Embodied Justice Leadership Retreat

Welcome, we're excited that you'll be joining us for this year's retreat.

For two years, the Embodied Justice Leadership Retreat has brought together Black nonprofit leaders, equity strategists, organizers, advocates, academics, therapists, and community builders, people doing change work in all kinds of forms. What keeps drawing folks back is something most of us rarely find: space to rest, reflect, and be in community.

Now in our third year, the Embodied Justice Retreat is a gathering for Black changemakers ready to meet this moment from the full depth of who they are — their wisdom, ancestral grounding, collective power, and vision for what comes next.

Where & When

Three days at a Black-owned farm estate in Brandywine, Maryland with a rustic barn, landscaped courtyards, and modern farmhouse cottages, about 30 minutes outside of DC.

• Friday, July 31 — Arrival, dinner and opening circle (check in begins at 3:00 PM)
• Saturday, August 1 — Full day of retreat programming
• Sunday, August 2 — Closing session and lunch (ends by 1:00 PM)
• September 3 & October 22 — Post-retreat virtual integration sessions

What We’ll Move Through Together

The retreat moves through facilitated mindfulness-based practices, storytelling, somatic work, creative expression, and collective reflection. Over the weekend, you’ll have space to:

• Reflect on your leadership journey
• Reclaim your purpose in this moment
• Explore somatic (body-based) tools to help you set boundaries and stay grounded under pressure
• Craft and declare a leadership declaration — witnessed by your cohort
• Build lasting connections that continue through two post-retreat integration sessions

Mornings begin with nourishing food, easy conversation, and quiet time for yourself. Evenings belong to community — to laughter, to honest conversation, to the kind of connection that only happens when Black folks gather.

Your Room

You’ll stay in one of several modern farmhouse cottages on the property. When you select your ticket below, you’re choosing your bed type and bathroom arrangement. All rooms are single-occupancy — your room is yours. Cottages are shared with two other retreat participants. Pricing reflects your room selection only; all other elements of the retreat are the same regardless of which room you choose.

Your Registration Includes

• 2 nights lodging at Marcellus Farms
• All meals (Friday dinner through Sunday lunch)
• Full retreat programming, facilitation, and materials
• Two post-retreat virtual integration sessions (September 3 & October 22, 2026)

What to Know Before You Register

• The retreat venue is about 30 minutes from Washington, DC with no public transit. Plan to drive, use ride share, or contact another participant to coordinate a car pool (CURE will help make connections between participants willing to offer rides and participants who need one).
• You’ll receive a welcome packet approximately 2 weeks before the retreat with directions, what to bring, the weekend schedule, and a brief pre-retreat reflection prompt.
• Cottage checkout is 11:00 AM Sunday. You’ll move your belongings to your car or the Manor before the closing session.
• Spots are limited to 14 participants.

Judy Lubin and Shawn J. Moore will hold space together as your co-facilitators across the full retreat arc.

More information about the retreat can be found at: urbanandracialequity.org/embodied-justice-retreat/

Questions? Reach out to CURE at info[at]urbanandracialequity.org. This email is monitored by all of our team members to ensure a timely response to your questions.