LEADING THE WAY FORWARD
THROUGH LOVE & LIBERATION
Spiritual innovators, and in particular BIPOC spiritual innovators, are expanding the boundaries of how we access the divine, seek meaning in today’s chaotic times, and tap into inspiration to create a more just and loving world.
BIPOC spiritual innovators are offering contemporary supports for life (and death), expanding access to soul-centered practice through tech-enabled platforms, weaving beloved communities inspired by myriad wisdom traditions, nourishing social justice leaders and movements, and so much more.
Innovators are leading the way forward through Healing, Recovering & Reclaiming, Reckoning & Retelling, Reimagining and World Building.
Our Approach
Healing
Offering sacred medicines of all kinds – teaching, practices, communities, spaces for rest and renewal – that address individual, collective, and generational trauma.
Reimagining
Retaining the essence of religious and wisdom lineages while reimagining the infrastructure for how spirituality is accessed and delivered.
Recovering & Reclaiming
Creating spaces for lineages that have been historically impacted by colonialism and imperialism. Practicing and stewarding together while honoring cultural origins and attending to risks of appropriation.
Reckoning & Retelling
Investigating areas where religion has been interpreted from patriarchal, classist, racist, sexist, etc. lenses, providing spaces for spiritual healing and retelling the stories of traditional lineages through the voices and narratives of BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other impacted communities.
World Building
Bringing forth spiritual practices and teachings that inspire people toward envisioning and enacting a more just and loving world. Being architects of the future and holders of emerging worldviews and stories that are ancient and new at the same time.
OUR JOURNEY
Fall 2022-Winter 2023:
We conducted 50+ interviews with BIPOC spiritual innovators to learn more about their faith traditions, practices and the ways they are innovating today.
Fall 2023- Winter 2024:
Spiritual Innovation Gathering Series
Over the course of three gatherings, we partnered with Embrace Community to bring together 120 BIPOC spiritual innovators in Oakland, California to share the needs, challenges and visions innovators are holding.
April 2023:
Workshop discussions about spiritual innovation were held at national conferences including Wisdom 2.0, Spiritual Directors International, and Parliament of World Religions.
March 2023:
The Learning Cohort
We launched a Learning Cohort of twelve BIPOC spiritual innovators on an 18-month learning journey rooted in spiritual practice and building inter-spiritual community.
July 2023:
WISDOM CIRCLE
We began convening a Wisdom Circle with BIPOC spiritual innovator advisors to support The Fetzer Institute’s Shared Spiritual Heritage project. Innovators included: Brenda Salgado, Sandy Hong, Mazin Jamal, Regina Smith & Nikia Roberts.
November 2023:
Ecosystem Gathering Convening
The Fetzer Institute gathered 22 spiritual innovators across the nation to cultivate connection, exploration, and dreaming around an emerging BIPOC centered Spiritual Innovation Ecosystem.
“All of this is about building communities of belonging. Relationship is so important for people doing the work.”
~ Brenda Salgado, Program Director of Racial Healing Intitiative
April 2024:
Naropa Black Earth Festival
We supported BIPOC Spiritual Innovators to be a part of Naropa’s Black Earth Festival, a transformative ethno-ancestral futures affair. This powerful gathering hosted visionaries, activists’, scholars’ and healers’ on an astro-cosmic quest for just and abundant earth-based futures.
May 2024:
Network of Network Leaders
Bringing together network leaders who are especially focused on capacity building with spiritual innovators to explore intersections, exchange, and shared opportunities.
June 2024:
Dream Sanctuary Community
Facilitated by Teresa Mateus and Keshira ha Lev Fife. Dream Sanctuary is a pilot 9-month cohort which will gather in the virtual Dream Sanctuary monthly around the rhythm/cycle of the full moon.
Fall 2024:
“Enacting Love & Liberation” Funders Deck
Created to educate the funder community on the learnings within the Shared Spiritual Heritage project and opportunities within the BIPOC spiritual innovation space. Curated by Diana Scearce and Lotus Wong.
September 2024:
Spiritual Innovation Ecosystem HUB
A strategic gathering led by Sacred Design Lab was held at The Fetzer Institute with 24 spiritual innovators to create a national strategic focus supporting the spiritual, relational, and practical needs of spiritual innovators.
February 2025:
BIPOC Spiritual Innovation Film & Platform
To further elevate this ecosystem, we launched a short film, website, BIPOC Spiritual Innovation Directory, and supporting resources! Designed by Lotus Wong in collaboration with Elena Mireles-Hill, Sandy Hong, and Brittney Jackson.
Supported by:
