BIPOC Leadership Circle 2024 Retreat: A Recap
At a time when racial, economic, and political divides threaten to fracture community cohesion, we continue to envision another way. Part of that vision includes a commitment to community and fostering that community through insightful programming. To that end, the 2024 cohort of artEquity's BIPOC Leadership Circle met June 10–14, 2024, on the lands of the Chumash, Tongva, and Kizh peoples (now known as Los Angeles). We were grateful for our time together for this retreat! For all the members of the BIPOC Leadership Circle in attendance, we were honored you could join us. For our community members who were not on-site, we are excited to share some highlights with you!
Day 1: Monday, June 10
Welcome Reception
Day 1 began with the arrival of the cohort at Terranea Resort. After enjoying their day on the grounds, they gathered together on Terrenea’s Ocean View Terrace. Invoking the theme of “seeding the soil,” cohort members were encouraged to interact with a Bloom Bar and create dry-flower bouquets. Along with their bouquet, they were asked to sow a “seed” by writing down an intention or affirmation they wished to plant for the week—one for themselves and one for their cohort.
The welcome reception officially began with a land acknowledgment and artistic offering by Tina Orduno Calderon, a Tongva native culture bearer, followed by libations held by core facilitator Lauren Turner Hines. artEquity Founder and Executive Director, Carmen Morgan, then shared about the history of Terranea and its commitment of making the land accessible to the public. Finally, Siobhan Brown (affectionately known to us as Auntie Vonnie), introduced the concept of “seeding the soil” that would carry the cohort through their week together, and hopefully well beyond.
Table centerpiece for the opening dinner including items such as flowers in small vases, a white lantern with an unlit candle inside, two pens, and seed paper in heart shapes.
Two individuals greet each other during the welcome, one with a phone in hand while the other has their hands together, in the middle of a thought.
A cohort member smiling while turned to a speaker out of frame, with other cohort members in the background also looking on.
Table centerpiece for the opening dinner including items such as flowers in small vases, a white lantern with an unlit candle inside, two pens, and seed paper in heart shapes.
Photo Credit: Michael C. Palma Photography
Day 2: Tuesday, June 11
Laying the Foundation
Day 2 took place in San Pedro at Angels Gate Cultural Center, whose purpose is “to provide space for artists to work and to engage community through arts education, exhibitions of contemporary art, and cultural events.” The day began with a greeting from Marissa Sykes, Director of Arts Education, who shared a bit about the history and goal of Angel’s Gate. Laurie Steelink—citizen of the Akimel O’otham Nation, member of Gila River Indian Community, artist, cultural practitioner, and representative from the Many Winters Gathering of Elders—grounded the cohort in a land acknowledgment and ritual around the sacred space.
The cohort then “planted their seeds” for the day, reflecting on their origin stories and how those stories influenced their understanding of their social change ecosystem role(s).
After a bountiful lunch provided by Lola's Mexican Cuisine, the cohort continued to get to know each other through music by sharing “the song that would pour out if they were to be cracked open.” Their offering resulted in a dynamic playlist.
The cohort closed out their day together with an exercise that encouraged them to question and reimagine new ways of grappling with societal issues.
View behind Angels Gate Cultural Center overlooking a field of yellow flowers in the foreground, the mountains and the ocean in the background.
Indigenous Elder with long gray hair in front of a red and gray background.
Lola’s Mexican Cuisine founder Chef Luis and catering director Brenda, smiling together.
View behind Angels Gate Cultural Center overlooking a field of yellow flowers in the foreground, the mountains and the ocean in the background.
Photo Credit: artEquity Team Member; San Pedro Today; Angels Gate Cultural Center;
Day 3: Wednesday, June 12
Crafting New Worlds
Day 3 took place at the Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) in Long Beach. The cohort was enthusiastically greeted by MOLAA’s education team who guided them through an opening drawing exercise that activated the creative energy in the room.
Before heading to lunch, provided by TGIS Catering in MOLAA’s sculpture garden, the cohort was invited to plant another “seed” to enhance the collective strength of the group.
The afternoon included activities led by MOLAA—a guided tour of the Alexandre Arrechea: Intersected Horizons exhibition and a tactile art-making workshop where participants created their own mini-sculptures.
