Subject to change.
Friday, September 19: Reconcile
| Time | Description | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30am | Arrive at George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal | Attendees will be meeting in the street level lobby on the west side of the station. (Enter at the doors between 178th and 179th Street on Fort Washington Avenue.) |
| 10:00am | Bus Departure | Attendees will travel by charted coach bus. |
| 11:30am | Check In and Luggage Drop Off | Check In will take place in the Evergreen Lobby. Luggage should be deposited in Maple Lodge. |
| 12:00pm | Welcome & Lunch | Evergreen |
| 1:00pm | Information Session & Site Tour | Tour will begin in Evergreen and end in the Maple Lodge where the info session will take place |
| 3:00-5:00pm | Break & Room Check In | Participants are invited to unwind and get acquainted with their rooms and the grounds |
| 5:00-6:00pm | BWWR Buddies | Participants will gather in Maple Lodge B for a BWWR activity |
| 6:00-7:00pm | Dinner | Evergreen |
| 7:00-7:30pm | Break | |
| 7:30-10:30pm | Girls’ Night In – Call-to-Gather: Reconcile – Feature Presentation – Fire pit and snacks | Join us for this Pajama Party Themed gathering. Report to Maple Lodge, will include time at the Fire Pit |
Saturday, September 20: Reimagine
| Time | Description | Session Information |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00-8:00am | Self-Guided Morning Offerings | Arts & Crafts Room, Maple Basement/Magnolia Meditation, Meditation Space |
| 8:00-9:00am | Breakfast | Evergreen |
| 9:15-9:30am | Call to Gather: Reimagine | Maple Lodge A |
| 9:45-10:45am | “Speak Your Mind” Poetry & Movement Workshop | with Michele Byrd of Ladies of Hip-Hop, Maple Lodge A. Scroll down to learn more about this workshop. |
| 11:00am-12:00pm | Guided Meditation & Sound Bathing Workshop | with Grae Wellness, Maple Lodge B. Scroll down to learn more about this workshop. |
| 12:00-1:00pm | Lunch | Evergreen |
| 12:00-6:30pm | Tranquil Spa Zone & Free Time | Tranquil Spa Zone will offer the following: – Self-Guided Meditation & Quiet Zone, Meditation Space – Massages (by appointment only), Maple Lodge B. Please Note: Even though massages will take place in Maple B, you should show up to Maple Lodge A for check in. – DIY Face Masks, Nails, & Self-Care, Maple Lodge A You can also use this time to explore the Stony Point Grounds. |
| 6:00-7:00pm | Dinner | Evergreen |
| 7:00-8:00pm | Break | |
| 8:00-10:30pm | Black Women’s Wellness Retreat Gala | Join us in celebrating YOU! Be sure to dress in a fun and festive outfit that expresses your best self. Maple Lodge A & B |
Sunday, September 21: Rebuild
| Time | Description | Session Information |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00-8:00am | Self-Guided Morning Offerings | Arts & Crafts Room, Maple Basement/Magnolia Meditation, Meditation Space |
| 8:00-9:00am | Breakfast | Evergreen |
| 9:00am | Luggage Deadline | Luggage must be left outside room door by this time if you’ve requested that staff transport it Maple Lodge for you. |
| 9:15-10:00am | Call to Gather: Rebuild | Maple Lodge A. If you are transporting your own luggage, please note that it should be dropped off in Maple Lodge B before you attend Call to Gather. |
| 10:00-11:30am | BWWR 5th Anniversary Workshop | facilitated virtually by Terina Nicole, Maple Lodge A. Scroll down to learn more about this workshop. |
| 11:30am-12:00pm | Closing Remarks and Retreat Photo | Maple Lodge A |
| 12:00-1:00pm | Lunch | Evergreen |
| 1:00-2:00pm | BWWR Buddies | Maple Lodge A |
| 2:00pm | Bus Meet Up | Please report to the Evergreen Lobby with your luggage at this time to board the bus. |
| 2:30pm | Bus Departure to NYC | Attendees will travel by chartered coach bus back to NYC. |
About the Workshops
Speak Your Mind: Poetry & Movement Workshop
The Speak My Mind workshop, created through Ladies of Hip-Hop, is about carving out a space where Black women can let their words flow freely, without interruption and without judgment. Together, we honor our stories, our voices, and each other, writing from the prompt “If I could speak my mind…”. Rooted in the tradition of the choreopoem pioneered by Ntozake Shange, and expanded through the artistry of street and club dance, this practice treats language as movement and rhythm, carrying the same power as the cypher or the stage. Participants also have the opportunity to play by pairing their words with movement, allowing the tempo and sound of their own voices to guide the rhythm of their bodies. In this way, the workshop becomes both written and danced poetry, a joyful merging of voice and movement that celebrates the fullness of Black women’s expression.
