A couple of weeks ago, April 12 -14, Ignite the South held its second in-person Retreat, this time in Jackson, Mississippi.

The theme of this Retreat was “Resistance & Resilience” and the cohort spent three days reflecting on organizing principles within historical lineages and sharing current experiences with each other and their coaches. They were hosted by leaders in the community and shown the places where history – of oppression and resistance and joy – happened.

As said by Naima Savage, one of Ignite the South’s inspiring faculty, this kind of space is rare and yet so valuable. The participants have a shared commitment to personal transformation and igniting change toward racial and economic justice in the region. They said they felt a sense of belonging, safety, and power just by being together.

Ignite the South, coordinated and facilitated by Imagine Us LLC and funded by Open Horizon, is a development program for emerging leaders in Southern social justice organizations. It is designed for staff and elected leaders on the front arc of their careers who have substantial responsibility in social, racial, and economic justice organizations in the South. Ignite the South is an opportunity to learn, reflect, and conspire together, and combines in-person immersive experiences, individual coaching, and online learning. The first Retreat was held in January in New Orleans, and its theme was Community & Legacy. The third and last Retreat for this inaugural cohort, themed Building Power & Building on Ignite the South, will be held this July in Atlanta, Georgia.