Early bird access for you + a guest—just $99 through Dec 15!
Early bird access for you + a guest—just $99 through Dec 15!
Black Contemplative Prayer Virtual Summit
in Partnership with Awakenings, Inc.
Embracing Black Presence and Contemplative Practices
Deepening the Well of Black Contemplative Wisdom
Join us for the Second Black Contemplative Prayer Virtual Summit, a gathering of Black spiritual teachers and thought leaders who will guide us into deeper waters of contemplative prayer and practice. This summit is designed for everyone, led by Black voices, and dedicated to deepening the well of contemplative wisdom within community. Building on the foundation of the inaugural summit, this year turns inward and downward, into the rich wisdom of Black contemplative voices and focuses on healing, wholeness, and cultivating inner sanctuary for ourselves and our communities.
Early bird access for you + a guest—just $99 through Dec 15!
Why This Summit Matters?
The Black Contemplative Prayer Summit by our host and curator Tia Norman
In the contemplative community, diversity is essential. This summit addresses the critical question: "Where are the leaders and practitioners of color?" By providing a platform for Black contemplative speakers and teachers, we elevate the Black voice and ensure it leads the conversation on spiritual growth and practice.
Early bird access for you + a guest—just $99 through Dec 15!
OUR SPEAKERS
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JASMINE BELLAMY
Jasmine Bellamy is the founder of Love 101 Ministries and The LOVING Leader, a senior business executive, Spiritual Director, and contemplative preacher. A doctoral candidate at Fuller Seminary, she explores the transformative power of love in leadership and life, and hosts The Call to Love Experience podcast.
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The Rev. Dr. Mark Bozzuti-Jones
The Rev. Dr. Mark Francisco Bozzuti-Jones is an Episcopal Jamaican priest at Trinity Church Wall Street in New York City. He served as director for Pastoral Care and senior clergy for partnerships in Latin America and the Caribbean. Currently, he serves as the Priest and director of spiritual formation at Trinity Retreat Center in West Cornwall, CT.
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E. TREY CLARK
E. Trey Clark, PhD is an assistant professor of preaching and spiritual formation at Fuller Seminary. An ordained minister, he serves on the pastoral team at his local church and enjoys walking with young adults as a spiritual companion. Trey is the author of Black Contemplative Preaching: A Hidden History of Prayer, Proclamation, and Prophetic Witness, and he is currently co-editing (with Jennifer Ackerman and Luke Powery) a book on the African American mystic, pastor, and theologian Howard Thurman.
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DREW JACKSON
Drew Jackson is a poet, speaker, and public theologian. He is the author of God Speaks Through Wombs: Poems on God’s Unexpected Coming, which was a finalist for the Christian Book Award, and Touch the Earth: Poems on The Way. He was a contributing artist on Jon Batiste’s Grammy-nominated album World Music Radio, and also appeared in the award-winning documentary American Symphony on Netflix. Drew currently works as the Managing Director of Formation for the Center for Action and Contemplation, and lives in Brooklyn, NY with his wife and daughters.
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CAMERON JOHNSON
Cameron Johnson is a contemplative teacher, speaker, and spiritual companion based in Atlanta, GA. He graduated from Bethune-Cookman University in 2015 and from Candler School of Theology with an MDiv in 2019. Cameron offers grounded and compassionate presence to those who are questioning, exploring, and seeking to deepen their inner lives.
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QUIANA LARAE
Quiana LaRae is a financial activist devoted to the healing and reimagining of our relationship with money. Through her work at Saintwell Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit media company, she explores contemplative practice as a gentle pathway to soften shame, reclaim agency, and redefine wealth.
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JOSUÉ PEREA
Guesnerth Josué Perea serves as Director of Black Lives and Contemplation for the Center for Spiritual Imagination, Executive Director of the afrolatin@ forum, and as Executive Producer of the documentary Faith in Blackness. His perspectives on AfroLatinidad and spirituality have been featured in publications such as the New York Times, the New Yorker, and USA Today.
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GIGI ROSS
Gigi Ross is the Learning Experience Manager for the Center for Action and Contemplation, helping to create a container that supports spiritual transformation for students in CAC Living School and online courses. She has served as a spiritual director for over 25 years. She lives in Albuquerque, NM.
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VANESSA SADLER
Vanessa Sadler is a mixed woman of African American, Native American, Irish, and British descent. As a trauma-informed spiritual director and story work practitioner, she approaches sessions with the understanding that our styles of relating with Sacred Mystery, ourselves and one another weren't formed in a vacuum.
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MARY WILLIAMS
A commissioned presenter of Centering Prayer, Mary Williams is also a writer, editor, lector, and retreat facilitator. She currently serves as chapter coordinator of Contemplative Outreach North San Diego.
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Our Final Speaker — Coming Soon!
