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Feb 3rd: 28 Days of Blackness Opening Ceremony 

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Feb 3rd: 28 Days of Blackness Opening Ceremony 

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Join us for a virtual opening ceremony to celebrate our 28 days of Blackness Black history celebration.

Register here:

https://ciis.zoom.us/meeting/register/_jeX70UhTva21ufQfSlFDA

Date: Feb 3, 2025

Time: 4:00 PM-6:00 PM PST

FYI: REGISTRATION REQUIRES YOU TO USE AN EMAIL ADDRESS ASSOCIATED WITH ZOOM OR TO CREATE A ZOOM ACCOUNT.

For more information about any of the events hosted by the Black Psychology Project Jegnaship Program, please contact bpp@ciis.edu

Rev. Glencie Rhedrick, PhD Student

Women’s Spirituality, CIIS

& Black Psychology Project Assistant

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Rest is Resistance

The Nap Ministry’s Rest Deck is a rousing call to reclaim rest in everyday life. Delivered in a stunning package with gold accents and gorgeous artwork throughout, the deck combines restorative meditations with prescient wisdom from celebrated activist and teaching artist Tricia Hersey, a.k.a. “the Nap Bishop,” and founder of the Nap Ministry.

Rooted in social justice and imbued with spirituality, these cards offer short, accessible practices designed to uplift anyone suffering from the toxic effects of grind culture.

Celebrated Author: Tricia Hersey, a.k.a. “the Nap Bishop,” is the founder of the Nap Ministry and the bestselling author of Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto. Her work as a social justice activist, artist, and thought leader has been featured in the New York Times, NPR, The Cut, and the Atlantic, among many others. In this deck, she distills her profound and celebrated teachings into 50 accessible practices.

Tool For Social Justice: Brimming with practices to empower personal liberation as a step toward building a healthier, more just world, this deck offers readers a new way to engage with social justice and invites a wide audience to embrace the power of rest as an essential balm for our collective exhaustion.

Praxis for the day (Rest Practice): Can you imagine what it will feel like in your body once you surrender to rest? Stay in the imagination space. Imagine what freedom from capitalism would look like in your body. Freedom from stress like worrying about bills and laboring to feel worthy. You can imagine a new way and a new future. Stay in rest.

For more information about any of the events hosted by the Black Psychology Project Jegnaship Program, please contact bpp@ciis.edu

Rev. Glencie Rhedrick, PhD Student

Women’s Spirituality, CIIS

& Black Psychology Project Assistant

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Rest is Resistance

The Nap Ministry’s Rest Deck is a rousing call to reclaim rest in everyday life. Delivered in a stunning package with gold accents and gorgeous artwork throughout, the deck combines restorative meditations with prescient wisdom from celebrated activist and teaching artist Tricia Hersey, a.k.a. “the Nap Bishop,” and founder of the Nap Ministry.

Rooted in social justice and imbued with spirituality, these cards offer short, accessible practices designed to uplift anyone suffering from the toxic effects of grind culture.

Celebrated Author: Tricia Hersey, a.k.a. “the Nap Bishop,” is the founder of the Nap Ministry and the bestselling author of Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto. Her work as a social justice activist, artist, and thought leader has been featured in the New York Times, NPR, The Cut, and the Atlantic, among many others. In this deck, she distills her profound and celebrated teachings into 50 accessible practices.

Tool For Social Justice: Brimming with practices to empower personal liberation as a step toward building a healthier, more just world, this deck offers readers a new way to engage with social justice and invites a wide audience to embrace the power of rest as an essential balm for our collective exhaustion.

Praxis for the day (Rest Practice): Deprogramming from grind culture includes a new relationship with time. When you reimagine what rest can be, there is always time to rest. You must be subversive, inventive, and flexible. Rest is ancient. When you rest, you come back to yourself. Keep coming back to yourself.

For more information about any of the events hosted by the Black Psychology Project Jegnaship Program, please contact bpp@ciis.edu

Rev. Glencie Rhedrick, PhD Student

Women’s Spirituality, CIIS

& Black Psychology Project Assistant

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Rest is Resistance

The Nap Ministry’s Rest Deck is a rousing call to reclaim rest in everyday life. Delivered in a stunning package with gold accents and gorgeous artwork throughout, the deck combines restorative meditations with prescient wisdom from celebrated activist and teaching artist Tricia Hersey, a.k.a. “the Nap Bishop,” and founder of the Nap Ministry.

Rooted in social justice and imbued with spirituality, these cards offer short, accessible practices designed to uplift anyone suffering from the toxic effects of grind culture.

Celebrated Author: Tricia Hersey, a.k.a. “the Nap Bishop,” is the founder of the Nap Ministry and the bestselling author of Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto. Her work as a social justice activist, artist, and thought leader has been featured in the New York Times, NPR, The Cut, and the Atlantic, among many others. In this deck, she distills her profound and celebrated teachings into 50 accessible practices.

Tool For Social Justice: Brimming with practices to empower personal liberation as a step toward building a healthier, more just world, this deck offers readers a new way to engage with social justice and invites a wide audience to embrace the power of rest as an essential balm for our collective exhaustion.

Praxis for the day (Rest Practice): You will not lose it all if you pause to connect with your body and mind. You have already lost it all if you live a fear-based life centered on scarcity. Do not fear what you are missing or failing. You are abundant. Your rest is abundant. You are more than what you produce for a capitalist system. Your worth is deep. You are safe.

For more information about any of the events hosted by the Black Psychology Project Jegnaship Program, please contact bpp@ciis.edu

Rev. Glencie Rhedrick, PhD Student

Women’s Spirituality, CIIS

& Black Psychology Project Assistant

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Feb 7th: Rising into Your Sacred Sexual Higher Self: The Perfect Sacred Union

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Feb 7th: Rising into Your Sacred Sexual Higher Self: The Perfect Sacred Union

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About The Presenter:

I am Queen Mother Osunnike Anke, a natural healer, spiritual intuitive/seeress, and priestess of the ancient West African Goddess Osun. I am also the co-founder and president of the Institute of Whole Life Healing, a non-profit organization designed to assist individuals and groups in remembering their Original Greatness, Life’s Purpose, and Divinity.

