Wisdom Institute's 4th Quarter Newsletter

2024 At a Glance

…from Co-Executive Director, Cicely Allen

After working tirelessly in 2024 protecting voter rights, forwarding the right to counsel if facing eviction, advocating for water as a human right and preserving and celebrating the sovereignty and sacredness of our wombs by seeking reproductive justice, I am reminded of the deep wisdom carried in the rhythms of nature: there is a time to plant, a time to cultivate, and a time to rest. Just as the earth thrives when nurtured and respected, so too must we care for ourselves and one another to realize healing justice. Our work is rooted in the belief that self-care and community care are revolutionary acts for Black women and girls. When we tend to our spirits, minds, and bodies,—and when we extend that care to our communities—we affirm our worth and our power. This is especially vital as we face intersecting systems of oppression that seek to drain us, placing us on the frontlines of battles fueled by hate, disconnection and fear-based consciousness. Yet and still, Black women have always shown remarkable resilience fortified by sisterhood, spirituality, creativity, and the ability to “make a way out of no way” which is what this season undoubtedly demands of us in order to survive and thrive.

We know another future is possible—a future where we are empowered, creative, connected and liberated. This future is not a distant dream; it begins now, in the choices we make to rest, reflect, and center love and joy even in resistance. It begins when we invest in healing for our collective liberation, honoring the ancestors, and practicing relational organizing to build systems that affirm our well-being and transformation.

To our funders, Champions for Wisdom, womanist network, volunteers, donors, partners and fellow leaders in the healing justice space: you are essential to this vision. Your time, resources, and commitment are the seeds that help us grow and flourish. Together, we are cultivating a movement that honors our interconnectedness, the sacredness of our bodies and the vitality of our communities.

Now more than ever it is important for us to continue to audaciously and bodaciously show up for this work and for each other—with care, courage, and the deep belief in the power of transformational solidarity. Thank you for being part of this journey, for your enduring partnership, and for holding space for Revolutionary Love.

With gratitude,

Cicely Allen, Co-Executive Director

The Return of Listening Circles:

 A Space for Connection and Healing

We are excited to announce the return of Listening Circles on January 25, 2025! It has been a while since we last gathered in this sacred way, and we couldn’t be more delighted to reintroduce this space for healing and community. 

Listening Circles offer a unique opportunity to connect with others who are on their journey to self-transformation. As sistahs, we will explore womb-centered healing modalities, engage in joyful art-making, and share valuable information and resources to nurture our individual and collective healing. These circles are more than a gathering—they are a sanctuary for self-empowerment, restoration, and solidarity.

Listening Circles will be hosted at the Mama Akua Community House the last Saturday of each month. We invite sistah’s into our healing justice community as we build and strengthen the bonds that hold us together. Whether you’re seeking connection, healing, or simply a moment to breathe deeply, Listening Circles is the space for you.

Register today! We can’t wait to welcome you into this sacred circle of deep listening and sisterhood.

Join Us on MLK Day for the Wise Womxn Virtual Healing Circle

January 20, 2025 will mark the official holiday honoring the birth of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose 96th birthday will be just days before.  Wisdom Institute will be lifting up community leaders and the movements they lead with a ritual, prayer and a healing experience from 10:00am to 10:45am. This is Wisdom Institute’s fourth year celebrating sisters and brothers in this way. 

Join our virtual MLK Day observance on Facebook Live on Wisdom Institute Detroit Facebook page as we celebrate the movement building accomplishments of women in housing justice, urban farmers, herbalists, men for reproductive justice and healing justice thought leaders who persistently bring justice, root work and consciousness to leadership and service for the dignity and respect that everyday people deserve in Detroit, the state, the nation, and the world.

See the list of 2025 honorees below. 

Click here to checkout last year's celebration!

Healing Justice in Action:

 Reflecting on Our Collective Triumphs in 2024

As we step into a new year with  heightened purpose, we are filled with gratitude for the incredible strides we made together in 2024. Rooted in the spirit-led, womb-centered work that guides our mission, we’ve seen the power of Black women and girls ignited in pursuit of healing justice. Our Everyone Counts Coalition Detroit (EOC) participation, energy, and commitment have been nothing short of transformative. Here’s a look back at some of the moments and milestones that shaped our year:

Mobilizing for Civic Engagement

We recognize that healing justice begins with empowerment, and there’s no better way to embody that than through civic engagement. Last year, we registered over 200 voters and held a National Voter Registration Day celebration to ensure  voices were heard at the ballot box.

