FLOURISH!
caring for The Future Generations of Our Movement
June 26–29, 2025
Big Bear Retreat, California
APPLICATIONS DUE BY JUNE 16
✽ JOIN US! ✽
YOUNG ADULT ORGANIZERS OF COLOR (ages 18–30) from Merced, the Central Valley, and Southern California
Joy-filled, earth-centered healing rooted in cultural practices and collective care for the future generations of our movement
FLOURISH! is our collective wish and vision for our future generations.
In the free, just and liberated world we are organizing for now, our wish is that there will be no need to fight for the protection of our beloved earth, the safety of all its inhabitants or the right for all life to inter-be without the threat of violence and undue harm.
And until then, we at the very least, commit to protect our young people whose will, fire and determination towards this shared dream for our world's more whole and sustainable future, continues forward more fiercely than ever before.
Retreat Offerings
YOGA & CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICE—
Daily grounding through movement, breath, and stillness
EARTH-BASED PRACTICE & LAND HONORING—
Deep connection with land, lineage, and nature
SELF CARE / COMMUNITY CARE—
Herbal Medica Clinic and collective wellness
LIBERATION SKILL BUILDING—
Workshops on healing justice and joyful resistance
SMALL GROUPS, RITUALS & NOBLE SILENCE—
Intimate reflection, evening stillness, and celebration
What to Expect at FLOURISH!
FLOURISH! offers sanctuary for rest, reflection, and radical renewal. Over four immersive days in Big Bear, young leaders reconnect with themselves, each other, and the Earth—held by intergenerational healers, educators, and artists.
Daily Rhythm
& Essentials
4 Days / 3 Nights in nature (Big Bear, CA)
3 nourishing organic meals daily
Morning movement & mindfulness (Yoga & Contemplative Practice)
Evening noble silence for rest and integration
Space to dream, heal, and flourish
Retreat Schedule
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AFTERNOON
2:00 PM–4:00 PM · Check in
4:30 PM–6:00 PM · Welcome walk / Honoring the Land
EVENING
6:00 PM–7:00 PM · Dinner
7:15PM–9:30PM · Community Welcome & Grounding
9:30 PM · Bed (Noble Silence)
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MORNING
8:00 AM–9:00 AM · Breakfast
9:15 AM–10:45 AM · Contemplative Practice
10:45 AM–12:15 PM · Yoga
AFTERNOON
12:30 PM–1:30 PM · Lunch
1:30 PM–2:15 PM · Break
2:30 PM–4:00 PM · Earth-Based Practice
4:15 PM–5:45 PM · Self Care/Community Care —Herbal Medica Clinic
EVENING
6:00 PM–7:00 PM · Dinner
7:10 PM–8:00 PM · Small Groups
8:10 PM–9:30 PM · Liberation Skill Building — Healing Justice
9:30 PM · Bed (Noble Silence)
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MORNING
8:00 AM–9:00 AM · Breakfast
9:15 AM–10:45 AM · Contemplative Practice
10:45 AM–2:15 PM · Yoga
AFTERNOON
12:30 PM–1:30 PM · Lunch
1:30 PM–2:15 PM · Break
2:25 PM–3:25 PM · Earth-Based Practice
3:30 PM–5:00 PM · Self Care/Community Care — Herbal Medica Clinic
5:20 PM–5:50 PM · Small Groups
EVENING
6:00 PM–7:00 PM · Dinner
7:05 PM–8:35 PM · Liberation Skill Building — Joy and play as an act of resistance
8:45 PM–10:00 PM · Dance Party
10:30 PM · Bed (Noble Silence)
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MORNING
8:00 AM–9:00 AM · Breakfast
9:15 AM–9:45 AM · Cabin Clean-up
10:00 AM–12:00 PM · Closing Ceremony
12:00 PM - 1:00pm · Lunch and Departure
Meet the Facilitators
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RITUAL LEADER, COALITION WEAVER, FOUNDER
B. born on Turtle Island to parents of Black Choctaw and Jamaican Maroon lineage, serves as the Founder of the Reclaiming Alignment mutual-response initiative for earth stewards of color and CEO of eco-preneur co-op, Black Earth Wisdom.
B.’s background as a healing and environmental justice organizer, a liberatory educator for over 30 years, somatic trauma therapy practitioner and social impact entrepreneur, shape their pedagogy in mindfulness education. They are the steward and facilitator of the “Global Indigenous Framework to Protect Our Planet.” An earth-centered pedagogy that supports a collective re-membering of our innate wisdom for how to care for the earth and all beings in the midst of a polycrisis.