I am also the founder of One Million Wombs United and the chief priestess of the Sacred Feminine Mysteries Initiation—Passage into the Great Mother. As a spiritual midwife, I aim to re-ignite the luminous light within women’s wombs worldwide. These women are consciously created, chosen, and called to reawaken the ancient wisdom that lies dormant within their sacred wombs to rebirth a “New World.” In addition, my commitment is to support those awakening men in rising up like the lotus no matter what.

I know within my heart and soul that the healing of Mother Earth and humanity rests within the healing and re-integration of the Sacred Feminine and Divine Masculine beginning from the Inside Out.

http://www.osunnikeanke.com

http://www.onemillionwombsunited.org/

About This Workshop:

The Perfect Sacred Union is a holy union or alchemical marriage between you and your Higher Self. When you are in Perfect Sacred Union, you recognize and honor your soul in its’ sacred wholeness, which is your feminine and masculine essence joined in UNION. Then, you can experience and witness your expansive divine spiritual essence as total perfection, and you will be able to access your

storehouse of divine intelligence and ancient wisdom, which is contained within your sacred and divine body temple.

When engaged in shared sacred sexual union with your mate, your combined energies line up to create an electromagnetic web of divine love that transmutes your body temples into pure spirit. Rising higher - transcending the illusion of being separate fragmented

beings. Lets RISE!

Date: Feb 7th, 2025

Time: 4:00 PM-6:00 PM PST

Register here: https://ciis.zoom.us/meeting/register/dIKG2zhIRn2lR-YUs9Av0g

FYI: REGISTRATION REQUIRES YOU TO USE AN EMAIL ADDRESS ASSOCIATED WITH ZOOM OR TO CREATE A ZOOM ACCOUNT.

For more information about any of the events hosted by the Black Psychology Project Jegnaship Program, please contact bpp@ciis.edu

Rev. Glencie Rhedrick, PhD Student

Women’s Spirituality, CIIS

& Black Psychology Project Assistant

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Feb 10th: Rest is Resistance; Reflection

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Feb 10th: Rest is Resistance; Reflection

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Rest is Resistance

The Nap Ministry’s Rest Deck is a rousing call to reclaim rest in everyday life. Delivered in a stunning package with gold accents and gorgeous artwork throughout, the deck combines restorative meditations with prescient wisdom from celebrated activist and teaching artist Tricia Hersey, a.k.a. “the Nap Bishop,” and founder of the Nap Ministry.

Rooted in social justice and imbued with spirituality, these cards offer short, accessible practices designed to uplift anyone suffering from the toxic effects of grind culture.

Celebrated Author: Tricia Hersey, a.k.a. “the Nap Bishop,” is the founder of the Nap Ministry and the bestselling author of Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto. Her work as a social justice activist, artist, and thought leader has been featured in the New York Times, NPR, The Cut, and the Atlantic, among many others. In this deck, she distills her profound and celebrated teachings into 50 accessible practices.

Tool For Social Justice: Brimming with practices to empower personal liberation as a step toward building a healthier, more just world, this deck offers readers a new way to engage with social justice and invites a wide audience to embrace the power of rest as an essential balm for our collective exhaustion.

Praxis for the day (Rest Practice): There is a collection of wisdom and knowledge waiting for you in a DreamSpace. What if your body has a message of liberation but can only offer it while you’re rested? Examine the ways you can slow down right now and forever. Go into the DreamSpace often.

For more information about any of the events hosted by the Black Psychology Project Jegnaship Program, please contact bpp@ciis.edu

Rev. Glencie Rhedrick, PhD Student

Women’s Spirituality, CIIS

& Black Psychology Project Assistant

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About The Presenter:
Nikomeh Anderson (They/fae/he/thon) is a Multidisciplinary Performer, Teaching Artist, Holistic Facilitator, and Erotic Creative. Originally from Munsee Lenape land (New Jersey and New York), they reside in Ohlone land through their Master’s studies at California Institute of Integral Studies in East-West Psychology and Interdisciplinary Arts and Writing. Back in Brooklyn, they used to host events and projects with their intentional healing justice Black, Trans+Queer, Neurodiverse+Disabled Artist Collective house: Community Oasis Igniting Liberation. Their primary artistic mediums are movement, poetry, acting, music/singing (folks/rock bari-tenor), and energy work. They went to New York University for Drama, studying at Stella Adler Studio, Royal Academy of the Dramatic Arts in London, The International Theatre Workshop in Amsterdam, CAP 21, Stonestreet Studios, and Viewpoints Intensive with Mary Overlie. They have taught for different organizations like Stella Adler Studio, Kaiser’s Room, Opening Act, Houses on the Moon Company, Brown Girl Recovery, The Laundromat Project, Icarus Project NYC, the Institute for the Development of Human Arts, and Theatre Communications Group. In NYC, they worked extensively as an artist and administrator in Off-Broadway and non-profit Theatre. They are most proud to have facilitated Movement for the Movement at the student-led encampments at NYU in advocacy for Free Palestine and hope to share it around in the future. Art as Psycho-Spiritual Praxis, Re-rooting Performance Art as Ritual,Holistic Embodiment, Consent, Healing+Disability Justice, Anti-Capitalist Colonialism and Re-indigenization, Climate Justice and Ecopsychology, Pleasure Activism, Liberatory Relationships, and Community Care are central to their creative mission. https://linktr.ee/wickedsirnik

About This Workshop:

Movement for the Movement is an integral workshop to prepare your body, mind, and spirit for Liberation, whether in the streets, at home, or inside your own self. Beginning with a Libation for Liberation, we call on the names of our ancestors and invite them into our space of training ourselves for resistance. Guided with gentle invitations, we will focus on a somatic practice to build self and communal attunement, energetic flow throughout the body, and strategic maneuvering for community self-defense. We will ground, feel, stabilize, express, vision, and inspire our own being in a spiral of internal, interpersonal, and communal freedom.

