WOW Gallery
by Wonder of Women International
600 PINE STREET, SEATTLE, WA 98101 LOCATED IN PACIFIC PLACE SEATTLE ON THE THIRD FLOOR
KINDLY EMAIL US AT INFO@THEWONDEROFWOMEN.ORG IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
BLACK WOMEN RISING RENEWAL RETREAT
GUEST SPEAKERS, WELLNESS EXPERTS, & PERFORMERS.
We have carefully curated a powerful lineup of inspiring speakers, wellness experts, and sacred performers, each chosen to guide you through a journey of healing and transformation. Together, they will help you release what no longer serves, reconnect with your true self, and rise into your highest potential. Prepare to be uplifted, empowered, and deeply inspired.
VERONICA VERY
VERONICA VERY IS THE FOUNDER OF WONDER OF WOMEN INTERNATIONAL, WOW GALLERY, AND WOW HEALING VILLA IN SOUTH AFRICA. SHE AUTHORED THE DEAR SISTA COFFEE TABLE BOOK AND CURATED THE 'DEAR SISTA, I SEE YOU' HEALING ART EXHIBITION, CENTERING BLACK WOMEN AND BLACK LOVE IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE. VERONICA'S WORK INSPIRED HEALING FROM RACIAL AND EMOTIONAL TRAUMAS THROUGH ART AND STORYTELLING. SHE HAS RECEIVED ACCOLADES SUCH AS THE SEATTLE TIMES BEST IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST 2023 AWARDS, PUGET SOUND BUSINESS JOURNAL'S WOMAN LEADER IN BUSINESS AWARD, THE SEATTLE STORM'S WOMAN OF INFLUENCE RECOGNITION, THE COMMUNITY CATALYS AWARD FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON EVANS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY AND GOVERNANCE, AND THE BEST AUTHOR AWARD FROM TGHE 2023 SOUL CAFE AWARDS. HER COMMITMENT TO HEALING JUSTICE IS EVIDENT IN HER PARTNERSHIP WITH VISUAL ARTIST HIAWATHA D., ADVOCATING FOR THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF BLACK LOVE.
MINDA HARTS
MINDA HARTS IS A CELEBRATED AUTHOR AND INFLUENTIAL SPEAKER, BEST KNOWN FOR HER BESTSELLERS “THE MEMO,” “RIGHT WITHIN,” AND THE YA BOOK “YOU ARE MORE THAN MAGIC.” SHE IS A RESPECTED VOICE IN ADVANCING WOMEN OF COLOR, SELF-ADVOCACY, AND RESTORING TRUST AT WORK. MINDA FREQUENTLY SPEAKS AT MAJOR CONFERENCES AND COMPANIES, INCLUDING NIKE, GOOGLE, DISNEY, BEST BUY, DREAMFORCE, AND THE ASPEN IDEAS FESTIVAL.
AS AN NYU ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, MINDA SHAPES FUTURE LEADERS AND EMPOWERS PROFESSIONALS. HONORED BY LINKEDIN AS THE #1 TOP VOICE FOR EQUITY IN THE WORKPLACE IN 2020 AND BY BUSINESS INSIDER AS ONE OF THE TOP 100 PEOPLE TRANSFORMING BUSINESS IN 2022. MINDA IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON A NEW BOOK WITH FLATIRON BOOKS, FOCUSING ON THE CRUCIAL TOPIC OF RESTORING TRUST IN THE WORKPLACE.
JOLYN GC
JOLYN GC "GALACTIC CATALYST" IS THE CO-CREATOR AND CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND THE GCEO (GALACTIC CATALYST ELEVATING OTHERS) OF THE COME UP SERIES - A FINANCIAL AND INVESTMENT EDUCATION MEDIA COMPANY. THE FOCUS IS TO TEACH BLACK AND OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR HOW TO USE INVESTMENT KNOWLEDGE TO BUILD A WEALTH LADDER. KNOWN AS THE FIRST LADY OF LEISURE, SHE OPERATES FROM HER DEFINITION OF LEISURE WHICH IS THE "OPPORTUNITY AFFORDED BY OUR ANCESTORS TO BE FREED UP TO CREATE VALUE ALIGNED WITH THE TRUTH OF WHO WE ARE." SHE BOLDLY ASSERTS, "I DON'T LABOR. I CREATE." JOLYN CONTINUES TO TAKE HER REPARATIONS OUT OF THE MARKET TO LIVE A LEISURELY LIFE WHERE SHE IS FREED UP TO CREATE AS SHE SEES FIT. IN HER LEISURE LIFE BOOTCAMP, SHE TEACHES OTHERS HOW TO CREATE THEIR OWN VERSION OF THE LEISURE LIFE.
LEISURE-DRIVEN WEALTH: THE 12 PRINCIPLES FOR FINANCIAL FREEDOM AND FULFILLMENT
DESCRIPTION:
IN THIS TRANSFORMATIVE TALK, JOLYN GC, THE “GALACTIC CATALYST” AND CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF THE COME UP SERIES, WILL UNVEIL HOW THE 12 PRINCIPLES OF LEISURE CAN REVOLUTIONIZE YOUR APPROACH TO YOUR MONEY MINDSET. BY REDEFINING LEISURE AS AN ANCESTRAL GIFT AND AN ECONOMIC MODEL FOR FREEDOM, JOLYN WILL GUIDE YOU THROUGH INTEGRATING THESE PRINCIPLES TO ACHIEVE FINANCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND SPIRITUAL FULFILLMENT.
ZENOBIA WARFIELD
ZENOBIA JEFFRIES WARFIELD, FOUNDER/OWNER OF GET EVEN YOGA, LLC, IS A CERTIFIED YOGA TEACHER, YOGA THERAPIST IN-TRAINING, AND AN AWARD-WINNING WRITER AND EDITOR. ZENOBIA USES TRADITIONAL/CLASSICAL YOGA TO PROMOTE GOOD HEALTH—PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND SPIRITUALLY. SHE HAS STUDIED RESTORATIVE PRACTICES FOR RACE-BASED STRESS AND TRAUMA AND IS MOTIVATED BY THE HOLISTIC APPROACH OF YOGA THERAPY TO TREAT MENTAL, EMOTIONAL, AND SOMATIC DISTRESSES AND ILLNESSES. SHE HAS PRACTICED YOGA FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS. ZENOBIA IS ALSO A FORMER MAGAZINE EDITOR WHO WROTE AND EDITED COLUMNS AND ARTICLES THAT EXPLORED THE IMPACTS OF, AND SOLUTIONS TO, RACIAL INJUSTICE. A DETROIT NATIVE, ZENOBIA CURRENTLY RESIDES IN SEATTLE.
NAOMI WACHIRA
NAOMI WACHIRA IS A SEATTLE-BASED SINGER-SONGWRITER KNOWN FOR HER SOULFUL AND POWERFUL VOCALS, POIGNANT LYRICS, AND CAPTIVATING LIVE PERFORMANCES. BORN AND RAISED IN KENYA, NAOMI DRAWS INSPIRATION FROM HER AFRICAN ROOTS AS WELL AS HER EXPERIENCES AS A MOTHER, WOMAN, AND IMMIGRANT. INFUSED WITH HER AUTHENTIC AND RAW STORYTELLING, NAOMI'S MUSIC COMBINES FOLK, SOUL, AND WORLD MUSIC. SHE DESCRIBES HER MUSIC AS A HEAD-ON APPROACH TO LIFE'S STRUGGLES AND TRIUMPHS, AS WELL AS A CALL TO LOVE AND UNITY IN AN INCREASINGLY DIVIDED WORLD.
TRACIE ANDERSON
TRACIE L. ANDERSON IS A REMARKABLE WITNESS TO THE WISDOM AND RESILIENCE THAT LIFE’S JOURNEY CAN AFFORD. HER STORY IS A RICH TAPESTRY OF TRIUMPHS AND TRANSFORMATION, WOVEN AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF HER IDENTITY AS A BLACK WOMAN IN AMERICA. BORN IN GARDENA, CALIFORNIA, INTO A LINEAGE STEEPED IN CHRISTIAN TRADITION AND SOUTHERN HERITAGE, TRACIE PROUDLY CARRIES THE LEGACY OF BEING A FIFTH-GENERATION DAUGHTER, DRAWING STRENGTH AND INSPIRATION FROM HER FAMILY’S DEEP ROOTS.
AS A TEENAGER, TRACIE NAVIGATED THE UNCHARTED WATERS OF MATRIMONY AND MOTHERHOOD, DEFYING SOCIETAL EXPECTATIONS AS A YOUNG BRIDE AND MOTHER. WITH UNWAVERING LOVE AND YOUTHFUL DETERMINATION, SHE NURTURED HER FAMILY, DISCOVERING THE BOUNDLESS CAPACITY OF HER SPIRIT ALONG THE WAY. THOUGH HER VOICE REMAINED QUIET IN THOSE EARLY YEARS, IT HAS SINCE GROWN INTO A POWERFUL FORCE, AFTER CONFRONTING THE DARK SHADOWS OF BREAKDOWN, INTO BREAKING THROUGH.
NOW, AS SHE EMBARKS ON THE APPROACH OF HER 55TH JOURNEY AROUND THE SUN, TRACIE STANDS ON THE BRINK OF A NEW CHAPTER, PREPARING TO UNVEIL HER INAUGURAL LITERARY WORK. THIS WORK IS A TESTAMENT TO HER INNATE GIFT FOR WEAVING WORDS INTO POIGNANT TAPESTRIES OF HEALING, INSIGHT, AND EMPOWERMENT, REFLECTING THE UNIQUE EXPERIENCES AND PERSPECTIVES OF A WOMAN OF AFRICAN DESCENT WITHIN A COLONIZED LANDSCAPE. HER JOURNEY HAS BEEN ONE OF PROFOUND CHALLENGES, RESILIENCE, AND TRIUMPHS, LEADING TO A PROFOUND ASCENSION TOWARD SELF-DISCOVERY AND PURPOSE.
