About us
The Houston Death Collaborative meetup is a place for those curious about becoming “death-positive”!
What started in 2012 as a group primarily for hosting Death Cafes has expanded. We are a hub for activities in Houston that normalize talking about death and dying and foster the humanity behind our mortality.
In addition to organizing monthly Death Cafes across greater Houston, we also host other events for anyone who wishes to engage in conversations about death, and connect with others while doing so.
Upcoming events
5
HYBRID EVENT: The Secularization of Medicine
St. Philip Presbyterian Church, 4807 San Felipe, Houston, TX, USHYBRID EVENT: The Secularization of Medicine
###### Presented by: Dr. Nathan Carlin, Director of the McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics at McGovern Medical School
Why do doctors say the Hippocratic Oath? Is this like reciting a religious creed? Is the White Coat Ceremony a kind of medical ordination? People from all over the globe make pilgrimages to places like the Mayo Clinic and the Texas Medical Center in search of salvation—not of their souls, but of their bodies. Are cardiologists, oncologists, and other specialists the secular high priests of our time? Patients do sacrifice large sums of cash in exchange for hope. In this class, Nathan Carlin will talk about his new book, The Secularization of Medicine, in broad and accessible ways, touching on topics such as existentialism, the meaning of death, medical-aid-in-dying, and more.
Nathan Carlin is the Director of the McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics at McGovern Medical School, where he serves as a professor and teaches medical students, residents, and other learners. He has published 12 books. Dr. Carlin is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Medical Humanities. He is married to Rev. Keatan King.
Meet with us in Room 201, Education building, 4807 San Felipe St at 9:30 a.m. or...
You can zoom in to the class with the link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86564638381?pwd=MTBtSFl6eVhoTUF3SXJ2VlBWd0N2QT09
2 attendees
Central Houston’s Monthly Death Cafe — come to talk about death, dying, and life
McGovern-Stella Link Neighborhood Library, 7405 Stella Link Rd, Houston, TX, USTalking about death won’t kill you, so come along to a death cafe!
What in the world is a Death Cafe? Simply put, it is a place where people, often strangers, gather to eat treats and discuss death.
Our objective is 'to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives'.
Houston’s Central Death Cafe is part of the larger international social franchise movement of Death Cafes. We welcome all, members old and new.
A Death Cafe features a group-directed discussion of death with no preset agenda, objectives or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counseling session, and not affiliated with any specific faith or belief system.I want to talk about death! What should I expect?
Welcome!
We are meeting this month at the McGovern-Stella Link Neighborhood Library.
We will be in the private Meeting Room -- there will be a small paper sign with the Death Cafe logo on the door.- Doors open at 10:45am
- The group discussion starts at 11:15am and will wrap up by 1:00pm
- There is no obligation to stay for the entire discussion; you are free to come and go as you wish
- Feel welcome to stay and mingle after the group discussion, the room is ours until 2pm
There will be light snacks and beverages available.
If you have specific dietary requirements or preferences, you are more than welcome to bring something to suit those needs -- our library room allows food.FAQs
- What exactly happens at a Death Cafe? I have no idea what to expect!
This article from the LA Times is a great description of what it's like to attend a Death Cafe. Give it a read! https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2024-06-12/death-cafes-los-angeles-grieving-discussion-group
You can find even more details at deathcafe.com.
- How do I find the meeting room?
Enter through the library door. Continue straight, past the checkout desk. If you turn left, the meeting room door is immediately opposite the checkout desk.
Any difficulty, ask the library staff how to find the Death Cafe!- What is the parking situation?
The McGovern-Stella Link Library luckily has a very large parking lot with ample spaces, including accessible and handicapped spots.
24 attendees
Spring Branch Valentine's Day Death Cafe featuring Postal Service for the Dead
Freed Community Center, 6818 Shadyvilla Lane, Houston, TX, USJoin us this Valentine’s Day for a special Death Café! Participants are invited to join the conversation and also take time to write letters to those they have lost.
Letters will be lovingly collected and mailed to a dedicated P.O. Box supported by Postal Service for the Dead, offering a gentle way to honor remembrance and connection.https://www.postalserviceforthedead.com/
Talking about death won’t kill you, so come along to a death cafe!
What in the world is a Death Cafe? Simply put, it is a place where people, often strangers, gather to eat treats and discuss death.
Our objective is 'to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives'.
The Spring Branch Death Cafe is part of the larger international social franchise movement of Death Cafes. We welcome all, members old and new.