Date: Feb 11th, 2025

Time: 4:00 PM-6:00 PM PST

Registration

https://ciis.zoom.us/meeting/register/k5aJmYbvTHy_wqsBsbi4Lw

FYI: REGISTRATION REQUIRES YOU TO USE AN EMAIL ADDRESS ASSOCIATED WITH ZOOM OR TO CREATE A ZOOM ACCOUNT.

For more information about any of the events hosted by the Black Psychology Project Jegnaship Program, please contact bpp@ciis.edu

Rev. Glencie Rhedrick, PhD Student

Women’s Spirituality, CIIS

& Black Psychology Project Assistant

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Feb 12th: Black Love & Partnership: Poly, Blended and Chosen Family

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Feb 12th: Black Love & Partnership: Poly, Blended and Chosen Family

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About The Presenter:

Love Ta’Shia (Tah-Shee-ah) Asanti (Ah-sawn-tay) is an internationally celebrated civil rights activist, TV personality, and author of 9 books. Love is the Founder of the Healing Racism Academy, a program of the I-Teach Love Institute.

About This Workshop:

This workshop explores love, commitment, and family from an Indigenous perspective. It is based on Yoruba/Ifa philosophy combined with modern sensuality.

Date: Feb 12th, 2025

Time: 4 pm-6 pm PST

Register here:

https://ciis.zoom.us/meeting/register/kXvBr9eYRYu9oE86XZ6heQ

FYI: REGISTRATION REQUIRES YOU TO USE AN EMAIL ADDRESS ASSOCIATED WITH ZOOM OR TO CREATE A ZOOM ACCOUNT.

For more information about any of the events hosted by the Black Psychology Project Jegnaship Program, please contact bpp@ciis.edu

Rev. Glencie Rhedrick, PhD Student

Women’s Spirituality, CIIS

& Black Psychology Project Assistant

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Feb 13th: When Mother Speaks: Black Women and the Spiritual Germ of Wholeness 

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Feb 13th: When Mother Speaks: Black Women and the Spiritual Germ of Wholeness 

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About The Presenter:
Rev. Khalil N. Canady graduated from Duke Divinity School in 2004 and Claflin University in 2001. He has worked as a youth minister, assistant minister, patient advocate, and customer services specialist. When he is not working or serving the public, he is continuously studying and reading. He enjoys music and loves his family and friends.

About This Workshop:

This presentation is based on Nikola Tesla’s famous quote: “If you want to find out the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency, and vibration."

Together, we will explore these three “secrets” within the “temples” of Black female artists..( Mary Johnson Davis, Willie Mae Ford Smith, and Mahalia Jackson 🔥.

All were Gospel Performers and will highlight their contributions to the Gospel field.

Date: Feb 13th, 2025

Time: 4:00 PM-6:00 PM PST

Registration

https://ciis.zoom.us/meeting/register/Fj_7aMuVQcq2sgFv7mgpvg

FYI: REGISTRATION REQUIRES YOU TO USE AN EMAIL ADDRESS ASSOCIATED WITH ZOOM OR TO CREATE A ZOOM ACCOUNT.

For more information about any of the events hosted by the Black Psychology Project Jegnaship Program, please contact bpp@ciis.edu

Rev. Glencie Rhedrick, PhD Student

Women’s Spirituality, CIIS

& Black Psychology Project Assistant

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About The Presenters:

Prophetess Mary Hearns-Ayodele is a community herbalist and doctoral student in Women’s Spirituality at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). She holds a Master of Arts (MA) in Culture and Spirituality from Holy Names University. Email: mhearnsayodele@mymail.ciis.edu.

Rev. Glencie Rhedrick is a doctoral student in Women’s Spirituality at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, CA. She holds an MS in Human Resources Management and Development from National Louis University and an MDiv in Pastoral Care from Virginia Union University. She is a facilitator for the Black Indigenous People of Color Writing Group and the Assistant Manager for the Black Psychology Project. Email: grhedrick@mymail.ciis.edu.

Rev. Burdette D. Lowe, PhD is a doctoral researcher at the California Institute of Integral Studies focusing on Women’s Spirituality in San Francisco, CA, and a Lecturer at Spelman College in Atlanta, GA. Her doctoral dissertation, “Pharoah let my people go, Christianity is air!!! A Black Church History Account Grounded In Truth Rather Than Tradition, of African Americans’ Evolution Into Western Christianity, and Its Influence on Christian Education and Black Identity (Genesis 15:12-14)” (2020, unpublished and embargoed) has informed the discussion within this article. She holds an MDiv and an M.A.C.E. from the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC). Email: blowe@mymail.ciis.edu.

About This Workshop:

To Three Visions of Ghana. This presentation reviews their unique and multifaceted perspectives on Ghana, featuring three distinct presentations from scholars who recently explored this vibrant West African nation. Each scholar is a co-author of the paper The Domination of Mother Earth, Gender-Based Violence, and the (Dis)Ease of Eve, which has been published in the peer-reviewed African Gender and Religion Journal.  Each scholar will share their research and unique "vision" of Ghana, showcasing the diverse experiences and unforgettable memories they encountered.

Here is the link to the article

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/387752770_The_Domination_of_Mother_Earth_Gender-Based_Violence_and_the_DisEase_of_Eve

Date: Feb 14, 2025

Time: 4 PM-6 PM PST

Register here:

https://ciis.zoom.us/meeting/register/DUo3ZZArTKS3BI3s26nP0w

FYI: REGISTRATION REQUIRES YOU TO USE AN EMAIL ADDRESS ASSOCIATED WITH ZOOM OR TO CREATE A ZOOM ACCOUNT.

For more information about any of the events hosted by the Black Psychology Project Jegnaship Program, please contact: bpp@ciis.edu

Rev. Glencie Rhedrick, PhD Student

Women’s Spirituality, CIIS

& Black Psychology Project Assistant

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Feb 17th: "The Power of Pause: Transforming Survival Mode to Thriving Mode"- Honoring our ancestral wisdom of rest and restoration

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Feb 17th: "The Power of Pause: Transforming Survival Mode to Thriving Mode"- Honoring our ancestral wisdom of rest and restoration

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About The Presenter:
Renee Cage, LCSW. Ms. Cage obtained her Master’s in Social Work from UC Berkeley in 2001 and her undergraduate degree from California State Hayward in Sociology and Ethnic Studies in 1997. She is also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, and a Mindfulness Practitioner.  Renee’s life’s work has centered around community empowerment, restorative justice, and advocacy. For over 23 years, Ms. Cage devoted herself to Alameda County Children and Family Services. During her time at Alameda County, she was a champion for families and advocated for children to be in relative and kinship placements, ensuring children were connected to their family of origin and community. As a program manager, she was an esteemed leader and trailblazer, and she was deemed several times an expert witness in court proceedings, leading to an unprecedented ruling that signified the importance of kinship adoptions. In addition, she is an advocate for victims and survivors of human trafficking.