HAVING FREED HERSELF FROM THE CHAINS OF DOCTRINAL BONDAGE AND OPPRESSIVE PROGRAMMING, TRACIE NOW EMBRACES HER CONSCIOUS DIVINITY WITH AUDACITY. AS A DIVINE WOMAN, SHE IS COMMITTED TO LIFTING THE VEIL AND SHEDDING LIGHT SO THAT OTHERS MAY ALSO FIND FREEDOM. TRACIE HAS CULTIVATED A RICH, POWERFUL HEALING NARRATIVE IN HER GUIDED JOURNALING JOURNEY, “BRAVE BELIEF DESIGN: YOUR BEST LIFE NOW.”
THIS WEEKLY MANIFESTATION JOURNAL EMPOWERS WOMEN AND HEALERS TO UNBLOCK PROGRAMMED NARRATIVES AND STEP INTO THEIR DIVINE RIGHTS AS HEALERS AND CREATORS IN THIS REALM.
AMBER WARNER, LCSW
AMBER WARNER, LCSW, IS THE CEO/FOUNDER OF THE OPTIMUM WELLNESS GROUP, INC., A LEADING ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO PROVIDING ACCESS TO QUALITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF THERAPISTS. SPECIALIZING IN CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE AND TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE, AMBER IS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO FOSTERING HEALING AND EMPOWERMENT IN CLIENTS AND CLINICIANS THAT SERVE THEM. SHE INTEGRATES EVIDENCE-BASED MODALITIES TO ADDRESS A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES, TRAUMA, CHRONIC ILLNESS, STRUCTURAL RACISM AND RELATIONSHIP CHALLENGES.
AMBER IS KNOWN FOR HER WARMTH, EMPATHY AND COLLABORATIVE APPROACH. SHE TAILORS WELLNESS PLANS TO ONE'S UNIQUE NEEDS AND STRENGTHS. OPTIMUM WELLNESS GROUP IS GLOBALLY DEDICATED TO PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS AND REDUCING STIGMA THROUGH EDUCATION, COLLABORATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH INITIATIVES AND INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS.
COURTNEY WALTON
DR. COURTNEY L. WALTON IS AN ESTABLISHED EXECUTIVE-LIBERATORY LEADER COMMITTED TO BUILDING INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENTS, COACHING EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED LEADERS, DEVELOPING IMPACTFUL CONTENT, AND ADVANCING DEI INITIATIVES. HER DOCTORAL RESEARCH FOCUSED ON EXAMINING ANTICIPATORY AND ACCULTURATIVE STRESS IN BLACK FEMALE LEADERS AND ELEVATING STRATEGIES ON HOW TO MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF RACIALIZED TRAUMA AND RACIAL BATTLE FATIGUE WHEN ENTERING AND EXITING THE WORKPLACE.
COURTNEY IS DEDICATED TO ELEVATING EMPATHETIC AND EMBODIED LEADERSHIP, HELPING INDIVIDUALS PRIORITIZE HEALING, PERSONAL GROWTH, AND SELF-DISCOVERY. PART OF COURTNEY’S MISSION IS TO EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN MARGINALIZED GROUPS AND THOSE GROWING IN GREATER CONFIDENCE, TO LIVE MORE FULFILLING AND WHOLE LIVES. SHE AIMS TO CREATE ACCESSIBLE RESOURCES AND SPACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN DEVELOP SKILLS, OVERCOME BARRIERS, AND EMBRACE THEIR TRUE SELVES WITH CONFIDENCE, INTEGRITY, AND AUTHENTICITY. SHE DESIRES FOR THE FULL EXPRESSION OF HER SCHOLARSHIP TO BE TETHERED TO THE PROCESS OF UNVEILING, MAGNIFYING, AND DE-MARGINALIZING STORIES, VOICES, AND DATA.
COURTNEY IS THE FOUNDER OF BRWNPLACE, A CONSULTING FIRM THAT SPECIALIZES IN COACHING, TRAINING, SPEAKING, AND THOUGHT PARTNERSHIP CATERING TO THE ELEVATION OF A MORE ENRICHED LIVED EXPERIENCE FOR BLACK WOMEN. SHE DEEPLY VALUES WORDS AND IS VERY INTENTIONAL WITH HOW SHE USES THEM TO MAKE MEANING, TELL STORIES, BE A CATALYST FOR INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY, ENCOURAGE PERSONAL REVELATION, SERVE AS A BALM OF HEALING, AND MERGE ART WITH SCHOLARSHIP. DR. WALTON’S WORK INSPIRES INDIVIDUALS TO EMBRACE A LIBERATORY, LIVING, AND PERSONAL LEARNING JOURNEY THAT INVITES RECLAMATION AND REDEFINING OF SPACE AND PLACE WITH JOY, LIGHT, AND LOVE.