Volume 26
To control a narrative is to hold power. Reclaiming control of our own narrative is the key to healing the traumas of the past. Disempowerment at the hands of oppressive systems left our ancient legacy fractured, many parts of it scattered- while generation after generation has attempted to piece it back together like a broken vase.
We are Black STARSEED - healers of the past and keepers of the future. Story weavers. Our planting of seeds and reaching for stars has always informed humanity’s existence. Our reclaimed stories are the seeds planted, as we reach for OURSELVES. No longer fractured and scattered out of one another’s reach, we instead are scattered across the black of the night sky, illuminating our own path forward.
Just as we carried civilization in our womb, we carry the dreams for our children in our hair. Anchoring the planet between sun and moon, we are the song of our ancestors.
This event is a re-routing of sorts, a ceremony and celebration, of our circling back to our own truth and telling it for ourselves. Each story weaver who will be sharing tonight, is a healing artist in their own way. It is our honor to welcome them and hold space for this very sacred and necessary moment in community together.
PRESENTERS:
ANN-LEE WAITE
My name is Bajra. It means thunderbolt. I received it before leaving for India. When I realized I was being asked to leave for India with no planned return, trusting wholly on guidance to lead the way, I knew I had stepped into another dimension of human experiencing.
LUCIA DAUGHERTY
Lucia Daugherty is a 22-year resident of Asheville, NC, where she has sustained a long-time career as an equity educator and consultant, award winning civil rights organizer, freelance facilitator, resiliency trainer, and life coach.
MICHELE ASHLEY
As a spiritual guide, yoga teacher, life mastery coach and intuitive business consultant, Michele serves in many capacities. Her heart has always been devoted to creating sacred space for others to expand, explore and engage with their own inner wisdom as a path towards to dismantling racial inequities and liberation for all.
MIRANDA WILLIAMS
Miranda Williams is Asheville’s youngest certified doula – by intention. As a teen, Miranda started designing her life early and set out with a mission to support those without the access, opportunities, and tools they need in order to THRIVE and improve their quality of life.
OLUFEMI LEWIS
Olufemi is originally from Charlotte, NC but called Asheville, NC her home for almost 20 years. She’s a mother, daughter, and avid community organizer, currently working with the Sierra Club as a Southeast Regional Distributed Organizer for the Ready for 100 Campaign.
SASHA MITCHELL
Sasha Mitchell is a purveyor of history, community building, storytelling and organizing. Over the past 20 years, Sasha has dedicated her life to memory art, scrapbooking, genealogy research and family history - truly in the throes of crafting and weaving broken stories and memories together.
SPECIAL GUEST EMCEE
CORTINA JENELLE CALDWELL
Cortina is the Founder & Creative Community Organizer of Artists Designing Evolution (adé PROJECT), an artistically-rooted learning organization seeking to create a world beyond oppression, and inequity by building capacity, opportunity, and community with Black, indigenous, people of color (BiPOC).