Eight years ago, Ms. Cage founded Empowered by Courage, LLC, a counseling, coaching, and consulting firm dedicated to helping individuals and corporations achieve success on their terms. After years of dedicating herself to her work in Alameda County, she retired to pursue her passion for counseling and coaching full-time, leveraging her expertise to make a meaningful difference in the mental health and coaching industry. As CEO of Empowered by Courage, LLC, Ms. Cage is committed to providing bespoke guidance and support to help her clients create their desired lives. She has supported clients with an array of concerns, including trauma, depression, anxiety, grief and loss, and relationship issues, as well as coaching them to achieve their goals. Ms. Cage also leads a weekly healing circle for women.

As a Licensed Mental Health Therapist, Certified Life Coach, International Speaker, and Author, Ms. Cage offers conference keynotes, professional development training, wellness retreats, and executive coaching to help her clients experience a profound change in perspective, conquer self-doubt and overwhelm, enabling them to cultivate unwavering confidence and clarity, ultimately leading to enhanced productivity and inner peace and lifelong success.  She created the E.M.P.O.W.E.R. Mindset Formula. Her dedication to seeing women win inspired her to develop coaching courses and her newly written book, The Art Of Choosing Yourself Unapologetically, 8 Steps to Happiness, Health, and Wellness. She is passionate about empowering women to prioritize themselves and reject the pressure to be Superwoman. Her clients have been able to innovate, lead confidently, and boldly seize the ultimate freedom to work around their lives instead of living around their work.  As a mental health professional, Ms. Cage is deeply committed to prioritizing her well-being. She finds solace in weight lifting, hiking, and spending time in nature, as these activities allow her to clear their mind, recharge her energy levels, and cultivate a sense of serenity and calmness within.

About This Workshop:

“The Power of Pause: Transforming Survival Mode to Thriving Mode”- Honoring our ancestral wisdom of rest and restoration

Date: Feb 17th, 2025

Time: 4:00 PM-6:00 PM PST

Registration

https://ciis.zoom.us/meeting/register/4L4tvIAZRv6T9pcztN0gIg

FYI: REGISTRATION REQUIRES YOU TO USE AN EMAIL ADDRESS ASSOCIATED WITH ZOOM OR TO CREATE A ZOOM ACCOUNT.

For more information about any of the events hosted by the Black Psychology Project Jegnaship Program, please contact bpp@ciis.edu

Rev. Glencie Rhedrick, PhD Student

Women’s Spirituality, CIIS

& Black Psychology Project Assistant

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Aida Mariam Davis, Kindred Creation. People Magazine

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Feb 19th: On Kindred Creation and Black Futures, A Conversation With Aida Mariam Davis and Preston Vargas

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Feb 19th: On Kindred Creation and Black Futures, A Conversation With Aida Mariam Davis and Preston Vargas

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About This CIIS Public Programs Event:

Author, organizer, and designer Aida Mariam Davis’ work explores the historical and ongoing impacts of settler colonialism, making explicit the ways that extraction, oppression, and enslavement serve the goals of empire—not least by severing ancestral connections and disrupting profound and ancient relationships to self, nature, and community.

Her book Kindred Creation is a call and response to dream and design better worlds rooted in African lifeways: a path to Black freedom, a love letter to Black futures, and a blueprint to intergenerational Black joy and dignity—all (and always) on Black terms.

Join Aida and CIIS Director of the Center for Black & Indigenous Praxis Preston Vargas for a powerful conversation exploring African epistemologies and recalling the dignity and distinction of the African way of life. Aida shares her philosophical framework: remember, refuse, and reclaim as a vital guide for birthing new worlds and reclaiming land, language, lifestyle, and labor.

About The Presenter:
Author, founder, and organizer Aida Mariam Davis is relentlessly committed to the dignity and distinction of the African and Black way of life. She is part of a long tradition of poets, philosophers, and prophets participating in liberation movements in the United States and abroad. Specifically, she is a descendant of anticolonial fighters who kept Ethiopia free from colonialism when virtually all of Africa was colonized.

Her life’s work has been excavating the historical and ongoing impacts of settler colonialism. She has made explicit how extraction, oppression, and enslavement serve the goals of empire—not least by severing ancestral connections and disrupting profound and ancient relationships to self, nature, and community. Mariam Davis founded Decolonize Design, and Kindred Creation is her first book.

Preston Vargas, Ph. D., carries the blessings, wisdom, and joys of his ancestors. He was born on the land of his grandmother’s ancestral Wampanoag people. There, his liberated Black ancestors found family and home with the local Indigenous communities. His mother’s Cape Verdean immigrant ancestors cultivated cranberry bogs and blueberry bushes amidst deciduous forests. Though he lives on the Pacific coast, Preston honors his ancestors, the land-water spirits of Massachusetts who periodically draw him back home.

Preston is a storyteller and oracular artist. He is the author of the series, “Cala F' Iya: Queen of Cala F' orn Iya”, a Black libratory retelling of Queen Calafia, California’s mythical namesake. He enjoys exploring how humans navigate through the lenses of their own experiences, engage their creative talents, and re-present these stories for healing and transformation. He weaves the gifts of his ancestral traditions and scholarship with a commitment to anti-oppression, Pleasure Activism, and his embodiment of Decolonial Love.

