The devasting health and economic impact of the pandemic on Black and Latinx communities are particularly severe for the women of color leaders and freedom fighters who have been busy coping, pivoting, and re-directing significant aspects of their lives under tremendous, unprecedented amounts of stress…all while raising families, fighting to keep their doors open and keep food on the table. The SELFF Care Sabbatical will support women of color leaders to step back from the challenges, exhaustion, and stresses of work to rest deeply, cultivate real healing, and reconnect to their vitality and balance. This opportunity affords women of color leaders to recharge and empower the leadership throughout their organizations as they take a vital step back from their day-to-day work to pursue a self-directed course of learning, travel, observation, and reflection. The result will be stronger and more resilient leaders who are better prepared to meet the unsustainable stress and overwhelming demands of rising community needs, inadequate budgets, and understaffed teams.

Congratulations to the 10 amazing leaders and freedom fighters on the front lines of care in their respective communities! They will each receive $5,000 in unrestricted funds, become part of a community of care that centers on healing and restoration, and help co-create the self-care movement-building strategies needed to make long-term change possible.