
Considering the Racism in America Retreat?
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.