He holds a Ph.D. in Transformative Studies and an M.A. in Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness from CIIS. Preston Vargas has worked in community-based organizations with underserved communities for twenty years. Currently, he is the Director of the Center for Black & Indigenous Praxis at CIIS. He focuses on engaging Black and Indigenous folx as they reclaim their ancestral wisdom traditions in a present-day context to heal their communities’ souls through oracular art and ceremonial collaborations with their ancestors, deities, and spirits of the Land. He enlivens his passions through his lived experiences as an Ifa practitioner, animistic healer, and reclaiming traditional community ritualist.

Date: Feb 19th, 2025

Time: 6:00 PM-7:30 PM PST

Registration

https://www.ciis.edu/events/kindred-creation-and-black-futures

For more information about any of the events hosted by the Black Psychology Project Jegnaship Program, please contact bpp@ciis.edu

Rev. Glencie Rhedrick, PhD Student

Women’s Spirituality, CIIS

& Black Psychology Project Assistant

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Feb 18th: Guyana’s African Village Movement an Exilic Space 

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Feb 18th: Guyana’s African Village Movement an Exilic Space 

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About The Presenter:

Brian Shuffler is a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate in the Anthropology and Social Change program. His research area is autonomous exilic spaces, explicitly focusing on Guyana’s Post-Emancipation Village Movement. Before being accepted into the Ph.D. program at CIIS, Brian had achieved many academic accomplishments, such as outstanding student academic awards, Cum Laude distinction in his undergraduate degree major in Business Administration Entrepreneurship along with a minor in Political Science from the University of the Pacific, and Summa Cum Laude in his Masters MBA program from Notre Dame de Namur University. Brian was a teaching assistant at San Joaquin Delta Community College.

While at CIIS, he published a book review, was a guest lecturer in the Anthropology and Social Change department, and successfully completed his comprehensive exams and dissertation proposal. He is presently working on his dissertation research. His scholarship work is participatory and community-inspired, meaning that his pedagogical approach is one of dialogue, collaboration, and horizontal participation in epistemological and ontological research and knowledge production.

Before his academic career, Brian founded shuffler.com, an information technology company without a formal education or seed money. His approach to business was unique. It went against the grain of capitalism’s ideology of prioritizing profits; instead, he embraced an inverted business model of people first.

One of his favorite quotes is:

“Stone deh a’ battam ribba. He na know ‘ow sun hot.”

(English translation: Persons who are in secure situations, well protected from financial hardship and social injustice, cannot conceive what others who are exposed to these situations are going through)

A parable from Brian’s native Guyanese Kriiyoliiz language is analogous to one of the Zapatista 7 principles: “To go below and not to go above.”

About This Workshop:

Guyana’s Village Movement Exilic Space

Brian Shuffler’s PhD Dissertation research project investigates Guyana’s Post-Emancipation Village Movement, an overlooked yet pivotal historical phenomenon in the struggle for autonomy, mutual aid, and self-determination by formerly enslaved Afro-Guyanese. Centering on the cultural, social, and political life of the villagers, with a particular focus on the roles women played, the study examines the African-derived cultural practices and memories that endured through the displacement of the Middle Passage, eventually materializing within the context of plantation life and post-emancipation. It highlights how, despite displacement and the dispossession of ancestral lands, Afro-Guyanese communities drew on oral traditions, collective memory, and Indigenous knowledge to craft a model of self-rule founded on principles of mutual aid, equality, and cooperation.

Informed by Critical Fabulation and Epiphenomenal Spacetime methodologies, the study reconstructs these histories beyond colonial records, challenging power-laden narratives that obscure the agency of oppressed communities. Drawing from archival sources, oral histories, and radical ethnography, this interdisciplinary research explores how villagers pooled resources to purchase plantations, thereby establishing the first “exilic spaces” outside colonial constraints. It contextualizes the Village Movement as part of broader resistance practices akin to maroon communities, which rejected both the plantation economy and its capitalist underpinnings.

This study will examine the historical foundations of these autonomous villages and trace their cultural evolution and current social, political, and economic status as recounted by descendants. Through oral history ethnography, it will provide insights into how communal practices and identities have persisted, adapted, or transformed across generations. Ultimately, this research situates the Village Movement within a continuum of liberation struggles, illustrating how Afro-Guyanese villagers envisioned and enacted alternative community models that persist in the legacy of mutual aid and resilience.

Date: Feb 18th, 2025

Time: 4:00 PM-6:00 PM PST

Registration

https://ciis.zoom.us/meeting/register/mOCs4DfyR2-6QONgtd0iKQ

FYI: REGISTRATION REQUIRES YOU TO USE AN EMAIL ADDRESS ASSOCIATED WITH ZOOM OR TO CREATE A ZOOM ACCOUNT.

For more information about any of the events hosted by the Black Psychology Project Jegnaship Program, please contact bpp@ciis.edu

Rev. Glencie Rhedrick, PhD Student

Women’s Spirituality, CIIS

& Black Psychology Project Assistant

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Feb 20th: Generations- BLACK LGBTQIA+ HISTORY EXPERIENCES

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Feb 20th: Generations- BLACK LGBTQIA+ HISTORY EXPERIENCES

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About This Community Event:

Imagine a space filled with love, resilience, and celebration—a vibrant gathering where the beauty and brilliance of Black LGBTQIA+ lives take center stage. This is Generations 2025, an annual event that unites the Bay Area Black LGBTQIA+ community to honor our history, celebrate our achievements, and shape a legacy for generations to come.

This year, we’re celebrating the 35th anniversary of Paris is Burning, the iconic documentary that captured the heart and soul of Black and Latinx ballroom culture. Together, we’ll reflect on its enduring impact with a special screening of Paris is Burning, followed by a dynamic panel discussion featuring cultural leaders, ballroom legends, and community advocates.

As part of the celebration, we’ll spotlight the current luminaries of the Black LGBTQIA+ community, honoring their contributions to culture, activism, and the ongoing fight for justice. The evening will culminate in the electrifying Generations Ball, where participants can showcase their fiercest looks, strut the runway, and compete for cash prizes in multiple categories. This is your moment to celebrate creativity, expression, and the unapologetic brilliance of Black LGBTQIA+ culture.

For generations, Black LGBTIQIA+ people have been at the forefront of movements for justice and equality. This event is our opportunity to honor that legacy, recognize the strides we’ve made, and imagine a future where everyone is free to thrive.

