Beyond Survival Mode
A 2-Day Leadership Retreat for Women of Color
April 25-April 26, 2026 | Madison, Wisconsin
(Retreat house within 1.5 hours of Madison)
Co-designed with WOC leaders like you
A facilitated space for rest, truth-telling, and nervous system recalibration, designed to sustain you in your real, day-to-day life.
Not a productivity workshop. Not group therapy. Not a networking event.
A structured container for recalibration.
Before you keep reading, take a moment of pause with us.
This is what we mean by creating space. Let’s start now.
Who this is for
Wom[e/x]n* of color in senior leadership or entrepreneurship who are often holding:
A big mission to make a difference at work and in the world
Responsibilities to care for the people you love: kids, elders, communities
The physical and mental health weight of living inside systems not built for you
The emotional labor of being the most reliable person in the room
If you're running on hypervigilance and exhaustion, but the stakes are too high to let anything go, this space is for you.
*Our definition of "woman" is expansive and includes trans women, non-binary femmes, masculine-presenting women, and all who experience the world through this lens.
Investment & what you’ll leave with
A personal sustainable leadership plan — rest, boundaries, regulation, impact
3 micro-strategies you've already practiced and can use immediately
A curated community of WOC leaders who see you, hear you, and get what you're navigating
$850
(programming and catered dinner included; local lodging at additional cost)
Cohort Size: 6–12 participants
After two days you’ll leave with:
What the experience looks like
Discussion circles
Guided somatic practices
Structured truth-telling
Solo integration time
Sauna, hot tub, & 7 acres of privacy
Clear agreements and skilled facilitation
We're resisting back-to-back programming. This is designed for depth and real rest.
We’ll share information for travel logistics, local lodging options, and a carpool interest form for participants to ensure ease & shared safety.
Meet your facilitators
LaVoya “V” Woods
Lead Facilitator | Chief of Strategy, Co-Creating Inclusion
LaVoya is an informed facilitator and strategist working at the intersection of equity, learning sciences, mental health, and organizational transformation.
Read more about LaVoya.
Alethea Cheng Fitzpatrick
Founder | Chief of Vision, Co-Creating Inclusion;
Alethea guides leaders and organizations in building cultures of belonging and authenticity, bringing systems-level insight and creative business strategy to every engagement.
Read more about Alethea.
Angela Russell
Founder & Principal | The UnderCurrent
Angela is the founder and principal of The Undercurrent, a consulting practice built on the belief that community, trust, and belonging are the infrastructure that makes everything else in an organization possible. An epidemiologist-turned-policy-advisor-turned-Chief-Diversity-Officer, she has spent two decades as the hidden connective tissue in institutions and communities — and is now bringing that systems intelligence to the surface through her own practice, her award-winning podcast Black Oxygen, and her newsletter Undercurrent Field Notes. Angela creates space for women in senior leadership to hear themselves think, to find their agency, and to remember that the most important currents are the ones running beneath.
Sign up for Angela’s newsletter here.
Meet your Chef-on-site
Elijah Hipke is a Madison-based chef and entrepreneur known for his community-driven approach to food, hospitality, and creative dining experiences. Having worked in some of Madison’s top kitchens alongside chefs like Giovanni Novella and Yusuf Bin-Rella, as well as gaining experience in Los Angeles with Michael Twitty and in Pismo Beach with Jacob Town, Elijah has developed a style rooted in technique, bold flavor, and connection to local ingredients.
He is the founder of On The Pass Catering, a private dining and catering company focused on elevated in-home dinners, curated events, grazing tables, brunch experiences, and custom chef-driven menus. Through On The Pass, Elijah creates memorable experiences that bring restaurant-level food and hospitality directly to clients, with an emphasis on creativity, professionalism, and personal connection.
Elijah also serves as Chef Ambassador for REAP Food Group, where he supports local farmers, food businesses, and community food initiatives across Wisconsin. His work helps connect people to the local food system through events, partnerships, and education.
For Elijah, cooking is more than serving food, it’s about building experiences, supporting community, and growing something meaningful through food