ABOUT THE PROGRAM
9 Months | Feb – Nov 2026 | Virtual Program with In-Person Retreat | 24 Participants | Sliding Scale Tuition
The Beloved Community Cohort is a 9-month journey, a collaboration with Beloved Communities Network (BCN) and Movement Strategy Center (MSC), that nurtures the leaders and relationships needed for a Just Transition. Inspired by the legacies of Dr. King, Grace Lee Boggs, and other visionaries, and guided by the 10,000 Beloved Communities Graphic Novel & Guide, the cohort weaves cultural strategy, healing, embodiment, and spiritual practice into movement building. Together, we cultivate Beloved Community as the foundation for a regenerative future.
Together, we ask: How do we transition from a world of dominance, violence, and extraction to one rooted in love, regeneration, and interdependence?
Throughout the cohort journey, we will examine the systems we are working within, tap into individual and collective wisdom, identify strategic leverage points, and collaborate on transformative interventions to shift how we live and relate to one another.
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CORE COMPONENTS
- Monthly Cohort Sessions (virtual, 2 hrs)
- Monthly Embodiment Practice (virtual, 30 min)
- Virtual Intensives (4–12 hrs)
- Summer Retreat (Northern California)
- Group & Individual Mentorship
- Applied Project (practice commitment)
- Readings & Resource Library (incl. 10,000 Beloved Communities Graphic Novel & Guide)
- Total Time Estimate: 35 hrs of virtual sessions, 4 days of in person retreat, 10-15 hrs of group/individual mentorship
The program runs from February through November 2026, with monthly gatherings, embodiment practices, mentorship, and a retreat.
February
- Main Sessions: February 6 – 7
- Practice Session: February 17
March
- Main Session: March 5
- Practice Session: March 17
April
- Main Session: April 16
- Practice Session: April 28
May
- Main Session: May 22 (Half Day)
- Practice Session: May 12
June
- Individual Mentorship Sessions
July
- Retreat Dates: July 20 – 23
- Practice Session: July 14
August
- Main Session: August 6
- Practice Session: August 18
September
- Main Session: September 3
- Practice Session: September 15
October
- Main Session: October 1
- Practice Session: October 20
November
- Main Session: November 6
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
Throughout the 9-month journey, participants will deepen their capacity to lead, heal, and imagine in ways that sustain movements for the long arc of change. You will learn to:
- Integrate Embodied Practice – Ground your leadership in somatic tools to cultivate presence, resilience, and clarity.
- Apply a Healing Justice Framework – Build practices for safety, care, and transformation of trauma and harm – for yourself and your community.
- Strengthen Strategic Tools – Identify leverage points, practice Deep Democracy, and explore approaches to conflict transformation that strengthen collective power.
- Harness Creative and Cultural Strategy – Use storytelling, art, and cultural practice as tools for belonging, visioning, and social change.
- Lead Through Embodied Praxis – Align your values and actions through a commitment to daily, lived practices of Beloved Community.
- Build Lasting Networks – Connect with peers, mentors, and alumni across movements who are committed to cultivating Beloved Community.
WHO IS THIS FOR & HOW DOES IT WORK?
The 9-month Beloved Community Cohort program supports movement leaders, organizers, educators, cultural workers, artists, faith leaders, healing practitioners, and beyond who are working to transform communities and systems toward justice and regeneration.
Participants will:
- Deepen their self-awareness as leaders
- Develop tools for cultivating belonging
- Build resilience and creativity within their organizations and movements
- Apply a healing justice framework to their daily practice
Through a blend of monthly online sessions, embodiment practice, intensives, mentorship, and a retreat in Northern California, the program integrates reflection and applied practice to anchor learning in real-world contexts.
MEET THE TEAM
The Beloved Community Cohort is guided by experienced facilitators, cultural strategists, and movement practitioners who bring decades of wisdom in healing, organizing, and creative practice. Meet the team that will accompany you on this journey.
CORE TEAM
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ADVISORS
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MENTORS
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FEES & POLICIES
We are committed to making the Beloved Community Cohort accessible to all who feel called to participate. Our sliding scale tuition and scholarship options are designed to honor the diverse realities of individuals and organizations, while sustaining the program for the long term.
Our Beliefs About Payments & Policies
We believe the Beloved Community Cohort should be available to everyone, regardless of financial capacity. We understand that budgets vary across individuals, grassroots organizations, and institutions. That’s why we offer sliding scales and installment plans – so each person and organization can choose an option that feels fair and aligned with their resources.
The true cost of the Beloved Community Cohort is $10,000 per participant. We are so grateful to our many partners and sponsors to make this transformative opportunity possible and accessible for folks across our community ecosystem to join.
Payment Options
$900 – $3,500 based on individual/organizational capacity
If you are paying as an individual…
Participants are invited to select the rate that feels most true and just for their situation.
- Tier One – (Equity) ($900)
- Tier Two – (Accelerator) ($1700)
- Tier Three – (Sustainer) ($2,600)
- Tier Four – (Solidarity) ($3,500)
If you have organizational or professional development support we recommend paying at Tier 3 or 4.