PROGRAM

5:30 PM General admission

6:00 PM Ballroom Demonstration

A vibrant opening performance by Oakland to All

6:20 PM Paris is Burning film screening

Highlighting the evening’s theme through this iconic film

7:30 PM Intermission

7:45 PM Panel Discussion

A deeper exploration of Paris is Burning with engaging dialogue and insights.

8:30 PM Catered Awards Presentation

Celebrating individuals and organizations making a difference in our community.

9:00 PM Generations Mini-Ball

Audience participation in multiple categories

2025 AWARDEES

Youth Champion

Kamari Davis Oakland LGBTQ Center

Trailblazer

Ramona Laughing Brook WebbUCSF Black Women’s Center

Entrepreneurship

So lovely

Community Organization

Compton’s TransgenderCultural District

Lifetime Achievement

Thomas SimpsonAfrosolo Theater Company

HOSTS

Honey Mahogany & Rev. Marvin K. White

PARIS IS BURNING DISCUSSING PANELISTS

Moderator: Brian Ragas

Marlon M. Bailey

Jahnell Chanel

Dhalimu Moschino

Ashley Basquiat

Arturo Miyaki-Mugler

MINI-BALL

All categories: 80s/90s inspired look

Beginner Vogue: Trophy Prize

Beginner Runway: Trophy Prize

Best Dressed: Trophy Prize

OTA Face: $200 + Trophy Prize

OTA Runway: $300 + Trophy Prize

OTA Performance: $500 + Trophy

Collaborating Organizers:
BRIDGE HIV, CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF INTEGRAL STUDIES, GLIDE MEMORIAL CHURCH, OAKLAND LGBTQ CENTER, PRIDEnet, RAFIKI COALITION, RESTORATIVE JUSTICE FOR OAKLAND YOUTH, SAN FRANCISCO COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, SAN FRANCISCO LGBT CENTER, THE BLACK CAUCUS AT UCSF, SAN FRANCISCO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, OFFICE OF HEALTH EQUITY AND OVERDOSE PREVENTION

Date: Feb 20th, 2025

Time: 5:00 PM-10:30 PM PST

Location: Palace of Fine Arts,

3301 Lyon St. San Francisco, CA

Registration

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/paris-is-burning-35th-anniversary-screening-tickets-1082532938159

For more information about any of the events hosted by the Black Psychology Project Jegnaship Program, please contact: bpp@ciis.edu

Rev. Glencie Rhedrick, PhD Student

Women’s Spirituality, CIIS

& Black Psychology Project Assistant

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About The Presenter:

Sanovia Muhammad, E-RYT, RNR, is an author, poet, community activist, and creator of MaYoni ‘aT Womb Yoga, a sequence grown out of her work with her daughter in the Ancient Art of Yoni Steaming with the Yoni Steam Institute. She graduated from the Kripalu School of Yoga and Shakti Yoga and has practiced yoga since 2005. In addition, Sanovia offers certification in MaYoni ‘aT Yoga, a sequence that highlights the Tekh (Sacral) and Kepera (Heart) Chakras. The practice highlights the Goddess energies of Ancient Kemet, utilizes words of power (Hekau’s), healing affirmations, and breath with movement. With more than 30 years in the wellness field, she understands that womb health is women’s work and womb yoga is an invaluable tool for healing.

Sanovia’s book, A Journey to Forgiveness, Disowning 3 Generations of Violence, is a story about pain, violence, love, and forgiveness. On the path of living, Sanovia’s journey is one of peace, offering a balanced, compassionate, reciprocal, and harmonious way of being to all.

About This Workshop:

Womb Yoga As A Tool For Liberation

Join Maati Sanovia for a 90-minute Womb Yoga session. Using the sounds of our Ancient Ancestors, movement, and breathwork, we will experience the essence of the ancient Kemetic goddess embodied within ourselves. Everyone is welcome to join in this practice at their level of ability. The session will include a time for participants to ask and answer questions.

Date: Feb 21st, 2025

Time: 4:00 PM-6:00 PM PST

Registration

https://ciis.zoom.us/meeting/register/cuaIuh3ZSueq5yi7wLcPNA

FYI: REGISTRATION REQUIRES YOU TO USE AN EMAIL ADDRESS ASSOCIATED WITH ZOOM OR TO CREATE A ZOOM ACCOUNT.

For more information about any of the events hosted by the Black Psychology Project Jegnaship Program, please contact bpp@ciis.edu

Rev. Glencie Rhedrick, PhD Student

Women’s Spirituality, CIIS

& Black Psychology Project Assistant

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Feb 24th: Rest is Resistance; Reflection

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Feb 24th: Rest is Resistance; Reflection

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Rest is Resistance

The Nap Ministry’s Rest Deck is a rousing call to reclaim rest in everyday life. Delivered in a stunning package with gold accents and gorgeous artwork throughout, the deck combines restorative meditations with prescient wisdom from celebrated activist and teaching artist Tricia Hersey, a.k.a. “the Nap Bishop,” and founder of the Nap Ministry.

Rooted in social justice and imbued with spirituality, these cards offer short, accessible practices designed to uplift anyone suffering from the toxic effects of grind culture.

Celebrated Author: Tricia Hersey, a.k.a. “the Nap Bishop,” is the founder of the Nap Ministry and the bestselling author of Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto. Her work as a social justice activist, artist, and thought leader has been featured in the New York Times, NPR, The Cut, and the Atlantic, among many others. In this deck, she distills her profound and celebrated teachings into 50 accessible practices.

Tool For Social Justice: Brimming with practices to empower personal liberation as a step toward building a healthier, more just world, this deck offers readers a new way to engage with social justice and invites a wide audience to embrace the power of rest as an essential balm for our collective exhaustion.

Praxis for the day (Rest Practice): Productivity is a myth. There is no need to rush at the moment. Make time to sit with your eyes closed for 10 minutes, rest your eyes, and focus on your breathing. Visualize warm softness wrapping around you like a fluffy blanket. Let the sound of the room wash over you. You can just be.

