We recently provided a series of certification courses for mental health supervisors of the global majority. During our time together, we learned the importance of carving out space that is truly ours. A space where we can honor our own uniqueness, genius, and goals outside of white dominant culture.
Building off the success of 12 years of conferences, KCTI is expanding our offerings to include retreat-style programming at the Kente Circle Lodge in Hinkley, Minnesota. These retreats will offer an intimate setting for up to 150 healers and those in need of healing to go deeper and grow stronger the "Kente Circle Way." Unlike our conferences, we will be able to offer overnight stays that will provide opportunities for participants to deepen their connections with one another and themselves.
The Kente Circle lodge and KCTI programming will offer opportunities for everyone, but it will specifically offer a space just for Black folks to gather, slow down, go inward, heal, and just be. Offering these opportunities will act as a catalyst for addressing the systemic issues within the healing fields that impact our collective capacity to respond to the unmet mental health needs of the global majority.
Some potential offerings could include:
- Mental health practitioners and holistic healers exchange knowledge and explore w
ays to embed that knowledge into their healing work.
- Healing circles for Black and Brown boys to learn practical ways to learn to assess their own well-being, offer practices for addressing sickness and healing, and reflect with their peers about their lived experiences.
- A financial literacy cohort to empower participants to take control of their own financial situation with accountability and support.
- Certification courses for supervisors of the global majority.
To achieve this vision, we need your support. In celebration of our 20th anniversary and to work toward this vision, we are seeking to raise $100,000 before our 2024 fall conference. With these funds, we will harness our power, both individually and collectively, to address the unmet mental health needs of our communities.
Larry Tucker
Founder/Executive Director
Kente Circle Training Institute