Centering Sisterhood: Inside the Culminating Women in Wellness Dinner at Colman Commons
When Black women are supported to rest and heal, entire communities flourish.
Earlier this year, Colman Commons hosted an extraordinary gathering that marked the conclusion of a transformative health journey. The My Time For Massage Women in Wellness Dinner brought together a community of Black women to celebrate self-care, longevity, and collective healing.
The elegant arrangements and intentional atmosphere culminated in celebration for the Black Women Worthy of Wellness Project cohort, an initiative dedicated to prioritizing the mental and physical health of Black women who are so often tasked with carrying the weight of others.
The Roots of Wellness
The foundation of the project stems from an understanding of how deeply interconnected individual health is with the health of the broader community.
"Black women are very much like the root. If we're well, so many other facets of life just function more effectively, more smoothly,” writer, artist, and educator Asia Reed said.
Historically, Black women have poured immensely into their families, schools, hospitals, and community advocacy, frequently putting their own needs last. The program sought to fundamentally shift that paradigm.
"With us pouring back into ourselves and advocating for our wellness, it empowers other people to advocate and do the work for themselves as well," Reed said, highlighting the ripple effect of self-care.
A Partnership Born out of Collaboration and Policy
The Black Women Worthy of Wellness Project was envisioned years ago by My Time for Massage owner Myesha Mitchell, following her own traumatic experience and mental health journey. Realizing the connection between the mind and body, she felt a strong calling to help other people who looked like her.
The project finally came to fruition during a strategic planning meeting regarding Black maternal health policy. Mitchell was collaborating with Jackie Vaughn, the Executive Director for BWELL Seattle, who wanted to focus on the issue of medical weathering. Mitchell shared her vision of showcasing the measurable physical differences that regular massage therapy could provide, noting that across 15 years in her practice, she had never been able to treat a significant number of Black clients at one time due to financial barriers.
Recognizing the alignment in their missions, Vaughn offered advocacy backing to turn the idea into a policy-driven reality. Reflecting on the partnership, Mitchell expressed gratitude.
"It just changed my whole life. Just being able to say I could do this with a sister who had the heart to see me as I see her. And to value what I bring to the table just like I value what she brings to the table,” Mitchell said.
A Dedicated Journey of Care
The dinner at Colman Commons celebrated the completion of an intensive program where 20 participants received consistent, dedicated care over an eight-to-ten-week period. This consisted of regular, intentional bodywork sessions with Mitchell.
"It's made me more vulnerable, and not just with the physical aspect but also the mental aspect too," mental health specialist and participant Gira Johnson said, adding that the sessions often transcended traditional massage therapy. "It was almost like it was not just her massages, it was a life coach as well. She was giving us advice and gems in the best way.”
For those involved in demanding community advocacy work, the program provided a sanctuary to release stored trauma. Youth and families advocate Emijah Smith reflected on why she chose to invest her time and resources into the cohort.
"When…you're really part of a movement around advocacy, you have to rest and do self-care because it's ongoing. You never stop,” Smith said. “I wanted to take an opportunity to really center my body because I know that when I'm out here and I'm networking and talking with folks and engaging, I know that the stress is in my body. It's not often on my face.”
The continuous commitment to the program unlocked unexpected benefits for the women, including a resurgence of personal passion.
"By doing this program, committing to it... it's been life-changing," student midwife Yael Woods said. "Honestly, doing this work has also given me more creativity. There's some projects that I'm working on that have kind of been on the back burner for a while, and so now they're back in the forefront".
Curating an Experience of Sisterhood
The dinner was designed to make the women feel celebrated and valued from the moment they arrived. Vaughn emphasized the importance of the physical environment.
"We knew we wanted to curate an experience where Black women felt cared for, where they felt loved, and where they were able to come together in sisterhood,” she said. “When women walked in, they were able to see a beautiful setup that really just honored who we are as Black women.”
Ultimately, the event demonstrated the reality that healing cannot happen in isolation.
"Creating a community around wellness, I think, has been the biggest thing that I've taken away from this experience," cohort member Aminta Malcolm said. "You're not in this alone. And wellness is a community.”
Looking to the Future
While the evening celebrated the success of the current cohort, the visionaries behind the project are already looking toward expansion. Currently operating its second cohort, Mitchell hopes to scale the programming to encompass the entire community, including Black men, youth, and infants, to teach preventive health and positive touch as a permanent lifestyle.
The message of the evening, however, remained clear, resolute, and unwavering: Black women are worthy of wellness.
Learn more about My Time for Massage at mytimeformassage.com
Looking to book a space for your upcoming event? Check out Colman Commons for all your event space needs at colmancommons.com