For more information about any of the events hosted by the Black Psychology Project Jegnaship Program, please contact bpp@ciis.edu

Rev. Glencie Rhedrick, PhD Student

Women’s Spirituality, CIIS

& Black Psychology Project Assistant

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About The Presenter:

Rev Dele is a Grandmother Elder, Christian mystic  and permaculture professor who invites environmental leaders who are sad, mad or scared to release their anxiety through oneness with nature so they can lead with inner peace. Her talks and workshops embrace the Divine Feminine as a crucial partner in solving our social and weather crises.

Dele's books guide children and adults  in strengthening personal and communal relationships with Nature so that we thrive in the midst of climate chaos. "Breath of Life" helps people grow secure communities by loving Creation. "Daughter of the Tree" is a colorful walk in the woods that highlights  Sojourner Truth's spiritual formation in nature as a child.

Rev Dele has been teaching Indigenous culture since the 1980s in community-based study groups, charter schools, activist celebrations and ceremonies. In 2010, she was certified in permaculture design and has been teaching Indigenous land management in academic and community settings. She is the convener of the Indigenous Mothers Community Land Trust, a land rematriation and indigenous sovereignty effort that is rewriting the protocols for community land trusts.

In her work with advocates and young farmers, Dele teaches that environmental destruction is not just a physical crisis but a spiritual one, as well. She is the co-founder of Soil and Souls, a worker-owned native and medicinal plant nursery that provides leadership training and community education in resilience. Members grow plants that heal soil and the human soul; and work to train 300 Earth first responders in 30 communities that need the most help. Her work has been recognized in national and international institutions.

She was called to provide expert testimony to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and was tapped to participate in the United Nations’ Decade of African Diaspora-Earthcare Coalition. She’s been an academic consultant to the World Food Council and has held academic appointments at the College of William & Mary, Virginia Union University, Baylor University and Hood Seminary. Dele serves with the National Congress of Black American Indians, UCC Climate Justice Council, National Young Farmers Advisory Board, Jegnaship Cohort/Black Psychology Project-California Institute of Integral Studies.

Rev Dele holds a B.A. from University of California-Riverside and M.Div. from Howard University School of Divinity and currently resides in her ancestral home of Louisiana. She may be reached at rev@revdele.com or 804-389-5150.

About This Workshop:

This workshop will shed light on a healing journey that begins in Communion with our Earth Mother and ends in surrender to oneness with all that there is. We will begin by describing our Soul's way of Being, walk through elements of our land relationships, open our hearts to shifts in consciousness so we may ascend back into wholeness.  Given expected frigid temperatures and the virtual setting, you are invited to work indoors. Our tools may include sound, ceremony, visualization, breath.

Date: Feb 25th, 2025

Time: 4:00PM-6:00PM PST

Registration

https://ciis.zoom.us/meeting/register/ruoya1ulSdy_Urd4DJdVoA

FYI: REGISTRATION REQUIRES YOU TO USE AN EMAIL ADDRESS ASSOCIATED WITH ZOOM OR TO CREATE A ZOOM ACCOUNT.

For more information about any of the events hosted by the Black Psychology Project Jegnaship Program, please contact bpp@ciis.edu

Rev. Glencie Rhedrick, PhD Student

Women’s Spirituality, CIIS

& Black Psychology Project Assistant

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Feb 26th: The History and Global Impact of Hip Hop Culture Part 1 

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Feb 26th: The History and Global Impact of Hip Hop Culture Part 1 

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About The Presenter

Sherman Wing is the Co-Owner of SJ Films. He has been shooting and editing videos since the days of Film. His clients include Nike, EA Sports, NBC (Inside The NBA), Slam Magazine, Giorgio Armani Barney’s Department Store, and Ruckerpark & Dyckman basketball Tournaments.

Education – Studied Film and Computer science at WVSC

Studied Music engineering at the UK

Career Highlights

DJ’ed in NYC nightclubs in the mid-eighties (Bently’s, Silver Shadow, Truffles, Limelight, Cheetah Club)

Worked as Producer / VP A&R, tour manager for Bon Ami/New Day records

Worked as VP A&R So New Records

Produced music for Naughty By Nature, Melle Mel, Unique The Elite, King Mike Cee

Web Master of Naughtybynature.com, Kedar.com, TribeCalledquest.com, Ruckerpark.com

Lead Cameraman Ruckerpark Basketball Tournament & Dyckman Basketball Tournament

Consultant EA Sports (NBA Street Vols 1, 2 & 3), AND1 Streetball

Released two retail videos (The Mecca, Inside Streetball’s Magazine), Edited On air reels for America’s Got Talent & America’s Best Shot and Edited 10 Commercials & 15 Music Videos Line editor for CrewTV.

Benu Amun-Ra (We/Our/Ours) is a generational farmer, seed-keeper, eco-feminist activist, and one of the communal founders and CEO of the non-profit organization, S.A.C.R.Ed (Seeding Ancestral Community Relationships Education) Eco-Center. This organization is dedicated to healing through Indigenous ways of being and knowing. We emphasize the importance of reciprocal relationships by reinvigorating Indigenous practices of co-existing with nature and each other. We navigate the intersections of being a BIPOC single mother, an LGBTQ+ community member, and an advocate for individuals living with disabilities. Our work centers on food security, mental health access, and advocacy—crucial issues that have posed significant challenges for marginalized communities, exacerbated by centuries of oppression, inequity, colonial trauma, and the recent pandemic as well as the new administration. Currently, we are pursuing our Ph.D. in Transformative Studies at the California Institute of Integral Studies to advance the narrative of ancestral healing through our Indigeneity and reclaim our Indigenous souls.

About This Workshop

Hip-Hop is a cultural movement that started in the 1970s in the Bronx, New York City. Created by African American and Latino youth, it consists of many elements including: rapping, DJing (turntablism), breakdancing (B-boying), and graffiti art. DJ Kool Herc is often credited with kickstarting the movement by experimenting with breakbeats at his parties. As it grew, Hip-Hop became a powerful means of expression and resistance, addressing social issues like racism, inequality, and police brutality.

