Maji Ya Chai Land Sanctuary

A BLACK-LED, NATURE-BASED HEALING RETREAT CREATED TO PROVIDE REST, RECONNECTION & REJUVENATION OF MIND, BODY & SOUL FOR BLACK, INDIGENOUS & COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ACROSS GENERATIONS.

THIS WAS OUR FIRST FULL FISCAL YEAR WITH THE PHYSICAL SITE, A 40-ACRE FARMSTEAD LOCATED TEN MINUTES WEST OF TWO HARBORS, MN & GICHIGAMING (LAKE SUPERIOR). DURING THIS YEAR WE BEGAN LEARNING ABOUT THE LAND, HOW TO STEWARD THE LAND & WHAT THAT ENTAILS. WINTER WAS A STEEP LEARNING CURVE AS IT WAS THE SNOWIEST WINTER ON RECORD FOR TWO HARBORS. MUCH OF OUR SPENDING WENT INTO COSTS RELATED TO THE OPERATIONS & UPKEEP OF THE LAND AND BUILDINGS CURRENTLY ON IT. OUR BUDGET INCREASED GIVEN THE SITE-RELATED EXPENSES & INCREASED STAFFING & PROGRAMMING. WE BROUGHT ON OUR FIRST FULL TIME EMPLOYEE, OUR FOUNDER & KEEPER OF THE VISION (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR), & BROUGHT ON A PAYROLL COMPANY TO HANDLE PAYMENTS & TAXES FOR THE FULL TIME KEEPER OF THE VISION & HALF TIME SANCTUARY ADMINISTRATOR. WE HIRED OUR FIRST ADMINISTRATOR ON A HALF TIME CONTRACT. WE HIRED OUR FIRST LAND OPERATIONS DIRECTOR ON A HALF TIME CONTRACT. WE CONTRACTED WITH A RESOURCE CONSULTANT TO FURTHER OUR FUNDRAISING EFFORTS & WE CONTRACTED WITH OUR REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST FOR CONTINUED GUIDANCE ON THE PROCESS OF BUILDING THE SANCTUARY. PROGRESS WAS MADE AS WE MOVED AHEAD WITH SITE PLANNING & STUDIES FOR SITE DEVELOPMENT. WE BEGAN MEETINGS WITH OUR LEAD ARCHITECT & HER TEAM. WE BEGAN A PARTNERSHIP WITH WATERSHED SPA IN MINNEAPOLIS - OFFERED MONTHLY BIPOC-ONLY BATHING SESSIONS MARCH-SEPTEMBER, THEY WILL CONTINUE. WE PARTNERED WITH MEN AS PEACEMAKERS TO HOLD THE INAUGURAL STORY CIRCLE FOR BIPOC INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN THE TWIN PORTS/NE MINNESOTA REGION (APRIL 2023). THE STORY CIRCLES ENGAGE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN ENVISIONING THE POSSIBILITIES THAT MAJI YA CHAI LAND SANCTUARY CAN & WILL OFFER FOR PEOPLE & COMMUNITIES NOW AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.WE WERE INCLUDED AS A HIGHLIGHTED ORGANIZATION/PARTNER OF COLLECTIVE ACCELERATION - AN INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF PEOPLE & ORGANIZATIONS MOVING WITH COLLECTIVE INQUIRY: AS THE WORLD EXPERIENCES AN ERA OF UNPRECEDENTED CHANGE, WE ARE CALLED UPON TO ENGAGE IN PURPOSEFUL ENDEAVORS TO ACTIVATE THE CAPACITIES, SKILLS, PRACTICES, & RELATIONSHIPS NEEDED TO PIVOT OUR CULTURE, GOVERNANCE, & SYSTEMS TOWARDS COLLECTIVE THRIVING. MAJI YA CHAI WAS FEATURED IN THE SUPERIOR HIKING TRAIL NEWSLETTER, WHICH HELPED TO INTRODUCE US TO NEIGHBORS & RESIDENTS IN NORTHEAST MINNESOTA.