Their spiritual development in the dharma formally began in 2007, spanning across the Mahayana and Theravada schools of Buddhism as a practitioner of Nichiren Buddhism, Tiếp Hiện/Vietnamese Zen lineage of Thích Nhất Hạnh, Soto Zen and the Insight tradition. In 2016 became aborisha or student of Ifa, a West African earth-based faith rooted in awareness, a reverence for nature and honoring of one’s ancestors. B. became a priest in 2025 in the tradition.
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LIFELONG LEARNER & FUTURUIST
“As a passionate educator and innovator, my dream is to empower youth by building confidence in their capacities, celebrating their innate genius, and practicing optimism about a future only they can design.”
Gershenson is a healing-centered educator, artist and contemplative guide who has supported young people across elementary schools, college campuses, online communities and youth meditation retreats. With roots in mindfulness, futures thinking, and liberatory education, Makēda co-creates brave spaces where young folx can slow down, reconnect unapologetically with their joy, and re-remember their creative power. Through curiosity, ritual, and rest, they invite participants to explore inner alignment as a practice of thriving.
Learn More
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PLAY ENTHUSIAST, INITIATED PRIEST, INTUITIVE COUNSELOR, FACILITATOR & REIKI PRACTITIONER
Dashaun Simmons, the Priest of Play, sees life as one big playground—every experience a new game to explore. As the co-founder of Men At Work Healing and the Afro Play Collective, he is devoted to reconnecting the world with its innate ability to play, using its inherent magic. Whether as an initiated priest, Reiki practitioner, or diviner, he approaches all aspects of healing with the same joyful lens. Dashaun sings, dances, channels spirits, plays old-school video games, and whips up Thai dishes—all as acts of play, all as acts of spirit. His purpose? To embody play in action and spirit, helping others heal, grow, and fully embrace the game of life.
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DHARMA TEACHER, ABOLITIONIST Y CHICANO ORGULLOSO
Casey Velasquez (he/him/él) has been practicing and studying with Buddhist meditation communities for almost 20 years. For close to 10 years, he has had the privilege of sharing these practices with diverse communities including young people, formally incarcerated individuals, and immigrant, Spanish speaking communities. Casey’s teachings and personal practice are grounded in the understanding that the wellbeing of the individual is dependent on the collective wellbeing. He recognizes that politics is one important way our society navigates this interdependence and seeks to integrate the spiritual and the political.
Casey Velasquez (he/him/él) has been practicing and studying with Buddhist meditation communities for almost 20 years. For close to 10 years, he has had the privilege of sharing these practices with diverse communities including young people, formally incarcerated individuals, and immigrant, Spanish speaking communities. Casey’s teachings and personal practice are grounded in the understanding that the wellbeing of the individual is dependent on the collective wellbeing. He recognizes that politics is one important way our society navigates this interdependence and seeks to integrate the spiritual and the political.
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FOUNDER OF THE URBAN YOGA FOUNDATION
Ghylian Bell leads the Urban Yoga organization that educates and empowers communities to be proactive about issues affecting their health. Through our service to love models the lifestyle brand incorporates equity and diversity into all our mindfulness yoga programs. Naming indigenous practices helps us to create an environment of inclusion fostering social emotional change. Thus, encouraging individuals in communities to manage stress, develop mind-body awareness, health justice and health consciousness: We create safe spaces for contemplative practices in homes, businesses, schools, organizations and corporations.
“My work is through education and healing trauma. I work to reclaim these indigenous practices and part of my teaching comes from my story. The importance of remembering the story of who we are is how we tap into the energy within. I learn, I teach, I share and hope to activate that seed of consciousness in the work I do for others.”
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INTERDISCIPLINARY ARTIST, STUDENT & CULTURE WORKER
John Jairo Valencia (they/he) is an interdisciplinary artist, student, and culture worker, raised on Tongva land, La Puente (Awingna) and Boyle Heights (Apachiangna), CA. They have worked as a community-based artist for over 10 years, facilitating workshops, youth programs, and community-based projects. They are currently a PhD student at UCSB and work with Las Maestras Center for Xicana[x] Indigenous, Thought, Art and Social Praxis. They are also a co-facilitator of the autonomous and community based herbal education project, Hood Herbalism. John Jairo identifies as a queer brown person and descends from peoples of the Chihuahuan Desert, Central México, and the Colombian Andes.
Registration PRICING
Sliding Scale for pilot 3.5 day retreat: $395, $475, $575
Participants attending as a partnering community organization—your registration fees are outlined in your partnership agreement and requested at an amount that supports the retreat, scholarships and reclaiming alignment.
“We envision a world where young people no longer have to fight for safety or sustainability. Until then, FLOURISh! is our offering—to protect and empower their fire, courage, and dreams for a liberated future.”
