ABOUT
In 1987 Toni Morrison penned the essay, 'The Site of Memory'. Through this essay Morrison explains, and illuminates, how writers, Black writers, confront and cope with historical traumas through literary archeology and the recollection of memory.
Deeply influenced by Morrison, SITES OF MEMORY [SOM] seeks to engage collective memory not to recollect our trauma but to re-engage our agency. Using art and literature as portals for curiosity SITES OF MEMORY offers space and time to contemplate and consider past history, present reality, and the developing future.
“You know, they straightened out the Mississippi River in places, to make room for hourse and livable acreage. Occasionally the river floods these places. "Floods" is the word they use, but in fact it is not flooding; it is remembering. Remembering where it used to be. All water has a perfect memory and is forever trying to get back to where it was. Writers are like that: remembering where we were, that valley we ran through, what the banks were like, the light that was there and the route back to our original place. It is emotional memory--what the nerves and the skin remember as well as how it appeared. And a rush of imagination is our "flooding.”
Toni Morrison, ‘The Site of Memory’
Through dialogue and expression, we collectively contemplate the question “What do we want?”, and discuss pathways towards more well, harmonious, and whole ways of being.
The May 23rd SITES OF MEMORY will center the work of Toni Cade Bambara, and her 1980 essay, ‘What Is It I Think I’m Doing Anyhow’.
WHAT TO EXPECT
LITUATION As in, a very literary situation.
Readings from the featured luminary
Meditations centering the works of other past and present luminaries
Mindful considerations to help guide the processing of emotion and expression of thought
CONTEMPLATION (aka) Sitting with it.
The practice of exercising pause before determining a thought, deciding on our feeling or reacting to internal or external stimuli or circumstance
DIALOGUE A collaborative, open-ended conversation focused on deep listening, understanding, and exploring perspectives to "think together".
Listening to see from points of view outside our own
Discussing to invite and welcome curiosity
Uncovering new or different perspective, idea and thought
Expanding the heart and the mind
NOURISHMENT (aka) Lunch will be provided.
Attendees will be asked to provide notes on dietary restrictions upon confirmation of attendance
WHO THIS IS FOR
The logophiles
The curious
Those looking to develop, deepen, and expand
The heart-centered and open-minded
CONFIRM YOUR
ATTENDANCE
A day-long retreat, and dialogue series, centering literature and art from past and present luminaries. An invitation to dialogue, expression, and contemplate the question “What do we want?”, and discuss pathways towards more well, harmonious, and whole ways of being.
10:00AM - 4:00PM (lunch provided)
Facilitator: Ẹniafẹ Isis Adewale
Guest: To Be Announced
Featured Luminary: Toni Cade Bambara
PAY-IT-FORWARD
Can’t attend but want to support? Pay-It-Forward goes towards SITES OF MEMORY facilitation budget and helps to support attendees who need assistance with covering the cost to attend.
"All water has a perfect memory."
Toni Morrison, 'The Site of Memory'
"All water has a perfect memory." Toni Morrison, 'The Site of Memory'
Sites of Memory is my “medicine in the honey”, my menacing in this system and society…
For over two decades I made a career out of bringing ideas to life. My official, and unofficial titles have included Event Producer, Project Manager, Account Director, overall Multiple-hat-Wearer and Magic Maker. In 2025 I began transitioning out of my career in corporate advertising, a decision made in order to more fully, and freely, ground into my voice, my agency, and creative gifts.
I understand one of my gifts is the ability to alchemize emotion (energy-in-motion) in a way that allows others to experience emotion differently. I alchemize through the expression of language, and language is a jumping off point for moving into action.
SITES OF MEMORY is my “medicine in the honey”, my menacing in this system and society created to keep us from each other and ourselves.
My hope for this offering is multifaceted, amongst the facets in the hope that we return to ourselves, our heritage and wisdom of our lineage; the selves that pre-date the western world and civilization; the selves that understand we are not islands amongst ourselves, and instead know we are tethered, and this tethering is our protection, our safety, and our sanctuary.