Black History Is Still Being Written and We Are Part Of It

Every year, February invites us to reflect on the legacy of Black brilliance, resistance, and innovation. But here’s the truth: Black history isn't just something we study, it's something we live, shape, and expand every single day. At It Takes A Village Collaborative (ITAVcollab), that truth isn't just a statement, it's a practice. As our 7th year of community-centered wellness work unfolds, we are reminded that Black women have always been - and will always be - the bridge between what has been and what is possible.

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Black Women Have Always Been the Bridge
Black women hold together families, communities, and movements, which often without the support or recognition we deserve. From the earliest days of community building to the innovations and leadership we see now, Black women are the connective tissue that keeps resilience alive. At ITAVCollab, we see that truth lived out through every program, every circle, every healing space. We say it boldly: Black history is still being written in the hearts and lives of those showing up for themselves and each other.

Our Wellness Work Is History in Motion
Throughout the past year, ITAVCollab has continued to expand what it means for Black women and their families to be well, whole, and free. Through work grounded in healing centered care, community connection, and cultural celebration, we’ve lifted up voices and stories that too often go unseen.
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Here’s how we’ve been building Black history through wellness:

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1. Wellness as Resistance
Our integrative wellness experiences, from healing retreats to group circles and mental health cohorts,  aren’t just one off experiences, they are acts of liberation. They honor the truth that wellness cannot be separated from justice, community, and culture.  

2. Reentry Reimagined
We continue to center people impacted by incarceration, not as statistics, but as leaders, thinkers, and visionaries. Our approach doesn’t stop at support,  it fosters belonging, growth, and leadership. It’s not just reentry,  it’s reimagining what freedom and care look like in community.

3. Youth Emotional Wellness
Young Black girls and boys deserve spaces to be seen, heard, and supported. Our youth curriculum reaffirm that emotional wellness for young people is not a luxury, but a foundation to thriving futures. 
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4. Culturally-Grounded Care
At every turn, we anchor our work in cultural understanding because restoration happens most deeply when it resonates with identity, history, and community strength. ITAVCollab doesn’t just serve Black women; it celebrates them, their stories, their struggles, their resiliency.

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​This Is What We Mean by Historically Resilient Community Members
When we say historically resilient, we mean:

• Women who have survived systems that weren’t designed for their thriving.
• Mothers who nurture healing even when care is difficult to access.
• Community leaders who create systems of safety, belonging, and care.
• Voices that continue to tell truth to power.

Black resilience isn’t a relic of the past. It’s active, evolving, and embodied in every Black woman who shows up for herself, for her family, and for her community

Year 7: A Sign of Endurance, Growth, and Promise
Seven years is not just an anniversary -  it’s a testament to what sustained, culturally-grounded wellness work can accomplish. It shows we are not here for temporary fixes but for long-term transformation - reshaping narratives about Black wellness, redefining what care looks like, and ensuring that future generations can stand on a foundation that is stronger than before.
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Black history isn't confined by the past. It is happening right now; in healing spaces, in community gatherings, and in circles of truth and care. ITAVCollab is honored to be a part of that unfolding story.
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Every workshop, retreat, cohort and healing moment contribute to a legacy of Black wellness and liberation that will outlive us all.
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Black women have always been the bridge, and we continue to build the world on the other side.