Birth Justice Collaborative Retreat – A Space for Restoration and Connection
St. Joseph Fund
Rooted in love. Communities are more whole, more healed, and more able to flourish, hope, love, and grow.
In late 2024, the Black and Indigenous Birth Justice Collaborative [KS1]?held its first retreat, a transformative gathering designed to create a space of healing, nourishment, and restoration for birth justice leaders. Hosted in Washington state at the Salish Lodge, a space owned by the Snoqualmie Tribe on the lands of the Coast Salish people, the retreat embodied intentionality at every step.
The day-and-a-half retreat wasn’t about pushing a policy agenda or working harder to achieve funding goals. Instead, we focused on stepping away from the daily pressures and creating a space where birth workers could focus on their well-being without the need to prove or perform. Participants were encouraged to embrace autonomy and choice, with the flexibility to opt out of activities, rest, or engage in individual and group experiences that spoke to their needs.
With input from the community, the retreat featured nourishing and culturally affirming experiences from intentionally chosen vendors, such as:
One of the retreat’s most unique aspects was its commitment to supporting birth justice leaders as whole people. Attendees were encouraged to bring their children, and childcare was provided throughout the event. This created a safe, family-friendly environment that allowed participants to engage without limitations.
The retreat kicked off with an opening circle, during which participants contributed personal items to an altar honoring their ancestors. This symbolized the deep roots and shared purpose of birth justice work. Throughout the retreat, nourishing meals, poetry from Wa Na Wari, cultural sharing, and creative and healing activities from groups like Earth and Ash fostered a sense of joy and togetherness. Other contributors to the retreat included Blue Dot Beadwork from the Yehaw?Indigenous Creatives Collective,? A-List Nanny Services, and Noir Lux Candle Bar.
Attendees told us they left the retreat feeling seen, valued, and connected. The experience laid the groundwork for future collaboration, not through forced agendas but through organic relationship building. As the initiative moves forward, the focus will remain on listening to the community's needs and sustaining the work in ways that honor the humanity of those involved.
This retreat was a testament to the power of prioritizing well-being and community care. It demonstrated that capacity building isn’t just about funding programs. It’s about investing in the people who make those programs possible and ensuring they have the support they need to continue their work.
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