“FLOURISH! is a retreat based on the Reclaiming Alignment framework that centers the earth, our spirit, our purpose and our community, but with a focus on JOY, contemplative PRACTICE and a true sense of unshakable creative POWER found in the hearts and minds of our young people!”
“IT'S our duty to care for our future and to ensure our beloved dandelions FLOURISH!”
Retreat Details + FAQs
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It is highly recommended that you check current traffic and weather conditions as you plan your trip, as these can significantly impact travel times and route choices.
Location:
1000 Sugarpine Road
Big Bear City
California 92314Nearest airports:
Ontario International Airport (ONT) ~ 1.5 hour drive
Palm Springs Airport ~ 1.5 hour drive
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) ~ 2.5 hour drive
Driving Routes:
There are three (3) different routes that lead up the mountain to Big Bear Retreat Center:
Highway 330 from San Bernardino (off the 210 Freeway) – This is generally the fastest route up the mountain. However, it is also one of the steepest and windiest;
Highway 38 from Redlands (off the 10 Freeway) – This is slightly less steep and windy than Highway 330, but adds an additional 15–20 minutes to the trip;
Highway 18 from the High Desert (Antelope Valley / Lucerne Valley) – this route is the least steep of all of the mountain roads, but requires an approach from the northern side of the mountains (which can add time for those coming from the southern side (Orange County, San Diego County, etc.).
More info on how to get to Big Bear Retreat Center.
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Vegan, meat and gluten free options are available. Guests are also welcome to bring their own snacks or particular ingredients for the duration of the retreat.
Meals are provided and served for all guests at the dining hall. Big Bear Retreat Center provides three freshly prepared, healthful, nourishing and supportive meals a day - breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In each cabin, as well as the dining hall, there is a refrigerator and pantry space to store your own snacks.
We ask that you not change your dietary plan after the retreat has started, unless it is absolutely necessary.
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We are a primarily meditation retreat center and our accommodations are nice, clean and modest.
Each residence cabin has 3–4 rooms, sharing bathrooms, a kitchen, a living room, and a deck outside in nature.
Each bedroom has 1–2 twin sized beds. There are sometimes a mirror and a small clothes-hanging area in your room.
Two bathrooms are located in each cabin.
Shoes are not allowed in residence cabins and the meditation hall.
Every building offers outdoor decks to enjoy our natural environment and trails throughout the land, and adjacent national forest, for nature walks.
It is not common to intersect with the local wildlife while on our trails but it can happen. Coyotes and wild Donkeys are the most common, we do not recommend that you interact or feed the wildlife (birds and squirrels too).
Please be aware that we are at 7,000 feet in elevation. If you are sensitive to altitude, we recommend taking and bringing any necessary precautions to help you adjust to this environment smoothly. This includes melatonin or aids for sleeping.
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“Altar” or sacred space item — that will act as an energetic, spiritual and/or emotional support for you and the collective over the course of the retreat.
Personal Food and Snacks — may be brought to support you during retreat but are not necessary. Meals at the center are generally vegetarian unless otherwise organized by your group.
Flashlight or headlamp — the retreat center is lit at night and we do typically offer extra flashlights and lanterns.
Toiletries (shampoo/conditioner/soap) — the center has a limited amount available
Bathrobes — are encouraged since most bathrooms are shared.
Warm layers of clothing — for night and early mornings, temperatures drop year round.
Warm layers, gloves, hats and winter jackets — in particular during winter months (Nov–May).
Sunscreen and hat — at our elevation sun exposure is a greater risk and will remain high if there is snow on the ground.
Socks or slippers — for meditation hall and cabin
Shoes — that are easy to slip on/off for indoor spaces. No shoes are allowed inside cabins or the meditation hall.
Reusable water bottle — the center has filtered water readily available, we recommend staying well hydrated in order to combat the effects of altitude.
Reusable thermos — for hot beverages
Hiking boots or comfortable sneakers — for walking around center or trails
Melatonin, sleep aid, or earplugs (if needed)
Personal medication
Anything that may help you acclimate to the altitude (7000 ft)
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Big Bear Retreat Center does have some limitations, so if you are concerned about your mobility or ability to navigate the retreat and the center, please reach out before the retreat. This way we can better understand what is needed to support you as we would like you to be able to participate in this retreat as fully as possible.
If you need support and you haven't yet let us know, please email us.
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Please be sure to review Big Bear’s latest protocols.
Please reach out for any questions or specific requests to accommodate health and safety.
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Cancellation 30 - 60 days ahead of the retreat allows for full reimbursement.
Cancellation 15 days ahead of the retreat based on emergency allows for 50% reimbursement.
Cancellation due to emergency less than 15 days ahead of the start of the retreat, reimbursement up to the dissection of the organization.
