or answers. If you've ever wanted a room where death talk isn't weird, this is it. You'll leave with: • A conversation you're no longer postponing • New connections in the end-of-life space and beyond • The relief of knowing you weren't the only one thinking it • One practical step already taken • A reason to live a little differently, starting tonight Everyone in this room is going to die. We might as well meet each other first. Tickets: $12 (in person only event) Please email [email protected] or phone 323-663-2167 with any questions. Darnell Lamont Walker is a death doula and Emmy-nominated writer whose work lives where creativity, care, and transition meet. He helps families hold love and memory at the end of life, writes for kids' shows like Blue's Clues & You, Karma's World, and Work It Out Wombats!, and gathers strangers into rooms where grief, joy, and art can coexist. He is the author of Never Can Say Goodbye (HarperOne) and keeps asking: What would it look like to tend to one another well? Janet Turkula is Founder and CEO of GiveWillow, a platform reimagining how people show up for one another through serious illness, end of life, and loss. After losing her father at 21 and spending a decade in healthcare leadership, she built GiveWillow on a simple belief: when life becomes overwhelming, people shouldn't also have to coordinate their own support. Ryan Oliviera leads growth and product at GiveWillow, working to make asking for and giving help feel human during the worst week of a family's life. He spends most of his time listening to the doulas, funeral directors, and practitioners who've been doing this work all along. Lisa Pahl, LCSW, APHSW-C brings eighteen years in hospice and seven in emergency medicine. She's passionate about death literacy and hosts Death Deck Game Nights that help people talk through end-of-life wishes with courage and clarity. Off the clock, she chases whales in her kayak and laughs with her family about their cats, Pickle and Peanut. Julie Weatherhead (she/they) is a grief doula, licensed professional counselor, and professional hugger on a mission to normalize grieving in community. She co-founded and directs Detroit's Got Grief House and directs Weathervane Counseling and Consulting, both spaces for practicing grief, grounding, and joy. CONTENT DISCLAIMER: The views, opinions, and thoughts expressed by the presenters are solely those of the presenter and may not represent those of the Philosophical Research Society (PRS), its affiliates, or any individuals associated with PRS. Presentations are intended for informational and entertainment purposes. ACCESSIBILITY PRS wants all guests to be able to enjoy our events safely and comfortably. If you require any accessibility accommodation, please reach out to [email protected] before showtime and we will be happy to assist you. REFUND POLICIES All sales are final. There are no refunds or exchanges for PRS events. If an event is cancelled entirely, tickets will be refunded or vouchers will be offered for a rescheduled event, and ticket holders will be notified. PARKING​ We encourage attendees to consider carpooling, walking or biking to events if possible, and please be considerate of our Los Feliz neighbors when parking. Street parking is available on Griffith Park Blvd. and (after 7 PM) on Los Feliz Blvd. Limited parking is available onsite at PRS in the front lot (entry from Los Feliz Blvd. when heading east). For ADA assistance, please reach out to us in advance via email ([email protected]) or phone (323.663.2167) and provide an email or number we can contact you at. PRS EVENT POLICIES • We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone. • Events are subject to change without notice, including guest speakers and/or performers. • We encourage you to arrive at least 30 min. before the scheduled event start time to find parking, enjoy the Bookstore, and take your seats. • Please turn off all mobile devices before the show. Talking and texting are not allowed during the events. • No filming, audio recording or mobile phone recording of events, screenings, concerts or other programs by audience members is allowed without permission. • There is no smoking permitted on PRS grounds. • We strongly encourage guests to wear masks to PRS events to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. • PRS allows Service Animals into the facility under ADA and state guidelines. For further details please visit www.ADA.gov. No animals permitted whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support, under ADA guidelines and CA Health Code. • Please do not bring outside food or drink into PRS events. • Weapons are strictly prohibited at PRS events.