Studios and Incubators

The Black Mountain School of Theology & Community is constantly seeking to create new opportunities for learning with others as well as to provide innovative learning opportunities for communities.

Incubators

Our “incubators” are co-learning events that push the edges of current practices and methods by gathering groups of deeply committed practitioners, scholars, and activist to address pressing issues and challenges. They are an opportunity for US to learn with others! 

Upcoming incubators

MountainTrue Grassroots Organizing (Invitation only event)

This incubator will gather leadership from MountainTrue, the Highlander Center, and The Black Mountain School for purpose of developing strategies for grassroots, faith based organizing efforts in Western North Carolina. The objective for such efforts is to help MountainTrue expand and deepen their work in environmental care and building healthy communities.

Past Incubators

Welcome Table Collaborative (Invitation only event)

The Welcome Table is a relational process for racial healing developed over decades of work in Mississippi by Susan Glisson. We will be gathering for 4 days of intensive workshopping and story-telling to refine and expand this process for use in communities, corporations, organizations, and congregations.

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Participatory Action Research Summit (Invitation only event)

(In Collaboration with PECI (Popular Education Consultants Inc)).

With the generous support of The ACTA Foundation this incubator will bring together practitioners of participatory action research (PAR) for social justice employing the see, judge, act cycle to learn with one another, helping us refine our practice, develop new frames for our work, and to hone the skills implicit to our methods. Coming from organizations based in different regions of the country (Chicago, North Carolina, and South Florida), we aim to glean from one another’s practice of participatory action research or theological action research (TAR) to refine our strategic plans and campaigns as well as to develop a common praxis (understanding and methodology) for conducting the see, judge, act process of action research in diverse communities. Our hope is that this initial, small gathering will be the beginning of what will become a national gathering for high level practitioners engaged in this work and seeking to refine and develop it in the shifting context of an increasingly global society and culture.

Studios

Our “studios” are co-learning opportunities that range from half day consultations to weekend events and are designed to foster dialogue, relationship building, and critical reflection in your congregation focused on mission and community engagement. We build and design these specifically for your community or congregation and its needs. 

  • 3hr to 3-day workshops (Cost varies depending on length)

  • Conducted at your site and open to your entire congregation and/or community

  • Involves critical reflection, practice, and action-orientation