Everyone Counts Coalition Detroit at the National Voter Registration Day Celebration

Co-Executive Director, LaTanya Bell and Volunteer Manager, Angela Penermon leading the charge at the National Voter Registration Day celebration

Voter Engagement Programs Manager, Ashli Burney being honored at the National Voter Registration Day celebration

WI Champion/Register HER Fellow Demitrielle Williams registering voters at a community table event

WI Champions/Register HER Fellows registering voters at  a community table event

WI Champions/Register HER Fellows ready to take charge during WI's National Voters Registration day

Voting is a Superpower Coloring Book workshop at Catherine C. Blackwell Institute

Wisdom Institute’s Healing Circle Before Election Day

Phone and Text Banking 

Thanks in part to a partnership with Register HER, EOC sent over 25,000 texts to Black and and Brown women and made over 100,000 calls to voters by hosting in-person and multiple virtual phone banks.  We connected with voters and reminded them to cast their vote during the voting period.

Phone Bank lead Sheritta Buford supporting EOC member LaKila Salter at an In-Person Phone Bank conducted at the Wisdom Institute office

Election Protection

During the vote early period and on election days, we proudly stood together in election protection efforts, safeguarding the integrity of the voting process and providing support to voters as they exercised their rights. These efforts remind us that healing justice starts with collective action and that every vote represents a step toward enfranchised power.

Field Organizer Robin Craft and members of EOC serving as Poll Monitors protecting the vote!

Business-2-Business Hub (B2B)

Through our B2B Hub, we engaged and enrolled several local businesses in Detroit’s district 2 to foster collaboration and economic empowerment. This initiative strengthens our collective power and ensures that healing justice extends into our local economy.

Listening Tours for Legislative Change

Our Listening Tour brought us face-to-face with legislators to advocate for policies that center the needs of Black women and girls. Key focuses included:

• Reproductive Justice: Upholding bodily autonomy and access to essential reproductive and postpartum care.
• Clean, Affordable Drinking Water: Ensuring access to safe water as a fundamental human right.

Right to Counsel if facing eviction: Ensuring full funding of the Detroit Right to Counsel law through these stops, Wisdom Institute elevated the voices of Black women and girls, demonstrating the power of collective advocacy to influence meaningful change.

Everyone Counts Detroit Coalition on the Listening Tour at Senator Mary Cavanagh’s and State Representative Abraham Aiyash’s Community Coffee Hours

Celebrating at WI’s annual Womb Liberation Day Festival

Our annual Womb Liberation Day Festival was a sacred space for Black women and girls to honor their bodies, celebrate our resilience, and embrace joy. Through a powerful panel discussion on water affordability, womb meditation, honoring the ancestors, and movement, we nurtured SpiritMindBody and affirmed the importance of centering womb consciousness in our journey toward healing justice.

Co-Executive Directors LaTanya Bell and Cicely Allen celebrating Wisdom’s Womb Liberation Day Festival

Belly Dancing at WLD!

Art Make-n-Takes at WLD

Art of Listening Training

We believe healing justice begins with listening deeply—both to each other and to ourselves. In 2024, we trained 12 women in the Art of Listening led by Dr. Diane Fabu Jackson, empowering them with skills to hold sacred space, facilitate dialogue, and strengthen community bonds as conscious practitioners.  To date we have trained over 20 African American women and our accomplices to be Listening Partners.

C-e-l-ebrate Good Times – Come On!

Celebrating Black Maternal Health Week with the State of Birth Justice

Celebrating Black Breastfeeding Week at Wisdom Institute’s Black Breastfeeding Griot event with  birth and breastfeeding community leaders

Celebrating at Mothering Justice’s Ballot Bash!!

Mothering Justice presented the Wisdom Institute with a 2024 Kindred Governess award at the Ballot Bash!

WI celebrating at We the People of Detroit's Water for Everybody campaign launch!

Looking Ahead

Our successes reflect the strength of our shared commitment to healing justice. As we move into 2025, we are excited to expand our work, deepen our relationships, and continue uplifting Black women and girls through training, advocacy, and community engagement. Together, we are not just imagining a better future; we are co-creating it!

...a message from WI's Community & Volunteer Liaison,

Angela Penermon

Happy New Year Everyone!

Looking back on our staff retreat we shared fun Team Building Activities, Reflection and Goal Setting, Fun and Relaxation Activities we created fun artistic conversation. Laughter, tears and truths. Staff members contributed constructive feedback on ways to improve our workplace culture and operations strategies for overcoming challenges and maximizing success in 2025.

