Each year, Zen Peacemakers gathers in Alabama for the Racism in America Bearing Witness Retreat. We walk together through sites that hold deep historical and present-day significance. We sit in Council. We listen. We allow the experience to work on us.
For those considering joining,
we are offering a one-hour online informational session.
This session is a space for inquiry.
You will hear directly from retreat alumni about why they return year after year — what continues to call them back, what challenges them, and what changes in them through the experience. You will also learn how the Three Tenets of Not-Knowing, Bearing Witness, and Taking Action are embodied throughout the week.
There will be time for practical questions:
What does a typical day look like?
What is the emotional intensity like?
How do Montgomery and Selma shape the retreat container?
How should one prepare?
The Racism in America retreat is not a historical tour. It is not an intellectual study program. It is an invitation to enter places that hold pain, resilience, and courage — and to remain present without turning away.
If you feel curiosity, uncertainty, or a quiet pull, we invite you to join the informational session. Come listen. Come ask. Come discern whether this is your step.
We look forward to being in conversation with you.



