The New York City Arts in Education Roundtable is proud to host its fifth annual Black Women’s Wellness Retreat (BWWR) at the Stony Point Center in Stony Point, New York.
The BWWR was created in response to the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and its effect specifically on the Black Women community as well as in line with the Roundtable’s campaign Rebuild, Reconcile, Reimagine: A List of Demands for Centering Black Women’s Leadership in Arts Education. The retreat is FREE for at least 40 participants, with at least 5 spots held for the nomination of Black Woman Elders. Attendees will have the opportunity to retreat away together for a weekend of connection, healing, and growth.
Applications and Nominations will open on Friday, May 2, 2025.
Application Opens: Friday, May 2, 2025
Application Deadline: Monday, June 2, 2025 at 11:59pm ET*
Applicants Notified: by Monday, June 30, 2025
*This deadline will NOT be extended.
Information Sessions
The Roundtable will host two virtual information sessions for those interested in applying to or nominating a participant for the upcoming 2025 Black Women’s Wellness Retreat.
- Monday, May 12 from 5-6pm ET
- Thursday, May 15 from 11am-12pm ET
Who is this retreat for?
The BWWR is specifically designed for individuals who identify as Black Women and work in the field of arts education. Interested participants can apply for the BWWR via an online application on the Submittable platform.
How do applications work?
There are two kinds of application forms for BWWR 2025. Parties may (1) nominate an elder, or (2) apply for the program themselves.
Nomination Details
To nominate an elder to attend the BWWR: Complete a nomination form via Submittable. As part of the Elder Nomination, we are specifically looking for Black women who (1) are 55+ years old and (2) have demonstrated commitment to the field of arts education with 20+ years of experience. The form may take up to 10-15 minutes to complete. View a Google Doc version of the nomination form here.
Application Details
To apply to attend the BWWR: Complete an application form via Submittable. Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee of seven Black Women who work in the field of arts education. The application may take up to 45 minutes to complete. View a Google Doc version of this application here.
The deadline for nominations and applications is Monday, June 2, 2025 at 11:59pm ET. This deadline will NOT be extended.
The Retreat’s Key Values
The BWWR is rooted in six key values. All components of the retreat are planned with these values in mind:
- Community: a collective fellowship with shared experiences and interests
- Reimagine: to interpret, recreate, rebirth
- Rest as Healing and Resistance: the definition of one’s own wellness by their means and no one else’s
- Rebuild: to build, build, and build again, as needed
- Reconcile: to restore harmony
- Advancement in the Field: acknowledgement and prioritization of Black Women in the field of the arts and arts education
Where will the retreat take place?
The 2025 BWWR will take place at the Stony Point Center in Stony Point, New York (located 60-90 minutes north of NYC by car).
Conveniently located just 45 miles northwest of New York City, Stony Point Center rests on 30 acres of nature, gardens and farmland. The Meditation Space, Labyrinth and Art Space help guests explore, creativity, community, and leadership building.
Room and board will be included for all participants. Each individual will have a private bedroom with a sink, but will share a bathroom with other participants.
Thank you to our Supporters
The Roundtable is deeply grateful to the Black Women’s Wellness Retreat Committee Members for their leadership and vision behind the Black Women’s Wellness Retreat:
Latonya Borsay
Joyia Bradley
Dani Criss
Porshia Derival
Lakeisha Frith
Yvette Heyliger
Ashley Jones
Traci Lester
Thank you as well to Toya Lillard, Durrell Cooper, and the Roundtable staff for their hard work launching this initiative. The BWWR was created in response to the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and its effect specifically to the Black Women community as well as in line with the Roundtable’ campaign “Rebuild, Reconcile, Reimagine: A List of Demands for Centering Black Women’s Leadership in Arts Education.”
For more information
If you have any questions or would like more information, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at bwwr@nycaieroundtable.org.
Who can attend this retreat?
Anyone who identifies as a Black Woman and works in the field of arts education is welcome to apply to attend this retreat. If you are (1) 55+ years old and (2) have demonstrated commitment to the field of arts education with 20+ years of experience, you can still apply as a participant but you may also be nominated as an Elder.
Will the BWWR be virtual or in-person?
The 2025 Black Women’s Wellness Retreat will be held in-person at the Stony Point Center in Stony Point, NY. While the retreat schedule is currently being finalized, participants can expect a mix of sessions facilitated by in-person and virtual presenters.
How can I attend the retreat?
Due to overwhelming demand, all participants must apply or be nominated to attend the Black Women’s Wellness Retreat.
Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee of Black Women who work in the field of arts education. Participants will be notified by the end of June 2025 on the status of their application and will be asked to confirm their attendance at the retreat by early July. There is no registration cost associated with the retreat.
