Author: Jamie Bernard

When ROOT (Reclaiming Our Own Time) put out two distinct calls to community leaders of color to reclaim their own rest through sabbatical opportunities, the response was overwhelmingly honest. The ROOT team heard stories of burnout stemming from racial aggression, the pandemic, economic injustice, and years of not seeing progress on issues that truly matter

If you were at the Minnesota Humanities Center on Nov. 9, 2025, you would have found yourself among softly smiling Black and Brown faces, joyfully reclaiming their rest during a time that had been incredibly stressful for many. You might have seen a gentle tear dabbed away as we learned to let go of what

ROOT‘s Rhythmic Sabbatical Fellowship was a six-month, 15-person cohort for movement leaders of color to reclaim rest. From May to November 2025, fellows embarked on monthly sabbatical experiences ranging from weekend excursions to weeklong trips. Throughout their time together, the cohort uplifted why BIPOC folx must embrace rest and restoration as fundamental pieces of all

When we introduced Reclaiming Our Own Time (ROOT) in 2023, the ROOT team boldly put forth their vision: We are leaders—Black, Indigenous, and people of color. In our well-rested future, we reclaim our own narrative. We celebrate who we are and our rest practices. Our rest is deserved, intergenerational, well-resourced, and for all of us.