A Year in Review

It might be an understatement to say that 2020 had it’s challenges. While it’s important to acknowledge the hardships, it’s just as important to recognize the accomplishments in spite of those challenges. So here are ten things we made happen in 2020.

1. Second Sacred Workshop Series

February was SACRED, the conclusion of our second round of Adornment Stories. Community gathered to discuss mental health and wellness for Black Women and Femmes. The energy, passion and trust shared in that space set the tone for the year and will not be forgotten. Be sure to check out the highlights of this event from the video below.

2. #BlackJoyRetreat

In the midst of one of the most challenging years, it became more important than ever to find spaces that spark joy. For those of us living in Black bodies, navigating life on social media can be challenging and emotionally activating. The Black Joy Virtual Retreat was a space for us by us, to stay connected with each other and cultivate joy during times of collective grief. You can watch highlights from the Retreat here.

3. Mother’s Day Documentary

A gift for Mother’s Day. A short documentary highlighting the lives and experiences of Black Mothers in their becoming. Produced by the Adornment Stories Team, we were happy to release this conversation on motherhood, identity and mental wellness. Be sure to check out the full documentary. We also have a podcast episode with co-directors Juanita Muwanga and Nellie Diverlus.

4. Social Media Engagement

Since last year, our Instagram following has more than doubled! We’ve also officially opened a Twitter account. Social Media has been one of the main sources of linking our work with the greater community. Seeing the engagement grow has been a source of excitement as more engagement means more voices and perspectives enhancing the conversation.

5. Third Round of Adornment Stories

This year provided an extra challenge as we navigated creating hosting workshops during a global pandemic. With round three of Adornment Stories, we took extra care for the safety of our participants by providing PPE, resources for transportation and alternating virtual sessions. This all while creating a safe space for engaging lessons and dialogue. We are happy to call this round a success! You can view the digital artwork from are participants from the 2020 Virtual Exhibit. We thank them for their beautiful work, their dedication to the program and their willingness to share their experience.

6. Podcast Launch

We have a podcast!! We launched the very first season of the Transformation Stories Podcast, a space for us to dive deeper and learn from each other. For six weeks, we shared stories from real people, journeying and committing to transformation. We know the importance of a space to discuss Black womxn, femme and NB/GNC mental health and holistic wellness. We also deeply believe in the transformative nature of storytelling. Episodes are available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and Youtube.

7. #MyMindMyMagic

Mental Health Awareness Week 2020 ran from October 4th to October 10th. During the week, we launched the second annual #MyMindMyMagic online campaign, sharing relevant information and terminology as well as our own personal stories. We are grateful to Marwa Mohammed for joining the conversation. Search the hashtag on Instagram to check out all the content.

8. Third Sacred Series Events

Working with our third cohort in the midst of a pandemic, we learned a lot about navigating virtual spaces. We work to bring the same inviting and engaging energy that folks found at the top of the year. Check out the highlight video available here. 

9. Artist Talk Back & Transformation Stories Event

It’s only fitting that we ended the year the way we began: another opportunity to gather and share space with the community. The Transformation Stories & Artist Talk Back Event is where we celebrate Black creatives as they share their journeys and transform their stories. We hosted performances, key speakers, artwork + artist panel, as well as deep conversations about mental wellness, healing and growth, good vibes. Stay tuned as we will be sharing the highlight video soon!

10. Facilitators For 2021

Our facilitation roaster continues to grow with each new cohort. We are happy to welcome Alawiya Hassan, Steph Pflugfelder And Sanique Walters to the community of Wellness & Art Educators. Each of our facilitators are skilled at having hard conversations and have gone through our extensive 7 month training program. They are Black women and femmes with lived experiences navigating arts, wellness and mental health.

Building for Tomorrow

Our collective mission is to provide safer spaces for Black women/femme youth to discuss the issues that are impacting their mental health, develop self-love practices and increase earning capacity via digital arts education. There is so much in store for 2021 including our Wellness Week, round four of Adornment Stories and so much more! It’s through our work in 2020 we are able to continue to develop our impact.

Did you attend any of our events? Have you been keeping up with us online? Let us know what’s been your favourite Adornment Stories Event from last year? What are you looking forward to in 2021?