Healing from Religious Trauma
and Reconnecting with Spirituality
Co-hosted by Ebony Aya, Christena Cleveland, and Carmen Means
Saturday, June 27, 2026 | 9 am - 12 Noon | Minneapolis, MN
Despite the rampant patriarchy, homophobia, and white supremacy in many institutional church spaces, Black Americans have lingered longer than most. But we are beginning to leave the church. And as we do, we find ourselves asking, “What now? How do I nurture a vibrant spirituality that can heal my experiences of oppression? Where can I find a life-giving path forward?
You need not journey alone.
Join Ebony Aya, Christena Cleveland, and Carmen Means as they share their unique journeys from stifling religion to liberating spiritual traditions that honor ancestral memory and the sacred Black feminine within. Through community conversation and writing prompts, attendees will discover the beauty within their own personal story and uncover the wisdom for their next step toward spiritual wholeness. Come for encouragement, guidance, and opportunities to connect with local leaders, authors, and communities who would love to accompany you on your journey of healing and reclamation.
The Details
Who: All people who long to continue healing from religious trauma while nurturing their spirituality.
What: A liberating community gathering among kindred spirits and trusted guides
When: Saturday, June 27 | 9 am - 12 Noon
Where: University of Minnesota Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC), 2001 Plymouth Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55411
Cost: $25. Please note: tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. Additionally, food and books will be available for purchase on site at the event.
Meet your co-hosts
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Ebony Aya
Ebony is the founder of Aya Collective Publishing, a scholar, writer, and curator of Black women’s storytelling. Her work is grounded in Black feminist ways of knowing and explores writing as a site of memory, resistance, and spiritual practice. Through her leadership, she has supported collaborative publishing projects that center the voices and lived experiences of Black women. Recent works include Reconsidering Eve: Towards a Deepened Consciousness (2024), Finding the Voice Within (2024), and Incomplete Stories: On Loss, Love, and Hope (2023). Learn more about Aya Collective.
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Christena Cleveland
Christena is an award-winning author and scholar, founder of the Black Madonna Freedom School, international speaker, and world-renowned teacher of the Black Madonna and the Sacred Black Feminine. A weaver of Black liberation and divine feminine wisdom, Christena integrates psychology, theology, storytelling, and somatics as she guides people into freedom, wholeness, and embodied justice. Recent books include The Black Madonna: Icon of Resistance and Nourisher of Souls (2026) and God Is a Black Woman (2022). Learn more about Christena.
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Carmen Means
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