The cohort closed out their day at MOLAA with two “Seeding the Soil” squad offerings.
The cohort was then taken to dinner at Selva where Chef Carlos Jurado prepared a delectable Colombian buffet. The evening then came to a close as the cohort took a night drive through Long Beach back to Terranea, full of both arroz chaufa (Peruvian fried rice) and a day of deep community building.
Cohort members meet together, seated, in front of a large image of Frida Kahlo.
A small group of three cohort members with one facilitator pose together with various props, creating a one-minute sculpture as part of the artmaking workshop from MOLAA staff.
Three cohort members, seated, in the middle of conversation with a variety of expressions talking with a facilitator.
Cohort members meet together, seated, in front of a large image of Frida Kahlo.
Photo Credit: Michael C. Palma Photography
Day 4: Thursday, June 13
The Invitation and the Cookout
Day 4 took place in downtown Los Angeles at St. Elmo Village, a creative compound and community whose philosophy is “that all people are creative and powerful in their own way.” Upon stepping onto the grounds surrounded by lush trees, eclectic houses, and vibrantly colored paths, one cohort member said, “I was feeling stressed, but now, I’m better.” The cohort was honored with a welcome from Jackie Sykes, a visual artist who now runs the community that she and her husband, Roderick Sykes, helped co-found 40 years ago.
Following Jackie’s grounding, the cohort heard from Jamiah Hargins, Founder and Executive Director of Crop Swap LA, whose mission is to “grow food on unused spaces in ways that create jobs, preserve water, and equitably distribute food.” Jamiah set the perfect stage for Day 4 as the cohort continued to imagine new paradigms of leadership and community.
Before heading into lunch, the cohort was invited to plant another “seed,” reflecting on recipes or flavor(s) that back core memories and are important cultural ingredients making up the “recipe of you.” Lunch was then provided by Carribean Soul Kitchen LA. The cohort was well-nourished and inspired to close out their “Seeding the Soil” squad offerings.
Then, came the cookout!
Tiffany Darrell of Tiffany’s Catering started with a short history of barbecue and invited the cohort to think about the recipes they considered “soul food.” The cohort dug into the barbecue buffet as DJ Toks got the vibe going with music. The cohort danced into the night (yes, there was an electric slide) before they boarded the shuttle back to the hotel one last time.
Three large white Post-It notes with “Intentions,” written on the first and “Agenda” on the other two.
Two cohort members with their arms around each other, smiling and with their sunglasses on, talking with another cohort member.
A small group stands facing the camera, smiling and with arms around each other, with the sun setting in the background.
Three large white Post-It notes with “Intentions,” written on the first and “Agenda” on the other two.
Photo Credit: Michael C. Palma Photography
Day 5: Friday, June 14
Closing Reception
To close out, the cohort gathered for a farewell brunch at Terranea to reflect on what they would harvest from this experience and declare personal commitments and intentions for collective action. Goodbyes were made through tears, laughter, and song.
Cohort members sit around a round table during the farewell brunch reacting to a speaker out of frame.
The cohort stands in a large circle on the lawn during the Closing Ritual.
Four individuals stand outside during brunch, smiling with their arms around each other facing the camera.
Cohort members sit around a round table during the farewell brunch reacting to a speaker out of frame.
Photo Credit: Michael C. Palma Photography
What a powerful experience to gather with so many amazing leaders as we all dream, recharge, and move forward together in community! We are grateful to all of the artists, community partners, and leaders who made our in-person BIPOC Leadership Circle retreat possible. Until we all gather again!
BIPOC Leadership Circle is one of artEquity’s core programs and we aim to make participation as accessible as possible. In addition to support from foundations, we cherish donations from our community to grow our programs dedicated to BIPOC leadership and wellness.
If you would like to support our work, please consider joining our community of donors. Select “Show my support by making this a recurring donation” if you’d like to become a monthly sustainer!
Thank you to our supporters
artEquity provides the tools, resources, and training to support the intersection of art and activism. Our work is made possible in part by The Ford Foundation, the Getty Foundation, Barbara and Amos Hostetter, the Howard Gilman Foundation, the JKW Foundation, the Mellon Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Shubert Foundation, and a growing community of individuals and organizations across the globe.