Today, Hip-Hop is a worldwide phenomenon. It has influenced not only music, but also fashion, language, and politics. Artists from all over the world, from South Korea's BTS to Nigeria's Burna Boy, incorporate Hip-Hop elements into their music. The genre's emphasis on storytelling and authenticity continues to resonate with millions, making it a powerful force for cultural exchange and social change. Hip-Hop is more than just a genre of music; it's a global movement that has broken down cultural barriers and given a voice to the voiceless. We will be going over the history and global impact of Hip Hop culture and engage in a creative activity to produce a rap or slam poetry from these presentations.

Date: Feb 26, 2025

Time: 2 pm-4 pm PST

Register here: https://ciis.zoom.us/meeting/register/9ZNV8v0FRSGrE4_AUtyAAw

FYI: REGISTRATION REQUIRES YOU TO USE AN EMAIL ADDRESS ASSOCIATED WITH ZOOM OR TO CREATE A ZOOM ACCOUNT.

For more information about any of the events hosted by the Black Psychology Project Jegnaship Program, please contact bpp@ciis.edu

Rev. Glencie Rhedrick, PhD Student

Women’s Spirituality, CIIS

& Black Psychology Project Assistant

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Feb 27th: The History and Global Impact of Hip Hop Culture Part 2

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Feb 27th: The History and Global Impact of Hip Hop Culture Part 2

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About The Presenter

Sherman Wing is the Co-Owner of SJ Films. He has been shooting and editing video since the days of Film. His clients include Nike, EA Sports, NBC (Inside The NBA), Slam Magazine, Giorgio Armani Barney's Department Store, Ruckerpark & Dyckman basketball Tournaments just to name a few.

Education – Studied Film and Computer science at WVSC

Studied Music engineering at UK

Career Highlights

DJ’ed in NYC nightclubs in the mid eighties (Bently’s, Silver Shadow, Truffles, Limelight, Cheetah Club)

Worked as Producer / VP A&R, tour manager for Bon Ami/New Day records

Worked as VP A&R So New Records

Produced music for Naughty By Nature, Melle Mel, Unique The Elite, King Mike Cee

Web Master of Naughtybynature.com, Kedar.com, TribeCalledquest.com, Ruckerpark.com

Lead Cameraman Ruckerpark Basketball Tournament & Dyckman Basketball Tournament

Consultant EA Sports (NBA Street Vols 1, 2 & 3), AND1 Streetball Released 2 retail videos (The Mecca, Inside Streetball’s Magazine) Edited On air reels for America's Got Talent & America's Best Shot and Edited 10 Commercials & 15 Music Videos Line editor for CrewTV.

Benu Amun-Ra (We/Our/Ours) is a generational farmer, seed-keeper, eco-feminist activist, and one of the communal founders and CEO of the non-profit organization, S.A.C.R.Ed (Seeding Ancestral Community Relationships Education) Eco-Center. This organization is dedicated to healing through Indigenous ways of being and knowing. We emphasize the importance of reciprocal relationships by reinvigorating Indigenous practices of co-existing with nature and each other. We navigate the intersections of being a BIPOC single mother, an LGBTQ+ community member, and an advocate for individuals living with disabilities. Our work centers on food security, mental health access, and advocacy—crucial issues that have posed significant challenges for marginalized communities, exacerbated by centuries of oppression, inequity, colonial trauma, and the recent pandemic as well as the new administration. Currently, we are pursuing our Ph.D. in Transformative Studies at the California Institute of Integral Studies to advance the narrative of ancestral healing through our Indigeneity and reclaim our Indigenous souls.

About This Workshop

Hip-Hop is a cultural movement that started in the 1970s in the Bronx, New York City. Created by African American and Latino youth, it consists of many elements including: rapping, DJing (turntablism), breakdancing (B-boying), and graffiti art. DJ Kool Herc is often credited with kickstarting the movement by experimenting with breakbeats at his parties. As it grew, Hip-Hop became a powerful means of expression and resistance, addressing social issues like racism, inequality, and police brutality.

Today, Hip-Hop is a worldwide phenomenon. It has influenced not only music, but also fashion, language, and politics. Artists from all over the world, from South Korea's BTS to Nigeria's Burna Boy, incorporate Hip-Hop elements into their music. The genre's emphasis on storytelling and authenticity continues to resonate with millions, making it a powerful force for cultural exchange and social change. Hip-Hop is more than just a genre of music; it's a global movement that has broken down cultural barriers and given a voice to the voiceless. We will be going over the history and global impact of Hip Hop culture and engage in a creative activity to produce a rap or slam poetry from these presentations.

Date: Feb 26, 2025

Time: 2pm-4pm PST

Register here: https://ciis.zoom.us/meeting/register/WNCUJYkPQY6e8MnZLBi3Mw

FYI: REGISTRATION REQUIRES YOU TO USE AN EMAIL ADDRESS ASSOCIATED WITH ZOOM OR TO CREATE A ZOOM ACCOUNT.

For more information about any of the events hosted by the Black Psychology Project Jegnaship Program please contact: bpp@ciis.edu

Rev. Glencie Rhedrick, PhD Candidate

Women's Spirituality, CIIS

& Black Psychology Project Assistant

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Join us for our 28 Days of Blackness closing ceremony! Feat. Musical Artist, Lewis Raye.

Lewis Raye, a multi-talented singer-songwriter and producer, studied music at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, and Audio Production at the Art Institute of Atlanta. He plays piano, guitar, and bass and loves all styles of music! When he’s not teaching at Sing Like a Star Studios, he enjoys recording and performing his original songs around the country.

Date: Feb 28, 2025

Time:4 pm - 6 pm PST

Location: Zoom

Register here :

https://ciis.zoom.us/meeting/register/P6lmspXJR-6Xo-s3UKd93g

FYI: REGISTRATION REQUIRES YOU TO USE AN EMAIL ADDRESS ASSOCIATED WITH ZOOM OR TO CREATE A ZOOM ACCOUNT.

For more information about any of the events hosted by the Black Psychology Project Jegnaship Program, please contact bpp@ciis.edu

Rev. Glencie Rhedrick, PhD Student

Women’s Spirituality, CIIS

& Black Psychology Project Assistant