Learn more about your facilitator: Michele Byrd
A 2023 Bessie Award winner for Outstanding Service to the Field, Michele Byrd-Mcphee is a street dancer, an arts activist and tireless advocate for girls and women; who works to decolonize hip-hop culture along gender, sex, and cultural and socio-historic racial lines. With a BS from Temple University and an MS from Drexel University, Byrd-Mcphee has worked in different sectors of the entertainment industry, having been a Production Coordinator at Brooklyn Academy of Music and a Senior Music Coordinator at Late Night with Seth Meyers.
A 2024 Center for Ballet and the Arts at NYU Scholar in Residence, Byrd-McPhee continues her 21-year commitment as Executive Director for Ladies of Hip-Hop and artistic director of LDC (LOHH Dance Collective) and is an Associate Professor of Dance at University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Eyes Unlocked: Guided Movement Meditation & Sound Bath
Eyes Unlocked is a transformative guided movement meditation that takes participants on a profound journey of self-awareness and healing through dance. As part of this experience a sound bath is incorporated to gently enhance relaxation, deepen emotional release, and support the body’s natural healing processes. The sound bath creates a sacred space where participants can more effortlessly surrender, allowing the healing energies of sound to clear mental clutter, dissolve fears of isolation, self-doubt, anxiety, inadequacy, and facilitate a more profound sense of presence.
This immersive combination of movement and sound encourages movers, whether dancers or non-dancers, to explore their bodies, emotions, and imagination without critique. It offers an opportunity to reconnect with their divine selves, fostering trust and purpose from within. Participants should come with the intention of embracing vulnerability and openness, trusting that the harmonics of the sound bath will support their journey toward self-discovery, emotional clarity, and inner harmony.
Learn more about your facilitators: Grae Wellness
At Grae Wellness, we’re redefining the way you think about massage therapy. More than just a relaxing spa treatment, we believe in its transformative power to heal the body and enhance overall health. Our approach combines expert therapeutic techniques with personalized education and guidance, empowering you to take control of your wellness journey.
Whether you’re recovering from injury, managing stress, or simply aiming for optimal health, Grae Wellness offers a holistic experience that supports your body’s natural ability to heal and thrive.
Black Women’s Wellness Retreat 5th Anniversary Workshop: Guided Charm Bracelets
Terina Nicole Hill, sustainable accessory designer and fashion design educator will guide you through the experience of designing and constructing a custom charm bracelet that incorporates and celebrates your unique identity. Also, this year marks the 5th anniversary of BWWR and 5-year anniversaries are symbolized by wood. You will all receive a wooden box to keep your charm bracelet in, if you so choose. It is our wish that you choose each charm intentionally, for both the woman you are today and the woman you are destined to become.
Learn more about your facilitators: Terina Nicole
Terina Nicole is the designer and founder of Jypsea Leathergoods. The New Jersey native creates beautiful, bold statement pieces for art & design lovers who enjoy expressing their individuality. She also co-founded DIY MakersCon, a conference for women DIYers and founded The Fashion Design Center of South Jersey, located in Camden, NJ.
In 2023, Terina opened The Sustainable Style Studio, an atelier and boutique where she helps bring brilliantly talented artisans and eco-friendly fashion to wider audiences.
Black Women’s Wellness Retreat Information Hub
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