Can I apply / attend / nominate someone if I or they have gone before?
Yes, you are welcome to apply again but attendance is not guaranteed based on your previous participation.
Do I need to live or work in NYC to attend the retreat?
Applicants from outside the NYC metro-area are welcome to apply. This retreat is specifically designed for individuals who identify as Black Women and work in the field of arts education, but the opportunity is not limited by home or working location. Please note, transportation to the retreat site is only provided to and from New York City via charter bus.
Can an Elder nominate themselves to attend the retreat?
Elders are defined for the purposes of this application as Black women who (1) are 55+ years old and (2) have demonstrated commitment to the field of arts education with 20+ years of experience.
Elders who wish to self-nominate are asked to please complete the application form to attend the retreat. The Elder nomination form is intended for use by those recommending someone else for acceptance to attend the retreat.
What is included as part of the application and nomination forms?
We’ve put together Google Doc versions to help you prepare your answers in advance of submitting via the online platform Submittable. Please refer to these documents for the full list of questions included in each form.
Click here to access 2025 Black Women Elder Nomination Questions
Click here to access 2025 Wellness Retreat Participant Application Questions
Who is reviewing the retreat applications?
Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee of 7-8 Black Women who work in the field of arts education.
How much does the retreat cost?
The retreat is free to attend including housing, accommodations, food, and round-trip charter bus transportation from NYC.
Please note, round-trip transportation from New York City via charter bus will leave on the morning of Friday, September 19 and return on the afternoon of Sunday, September 21 (exact times TBD).
Participants are welcome to make other travel arrangements at their own expense.
Can you describe the Stony Point Center’s accommodations?
Stony Point Center’s accommodations are simple, clean, and comfortable. Each individual will have a private, lockable bedroom, but will share a bathroom with other participants. Dedicated private bathrooms and shower rooms located in the hallways mean you rarely have to wait to use any of the amenities. All accommodations include meals and linens. All rooms are equipped with their own heat/AC and have a private sink, a desk, and a wardrobe or closet.
Rooms do not have phones or televisions. Free Wi-Fi is available in the gathering spaces and guest lounges on the campus.
PLEASE NOTE: While wi-fi is readily available in the lounges of the housing buildings, it does not always reach the far ends of the buildings’ bedrooms. Learn more about the facility and grounds here and here.
What types of activities might I expect at the Black Women’s Wellness Retreat?
Our BWWR Committee is currently working on finalizing this year’s full schedule centering wellness, community building, and the arts. You may view a copy of the 2024 Retreat Schedule for information on last year’s offerings.
How do I get to the Black Women’s Wellness Retreat site?
Stony Point Center is located at 17 Cricketown Road, Stony Point, NY 10980. The campus is conveniently located about 45 miles northwest of New York City.
The Roundtable will provide round-trip transportation from New York City via charter bus on the morning of Friday, September 19 and returning in the early evening on Sunday, September 21 (exact times to be confirmed).
Participants are welcome to make other travel arrangements at their own expense.
DIRECTIONS BY CAR
When using a GPS, you may enter Stony Point Center’s address directly: 17 Cricketown Road, Stony Point, NY 10980. On-site parking is available for those who arrive by car.
DIRECTIONS BY PLANE
Stony Point Center is accessible via the greater New York Metropolitan area airports: LaGuardia Airport, JFK Airport, and Newark International Airport as well as the locally-based Stewart Airport.
What are the COVID-19 protocols for this event?
As of now, the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable will not be requiring proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result in order to attend the retreat. Masks are always welcome but not required. The Roundtable will have masks and hand sanitizer available for participant use.
If you or a family member has been recently exposed to COVID-19 or is experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, please stay home from the retreat and contact the Roundtable at bwwr@nycaieroundtable.org.
PLEASE NOTE: The NYC Arts in Education Roundtable is always closely monitoring the COVID-19 case level and situation in the NYC area. We will continue to assess applicable health and safety directives and guidance regarding COVID-19 as that information evolves. The COVID-19 safety policies for this event (including the protocols of host venue Stony Point Center) are subject to change but will be clearly communicated to all attendees.
Is Stony Point Center’s campus ADA-compliant?
Stony Point Center’s main building as well as the two participant housing buildings are wheelchair accessible via a ramp, as well as most of the campus’s additional buildings. The campus has paved paths throughout to navigate between buildings.
Please feel free to reach out to us at bwwr@nycaieroundtable.org with any questions. We invite all applicants to let us know how we can best meet your access needs within the application and via email if accepted.
Are you able to accommodate specific food allergies and dietary restrictions?
Retreat attendees will have the opportunity to share their dietary restrictions and preferences at the time of acceptance, and Roundtable staff will work with Stony Point Center to accommodate those requests.
