The Ministry on Racism hosted the Fall 2025 Online Retreat for Friends of Color from November 7-9, 2025. The retreat brought together Friends from across the United States, Mexico, and Europe for a weekend of worship, reflection, and community building. The theme was Rooted Together, Between Worlds: Holding Joy and Justice. Please read below for some key takeaways from the retreat. The Spring Retreat for Friends of Color is scheduled for May 2026!

The retreat was a collective exploration of the stories that shape attenders: the migrations that people have experienced, the worlds that we navigate, and the connections that sustain Friends. Through storytelling, reflection, and community building, participants co-created a space to honor both the joy and justice we carry as Friends of Color. The gathering was a testament to what roots us across diasporas, what pulls us between different spaces and identities, and how we hold the fullness of our experiences in community.

Participant Feedback

This retreat demonstrated the vital importance of creating intentional spaces for Friends of Color to gather, share stories, and build beloved community. As one participant said: “Great work! ❤️”

Many participants expressed deep appreciation for the retreat experience. One person shared:

The heartfelt conversations, learning about stuff, getting to know people, hanging out in a fun way (hangout time), getting tools – such as for self care, worshipping together” were what they appreciated most. Another noted their gratitude for “sharing experiences, memories, and stories that reflect our pride and pain of being a person of color in America.

The genuine connections and vulnerability participants brought to the space created an atmosphere of trust and mutual care. Throughout the weekend, participants engaged deeply with the theme. One Friend reflected on migration and authenticity by sharing their journey from extreme poverty—growing up without electricity or water—and how migrating away from those conditions led to being criticized for rising above their circumstances. What was once intended as an insult for seeking education and opportunity, they noted, would now be received as a compliment, speaking to how they’ve reclaimed their journey and dignity. Another participant noted the relevance of Kenneth and Mamie Clark’s monumental “Doll Study,” reminding us how these foundational studies on internalized racism continue to resonate today.

The intensity and richness of conversations presented a beautiful challenge. Several participants noted that while the depth of engagement was powerful, the pacing made it difficult to step away for breaks. This feedback affirms the magnetic pull of meaningful connection and the importance of building in more rest time!

Retreat Activities

The retreat began Friday evening with introductions, community agreements, and reminders to co-create an equitable online container that would guide our time together. Participants shared land and ancestor acknowledgments, thanking the ancestors they wanted to bring into the space.

Saturday began with Meeting for Worship. This opening worship set a contemplative tone that carried throughout our time together, reminding us that our work is both spiritual and practical.

Following worship, participants engaged in a video roundtable on migration that explored different dimensions of the immigrant and migrant experience. Participants watched and discussed Hamza Haq’s TEDx talk “Immigrants, the Multi-Culture, and the Search for Authenticity” and One Mic History’s “How Jim Crow Created the Great Migration.” These videos sparked powerful conversations about how migration has positioned us, sometimes in solidarity, sometimes in tension, and how we hold both its gifts and challenges.

The afternoon included an activity honoring ancestors through the sharing of cherished objects, including photographs, a recipe book, a pair of earrings, a watch, and a blanket. Each object carried stories of love, survival, and legacy. People told stories about migration, identity, and belonging. One participant recalled their family’s history, noting, “recycling before recycling”: their ancestors creatively reused and repurposed materials out of necessity and wisdom. This was a testament to resourcefulness born from both limitation and ingenuity.

In a brainstorming session, participants shared their hopes and concerns for FGC’s strategic antiracist and anti-colonial work. Saturday concluded with social time, including music, connection, and play.

Sunday morning’s activity used Tricia Hersey’s Nap Ministry Rest Deck, inviting participants to choose affirmations that spoke to where they are in their journeys: rooted in their truth, navigating between worlds, or holding joy and justice together. As one person said, rest is a human right! Another person reflected on the challenge of balancing rest with societal demands, particularly in a capitalist system. An older Friend emphasized the importance of listening to one’s body as a teacher and living in the moment.

Resources Shared

This retreat included many resources! Participants shared books that deepened their exploration of identity, resistance, and community across the African diaspora. Here is a list of literary works that made their way into the retreat:

• “The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s Housee,”, by Audre Lorde
• Yuval Taylor’s Zora and Langston: A Story of Friendship and Betrayal
• Daina Ramey Berry’s Surviving Southampton: African American Women and Resistance in Nat Turner’s Community
• Paule Marshall’s Brown Girl, Brownstones
• Delores S. Williams’ theological work Sisters in the Wilderness.
• Backs Against the Wall
• The Wheel of Emotions
• information about Lena Richards’ cookbook research
• Work by Asa Hilliard, Manu Meyer, and Lewis Gordon,

In addition, one Friend shared Howard Thurman’s poem “The Work of Christmas” which resonated with the group’s commitment to justice work:

When the song of the angels is stilled
When the star in the sky is gone
When the kings and princes are home
When the shepherds are back with their flock
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost
To heal the broken
To feed the hungry
To release the prisoner
To rebuild the nations
To bring peace among brothers
To make music in the heart.

Looking Ahead

The Spring 2026 Online Retreat for Friends of Color is scheduled for May 2026. Stay tuned for more information! Planning for the spring retreat will begin in December. If you’re interested in joining the planning committee, please reach out to alicia nance (alician@fgcquaker.org) or Shaina Robinson (shainar@fgcquaker.org). 

Thank You

The Ministry on Racism extends deep gratitude to the dedicated planning committee and facilitators who made this retreat possible through their time, wisdom, and care in creating this transformative gathering.

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For more information about Ministry on Racism programming, visit fgcquaker.org or contact alicia nance, Ministry on Racism Program Coordinator, at alician@fgcquaker.org or Shaina Robinson, Ministry on Racism Program Associate, at shainar@fgcquaker.org.