Death Cafes

The Ann Arbor death cafe, started by Merilynne Rush in DATE, is the oldest meeting of its kind in the US.

Time, date, location

​Welcome

How to Start a Death Cafe in Your Community

Starting a local Death Cafe is a great way to contribute to the well-being of your community and become known as an End-of-Life Doula. You must commit to following the mission as outlined on the Death Cafe website, where you’ll also find the guidelines. Death Cafe is not a place to give a presentation or impart your ideology. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Death Cafe is an inclusive, confidential and free space for open sharing through conversation led by the participants. Is your community ripe for a Death Cafe? Here’s some things to think about if you’re considering it. Do you have:
  • A location in mind?
  • Time to commit to getting it going?
  • Experience with group facilitation?
  • Organizational skills?
  • Social media skills?
  • Contacts or a ready-made audience?
  • Someone to help?

​Organizing a Death Cafe is a very rewarding experience that contributes to the Death Positive movement. You can meet occasionally, but I suggest a regular time and place every month or bi-monthly to help you get going. That way, people will always know when you are meeting and can come back regularly. A lot of end-0f-life doulas are doing it. Join us!