We invite you to hold space with us as we await the final voice joining this sacred gathering — details coming soon!
Keynote
Lerita Coleman Brown, PhD, Professor Emerita of Psychology, Agnes Scott College, is a spiritual director/companion, author, retreat leader, and speaker. She earned her BA from UC Santa Cruz and PhD from Harvard University and completed the Spiritual Guidance Program at the Shalem Institute. Lerita promotes contemplative spirituality, the living wisdom of Howard Thurman, and uncovering the peace and joy in one’s heart on her website, leritacolemanbrown.com and in other media. She appears in the documentaries, Back Against the Wall: The Howard Thurman Story, and The Black Church: This is Our Story, This is Our Song. Her books include When the Heart Speaks, Listen—Discovering Inner Wisdom and What Makes You Come Alive: A Spiritual Walk with Howard Thurman. Lerita is a most grateful heart (31 years) and kidney (20+ years) transplant recipient and survivor of several other medical ordeals.
Early bird access for you + a guest—just $99 through Dec 15!
You’ll Leave With:
Wisdom from Spiritual Teachers: Gain new perspectives on prayer and practice from esteemed spiritual teachers and contemplative practitioners.
Growth in Your Prayer Life: Learn how to begin, grow, and expand your prayer life by integrating contemplative principles and practices into your daily routine.
Broader Understanding: Understand how nurturing one's inner life can significantly impact how people of color navigate the world's complexities.
Practical Tools for Activism: Discover practical ways to engage contemplation as a tool for social activism.
Community and Connection: Know that you are not alone in your quest for community and contemplation.
Early bird access for you + a guest—just $99 through Dec 15!
“In the stillness, there is a depth of knowing that connects us to God, creation, and one another.”
— dr. BARBARA HOLMES
SESSIONS
Time Zone: US Central Standard
Rev. Dr. Mark Bozzuti-Jones
Grounded and Centered: Opening Practice
Saturday, February 21st, 9:15 - 9:45 AM
Establishing a foundation for our time together this weekend, rooted in presence, story, and practice.
E. TREY CLARK, PhD
Deep River: Prayer in a Troubled World
Saturday, February 21st, 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
What does it mean to pray in a world of relentless suffering and injustice? This question and many others are addressed by the African American mystic, theologian, and pastor Howard Thurman. In this session, we will consider the wisdom Thurman offers as we seek to cultivate a life of prayer that leads toward the renewal of our soul and society.
JOSUÉ PEREA
The Dynamic Contemplative: Deepening Your Well
Saturday, February 21st, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Many of us may have a contemplative practice, but how can we expand our understanding and embrace a dynamic approach? Join us to explore new modalities that help us deepen our inner life and achieve communal liberation. This conversation is designed to help us broaden our contemplative toolkits and share that journey with others.
GIGI ROSS
Contemplative Intercessory Prayer
Saturday, February 21st, 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
A contemplative version of intercessory prayer.
VANESSA SADLER
Creative Expression as Contemplative Practice
Saturday, February 21st, 1:30-2:30 PM
Discover the profound spiritual connection between contemplative awareness and co-creation, exploring how mindful presence can become the wellspring of authentic outpouring. This session emphasizes contemplation as a conduit for creative expression through the practices of openness, receptivity, and remaining present to what is emerging in the moment.
CAMERON JOHNSON
Hip Hop as Contemplative Practice
Saturday, February 21st: 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
Hip Hop is a site of meaning making for BIPOC folks because of its focus on context and lived experience. This session invites participants to reimagine the boundaries between sacred and secular. Through the practice of sacred listening, Hip Hop becomes a doorway to Divine Presence.
JASMINE BELLAMY
Lectio Amoris
Sunday, February 22nd, 9:15 AM - 9:45 AM
Lectio Amoris, or “reading of love,” is a contemplative practice of encountering the Divine through the lens of love. Rooted in the tradition of Lectio Divina, it invites us to move beyond interpretation into intimacy—listening for Love’s voice in the text as it connects us to ourselves, one another, and to the Holy.
DREW JACKSON
Creativity and the Flow of the Spirit
Sunday, February 22nd, 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
Explore creativity as the sacred current moving through our lives—calling us to imagine, name, and shape what longs to be born. Through story and reflection, we’ll listen for the quiet rhythms of the Spirit and consider how our creative work becomes an act of truth-telling, resistance, and hope. This is an invitation to trust the holy imagination within and follow where it leads.
Our Final Speaker
Announced Soon!
Sunday, February 22nd, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
We invite you to hold space with us as we await the final voice joining this sacred gathering — details coming soon!
MARY WILLIAMS
Practice: Centering Prayer
Sunday, February 22nd, 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Centering Prayer is a contemplative practice grounded in the Christian mystical tradition, emphasizing silence, stillness and solitude to foster a deeper relationship with God. Practitioners sit in silence, typically for 20 minutes, with the intention of consenting to God’s presence and action within.
