Healing Our Stories Retreats

The Program

Healing Our Stories is an empowering and transformative project that aims to address trauma within Montreal's Black communities through a series of trauma retreats. This innovative community-based approach to trauma emerged from the success of our pilot series of Black community Care Circles, which were developed in collaboration with Dr. Lisa Ndejuru ran from September 2021 to September 2022, benefiting over 50 individuals. Throughout 2023-2024 the Black Healing Centre in collaboration with Dr.Lisa Ndejuru and other mental health practitioners will develop 3 pilot Healing Our Stories projects to speak to different members of Montreal's Black Community; Black Women, Black Men and Black 2SLGBTQIA+ people.

- First Retreat: Black Women’s Collective Care Circle May 2023
- Second Retreat: Black Queer and Trans Collective Care Circle March 2024
- Third Retreat: Black Men’s Wellness Group April 2024

Overall Project Objectives

The project seeks to create an innovative model to engage with traumatic stories effectively. Through the trauma retreats, participants will be encouraged to share their experiences in a supportive and healing environment, fostering resilience and personal growth.

Developing an Innovative Model

We aim to provide training and supervision for Black community care practitioners, enabling them to offer psychosocial support tailored to the unique needs of Black communities. By empowering practitioners, we strive to strengthen the network of support available within these communities.

Offering Training and Supervision

Healing Our Stories" also offers a unique internship opportunity for Concordia students studying health and social services and/or human relations. This internship will enable students to consolidate their skills while gaining practical experience in anti-oppressive and decolonizing practices, contributing to positive community change.

Internship Opportunity for Concordia Students

"...BHC, you are doing exceptional work..."

I had a wonderful experience during this retreat. Thank you so much for BHC, you are doing exceptional work for the community.
"I will forever hold these memories with me."

The Healing of our stories retreat was the balm I needed after a very difficult year. I didn’t really have any expectations, I was just hoping to get back to this space where I could drop all my heavy emotional bags and just be held by a community of black women & non binary people. I was not only held, but affirmed, and cared for by people that really understood the heaviness of my pain. I was also able to hold and affirm the people that were there with me. That the beauty of doing this healing work in a group, I get to heal through others, and others get to heal through me. Thank you so much BHC, for the profound and impactful work you do! I will forever hold these memories with me 💙
"...an amazing and safe place to heal, grow and learn!"

Thank you so much for giving us such an amazing and safe place to heal, grow and learn! I haven't felt heard, understood, supported and validated in a very very long time!
"...surpassed my expectations"

This retreat was everything. Everything I had needed and surpassed my expectations. My being has changed for the better. I walk different, speak differently, so much more compassionate with myself.
"They accommodate for the single mothers..."

They accommodate for the single mothers as well. Couldn't ask for more.

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Healing Our Stories Retreats

The Program

Overall Project Objectives

"...BHC, you are doing exceptional work..."

This project was supported by the Department Of Applied Human Science at Concordia University.