Named after and in honor of the first African American initiated in the United States, this conference’s goal is to tap into the imagination and aspirations of the next generation of Orisa worshippers from across the nation. They will share their dreams for a united and empowered Orisa Community where all, regardless of age or stature, have a voice and are allowed to be servant leaders within the community based on their skills, leadership ability, and character.
This conference will lay the foundation for the next steps in developing the social model for a progressive village of Orisa houses, organizations, and individuals organized at the regional, national, and ultimately international level.
The conference will initiate the fulfillment of this vision via a series of structured group discussions on the community’s most pressing topics of concern, enabling us to hear the voice of our community so we can better channel its will. Taking place over Memorial Day weekend, from Friday, May 24th through Sunday, May 26th, the first day of the conference will consist of a welcome reception. The second day will be the conference itself, along with a post-conference networking social in the evening. The third day will consist of an Anya to Aganju ceremony.
A preliminary plan, with the understanding that it will evolve organically over time, for next steps after the conference is that summaries of the various group discussions’ outputs would inform the creation of think tank groups. These groups will consist of concerned citizens whose professional backgrounds and experiences align with the assigned topics. The think tanks will meet post-conference via video calls to research and tackle the community’s various topics of concern.
Ultimately, each think tank group will produce reports reflecting their research results and recommendations to address the concerns raised by their topic. These papers will then be presented at the following year’s Sango Gunmi Annual Orisa Community Conference to receive feedback from the community.
Conference Includes:
May 24: Early Check-In and PM Gathering
May 25: Conference Conversations and Post-Conference Mixer
May 26: Anya Drumming
Early bird tickets of $50 are on sale until April 15!