Pay in full or choose up to 4 installments.
Or choose up to 3 installments.
- Full and first payment secures your spot in the cohort and is due by Dec 14, 2025
- Second payment is due by February 27, 2026
- Final payment is due by June 30, 2026
A limited number of full and partial scholarships are available.
Please indicate your interest in the application form.
Refunds & Withdrawals
We recognize that life circumstances can change. Our withdrawal and refund policies are designed with care, balancing the sustainability of the program with compassion for participants.
- Full refunds will be granted on or before January 23, 2026
- Partial refunds will be considered up until the start of the cohort
Please reach out to us at leila@belovedcommunitiesnetwork.org if you are requesting a refund or are interested in this cohort and have any curiosities or needs around payment to participate. We desire for this cohort to be accessible for those whom this work would be of greatest service, and prioritize alignment – so we welcome you to connect with us for any support.
OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT THIS WORK
The Beloved Community Cohort thrives through the collective support of our partners, allies, and extended community. There are several ways you can help strengthen and expand this work:
Share the Word
Help us reach movement leaders who would benefit from the Cohort.
- Download our Social Media Toolkit for ready-to-use posts and graphics.
- Access our Media Kit with brand materials, program descriptions, and images.
Sponsor a Participant
Your financial support makes it possible for us to offer scholarships, reduce tuition costs, and keep the program accessible to all.
- Become a Cohort Sponsor by contributing to participant scholarships or retreat costs.
- Sponsors will receive acknowledgment in program materials and the gratitude of a growing network of Beloved Community builders.
- For information about sponsorship opportunities, contact leila@belovedcommunitiesnetwork.org.
Invest in Beloved Community
We welcome donations of all sizes to help sustain this program and the larger Beloved Communities initiative. Together, we can ensure movement leaders have the resources they need to heal, imagine, and lead. To donate, reach out to leila@belovedcommunitiesnetwork.org, or donate directly at www.belovedcommunitiesnetwork.org/donate.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
This program is designed for movement leaders, organizers, educators, cultural workers, artists, faith leaders, healing practitioners, and beyond who are committed to building Beloved Community and advancing justice.
Cohort 2 will include 24 participants.
Participants should expect:
- Monthly 2-hour sessions, with occasional virtual intensives (4-12 hours)
- A monthly 45-minute embodiment practice session
- A 4-day summer retreat in Northern California (In-Person)
- Additional time for readings, mentorship, and your applied project
The virtual sessions are typically held on the first Thursday of each month from 10a-12p PT | 12p-2p CT | 1p-3p ET. Please refer to the program schedule above for exact dates.
No. While many participants are experienced leaders, the program welcomes people at different stages of their journey. What’s most important is a commitment to personal growth and community transformation.
The retreat will be held at a Northern California retreat center, roughly a 2 hour drive from San Francisco / Oakland.
Travel, lodging, food, and accommodations are included in the program cost.
Tuition is offered on a sliding scale ($900–$3,500) with scholarships available. Payment can be made in full or through up to three installments. We invite you to reach out to us with any questions or concerns about finances to participate if this program feels like an aligned fit for you.
Yes, we offer a limited number of scholarships. You can indicate your interest directly in the application form.
We understand that life happens. Our refund and withdrawal policies are designed with care, balancing compassion for participants with the sustainability of the program. We are also open to working it out on a case-by-case basis. Please be sure to reach out and communicate any changes.
Applications open October 1 – 31, 2025, and you can complete it using the application form linked here. It is a written application form, with an option for video or audio responses as an alternative method of response. The application generally takes under an hour to complete.
The application generally takes 45-60 minutes to complete.
Each participant will have the opportunity to apply all that we have learned and integrate it into an ongoing practice. Applied projects are not meant to be overwhelming and will be supported through the guidance of mentors and the core team. These projects can be new, or they can be existing ideas that need some support and structure to lift, but ultimately they are designed to help you continue your work in cultivating Beloved Community.
You are welcome to apply for this cohort if you have participated in a previous cohort!
Application decisions will be shared in the first week of December. Once applications are closed, we will review all submitted applications and extend interviews to selected applicants to move forward. From there, applicants will be notified by email if they are accepted into the cohort, if it is not a fit, or if they are placed on the waitlist.
Yes, there will be a waitlist for applicants to join the cohort. We will inform participants individually up until two weeks prior to the cohort start (in February 2026) if they are off the waitlist and accepted into the program.
The minimum age requirement is 18 years old.
We advise that you refer to the program schedule to ensure that you are able to make all program sessions. If there are conflicts, we would advise that you wait to apply for a future cohort program.
All are welcome to apply for this cohort, including international applicants.
Send your questions to: leila@belovedcommunitiesnetwork.org
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Get in Touch with Us
We would love to speak with you about the Beloved Community Network.
For any questions or comments, or to reach out to us about our programs or offerings, please submit the completed form and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