A Death Cafe features a group-directed discussion of death with no preset agenda, objectives or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counseling session, and not affiliated with any specific faith or belief system.I want to talk about death! What should I expect?
Welcome!
We are meeting this month at the Freed Community Center.
We will be in the private Small Meeting Room -- there will be a small paper sign with the Death Cafe logo on the door.- Doors open at 10:45am
- The group discussion starts at 11:15am and will wrap up by 1:00pm
- There is no obligation to stay for the entire discussion; you are free to come and go as you wish
- Feel welcome to stay and mingle after the group discussion, the room is ours until 1:30pm
There will be light snacks and beverages available.
If you have specific dietary requirements or preferences, you are more than welcome to bring something to suit those needs.FAQs
- What exactly happens at a Death Cafe? I have no idea what to expect!
This article from the LA Times is a great description of what it's like to attend a Death Cafe. Give it a read! https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2024-06-12/death-cafes-los-angeles-grieving-discussion-group
You can find even more details at deathcafe.com.
- How do I find the meeting room?
Any difficulty, ask the community center staff how to find the Spring Branch Death Cafe meeting, or where to find the "small meeting room".
- What is the parking situation?
The Freed Community Center has a free parking lot with ample spaces.
4 attendees
Downtown Death Salon — a Happy Hour For Talking About Death! (21+)
notsuoH, 314 S. Main St, Houston, TX, US💀✨What is a Death Salon?
A Death Salon is meant to be a low-pressure, social way to engage with death alongside people from all walks of life. Instead of one big group discussion, Death Salons focus on smaller conversations and mingling in relaxed, welcoming spaces.If you’re familiar with the Death Café model:
- A Death Café is a group-directed discussion of death, with no set agenda or theme. The goal is to increase awareness of death to help people make the most of their finite lives.
- A Death Salon is its more informal cousin: still open to everyone, but structured around social connection and one-on-one conversation rather than a single group discussion.
Both share the same spirit: death isn’t just the end, it’s a part of life, and talking about it can make life richer.
👥Who is a Death Salon for?
If you're going to die someday, Death Salon is for you — as long as you’re 21 or older. Because our venue this month is a bar, all attendees must be 21+.Whether you’re deeply curious about mortality, just enjoy big conversations with strangers, or simply want an unusual way to spend a night out, this space is for you. All perspectives and levels of comfort are welcome.
🍸What to expect
- Unstructured conversations — no set agenda, just free-flowing talk about death, dying, and life. We will have some conversation cards available for inspiration.
- A laid-back, 21+ happy hour vibe — you don’t need to drink alcohol, but a purchase from the bar is required to use the space.
- Small group or one-on-one chats — perfect if big group discussions aren’t your style.
- An open, respectful space for curiosity and connection.
🚫What a Death Salon is NOT:
❌Not a grief support group — while grief may come up, this isn’t structured as counseling or therapy.
❌Not a space for advice-giving — everyone’s experience of death and life is different, and we’re here to share, not fix.
❌Not a heavy, somber event — sure, we’re talking about death, but there’s room for humor and lightness.
❌Not networking or dating — please come with openness to conversation, not ulterior motives.📍Logistics
Meetup spot: The 2nd floor Mezzanine- How to find us: Take the staircase near the bar up to the mezzanine — it’s the first space you’ll see. Look for the signs and a plush raven 🐦⬛ on a table. You can’t miss us!
💵Cost: This event is free to attend, but a purchase from the bar is required to access the 2nd-floor space. This helps us support our hosting venue.
🚗Parking: Street parking is free downtown after 6pm. We recommend Franklin St. for the best chance at spots, just a short walk from notsuoH.❓FAQs
“What happens at a Death Salon? I have no idea what to expect.”
Perfect — neither do we! Every conversation is unique. The goal is simply to connect and talk about the thing we all have in common: mortality.
“Do I have to drink?”
Nope! You’re welcome to order a soda or anything non-alcoholic. Just please support our host bar with a purchase.
“I get nervous in groups. Can I still come?”
Absolutely. Many attendees prefer one-on-one conversations, and this space is designed to allow for that.Disclaimers & Guidelines
- This event is 21+ only — no exceptions.
- Please use discretion when meeting/talking with ANY member of our group. We don’t recommend sharing personal info, rideshares, or other contact details with people you don’t know well.
- Do not attend if you’re feeling sick.
- This is not a therapy group or grief support — just a space for open, curious conversation.
7 attendees
Past events
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