We enjoyed moments of relaxation, cooking and gametime are holiday party expressed enthusiasm and camaraderie among our guests thank you for a wonderful year.

We are delighted to share our creations below from our glass art class, facilitated by Angela during our retreat.

What is a Champion for Wisdom and what do they do? 

Wisdom Institute (WI) Advocacy Champions are selected for their commitment to gender justice, their involvement with Wisdom Institute’s Everyone Counts Coalition and ability to lead, challenge and effect change. Champions are considered experts based on their lived experiences, level of knowledge, understanding and passion related to the issues in our hearts and minds. Wisdom Institute holds positions at community tables, committees and coalitions that build power for transformative change. WI uses its voice at the table to provide the perspective of African American women. Champions for Wisdom have exciting opportunities for personal growth and development to influence those in positions of power. They bring their experiences into outreach dialogues, share resources and information and are in the process of developing a resource guide.

read more

Duties of a Champion for Wisdom:

• Attend monthly community committee/coalition meetings and report on meeting outcomes
• Speak at monthly Everyone Counts Detroit Coalition meetings
• Identify partnership opportunities within committees/coalitions 
• Support message development
• Support volunteer engagement and recruitment efforts
• Support with planning and execution of community events

Benefits of being a Champion for Wisdom:

• Access to WI’s robust womxnist network 
• Recognition of champion status
• Monthly stipend
• Personal and professional growth 

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer champion for Wisdom, please sign up today! 

Wisdom Institute turns 25!!!

We invite you to join us in this season of generosity by participating in fundraisers that support our vital work. Click here to share our toolkit including messaging with your family & friends and donate today.

Grant Writing Class coming in February 2025



As some of you may know, Wisdom has been promising to host a grant writing class. It’s coming in February 8, 2025. This is a bartering opportunity. In exchange for this learning experience, you will be writing a grant in “real time” for our Listening Partners programming.  Class is limited to 12 who are WI volunteers and champions. Contact Gwendolyn Winston to signup at: gwendlywin@yahoo.com 

Water Advocacy

Access to clean, affordable water is critical to our daily lives. People

need water to drink, to bathe, to wash their hands, to cook, to survive

and, ultimately, to live. Despite the necessity of water, millions

of individuals living in the United States face the daily reality of

exposure to contaminated water sources that present serious risks to

reproductive and overall health. Unsafe water can cause serious illness,

including cancer in adults and children, and can damage children’s

nervous systems and hinder brain development. Unsafe water can also

interfere with people’s reproductive health, for example by increasing

the chances of experiencing infertility or jeopardizing a person’s ability

to have a healthy pregnancy. As members of We The People of Detroit's Water Policy Education and Engagement Project, WI will continue to educate and engage our community and advocate for life just water policies.

Take the Water Affordability Pledge / Join the fight

 Share the Water for Everybody campaign!

Water Is a Right: Join the Fight for Water For Everybody!

Water is a basic human need—and access to clean, safe water should never be out of reach for anyone. The "Water For Everybody" Campaign Collaboration between We the People of Detroit (WPD) and Detroit vs. Everybody is raising awareness and driving action to ensure water justice for all.

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Together, we can make water accessible for everyone.

WEL Coalition

Water Equals Life (WEL) is a coalition of local, statewide and national organizations that believe in the vital importance of water for sustaining life and fostering healthy communities. The founding organizations of the WEL Coalition include We the People Detroit, Freshwater Future, and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). 

We the People of Detroit, with support from Freshwater Future, listened to community needs in Michigan regarding access to affordable water. Based on the community feedback, the pledge was formed, serving as the foundation for the development of legislation to create a state-wide water affordability program for low-income residents.

These organizations, along with NWF, united under a common goal – ensuring equitable access to clean water for all Michiganders. Our alliance stands resolute in advocating to end water shutoffs and championing a pivotal bill that institutes fair and sustainable rate-based water billing, transcending mere water assistance. We strive to transform the water landscape, fostering a future where every individual can partake in affordable and uninterrupted access to this precious resource.

Our coalition is growing! Wisdom Institute continues to play an instrumental role in educating about our coalition and recruiting new coalition members. We have many other partners who believe in water affordability and have joined our campaign. You should too! To join our mighty coalition, send a email with your contact information to Co-Director, LaTanya Bell at latanya@thewisdominstitute.org

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