QUIANA LARAE
Money & Contemplation: Deepening the Well
Sunday, February 22nd, 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Money is a mirror, reflecting our stories, fears, and beliefs. This session explores how contemplative practice can soften money’s grip and reveal a quieter wisdom rooted in sufficiency. Together, we’ll listen for what “enough” means in our lives and how money can become a well of possibility rather than scarcity.
Lerita Coleman Brown, PhD
Keynote - Living Spirit-Guided: Replenish Your Well
Sunday, February 22nd, 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
Howard Thurman became a deep well of living wisdom (that continues to feed us forty-four years after his passing). How do we become flowing wells for ourselves and for each other? Living a Spirit-Guided life prioritizes Ceaseless Listening, Active Discernment, and use of Inner Authority. Sacred Activism and resistance require deep grounding in Divine Presence, ever listening to Spirit for the next step.
Special Offer: Early Bird Registration
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Special Offer: Early Bird Registration ·
Take advantage of our early bird registration, which includes access for you and a guest for only $99! This offer is available until December 15th, so don't miss out on this fantastic deal. Secure your spot today and invite a friend to join you on this enriching spiritual journey.
Early bird access for you + a guest—just $99 through Dec 15!
Our Partners
Awakenings, Inc. is a global contemplative community, based in Houston, Texas, that offers Sunday hybrid gatherings as a way to heal, renew, and inspire.
Haven: An Experience of Transforming Community is a community that meets alternately online and in person to create space for leaders to forge a stronger connection between their souls and their leadership. Learn how you can be a part of this space designed for God to transform leaders using digital and in-person components, and a more accessible experience of Transforming Community.
“Choosing to live in love means going to the deepest places within ourselves and trusting we can dwell there.”
—bell hooks
Schedule
Time Zone: US Central Standard
Saturday, February 21st
8:45 AM - Zoom Opens
9:00 AM - 9:15 AM Tia Norman - Welcome
9:15 AM - 9:45 AM - Grounded and Centered: Opening Practice with Dr. Mark Bozzuti-Jones
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM - Deep River: Prayer in a Troubled World with E. Trey Clark, PhD
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM - The Dynamic Contemplative: Deepening Your Well with Josué Perea
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM - Break
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM - Practice: Contemplative Intercessory Prayer with Gigi Ross
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM - Creative Expression as Contemplative Practice with Vanessa Sadler
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM - Hip Hop as Contemplative Practice with Cameron Johnson
3:45 PM - 3:50 PM - Day 1 Concludes
Sunday, February 22Nd
8:45 AM - Zoom Opens
9:00 AM - 9:15 AM Tia Norman - Welcome
9:15 AM - 9:45 AM - Practice: Lectio Amoris with Jasmine Bellamy
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM - Creativity and the Flow of the Spirit with Drew Jackson
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Announced Soon!
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM - Break
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM - Practice: Centering Prayer with Mary Williams
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM - Money & Contemplation: Deepening the Well with Quiana LaRae
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM - Keynote: Living a Spirit-Guided Life: Replenishing and Sustaining the Well with Lerita Coleman Brown, PhD
3:45 PM - 4:00 PM - Summit Concludes
Meet your host
Tia Norman is a teacher and guide specializing in spirituality and practices anchored in the mystical teachings of the Christian contemplative tradition. She leads workshops, retreats, and courses while serving as Pastor of Awakenings, Inc., a contemplative community based in Houston, Texas. She’s interested in helping communities discover ways to weave contemplative teachings into their context. Tia is a mother of two and engaged to be married in 2026.
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This summit is designed for everyone, regardless of race, background, or experience level in contemplative practices. It aims to diversify the contemplative space by elevating Black voices and perspectives.
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The virtual summit will take place on February 22nd and 23rd, 2025 via Zoom.
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You can register for the summit through this website. Early bird registration is available until December 15th and includes access for you and a guest for only $99.
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All sessions will be recorded and made available to registered participants after the event, so you can watch them at your convenience.
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Yes. There should be no financial barrier to attending. We are working with the Chicago chapter of Contemplative Outreach to create an accessible experience for all who desire to register. To inquire about scholarships email tia@contemplatehouston.com
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Yes, there will be space for Q&A available at the discretion of the speakers and host.
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Refunds are not available but replays are. All sessions will be recorded and made available to registered participants after the event, so you can watch them at your convenience.
FAQ
Meet The Planning Committee
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Shante Williams
THE BRAND CHICK
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TaJuana Antwine
MINDSHIFT LLC
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SAAJI MAHAL
MAHAL DESIGN
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Tia Norman
A CONTEMPLATIVE SPACE LLC