Rest, Restore, Reconnect: A Self-Care Guide for Black Women in Colorado
This Valentine’s Day & Black History Month, We Honor and Celebrate Black Women’s Right to Rest, Joy, and Community Care
As we celebrate Black History Month, I find myself reflecting deeply on the strength, resilience, and beauty of Black women in our community. As a mixed-race woman, I am profoundly proud of my Black heritage and the incredible women who have shaped my journey. My closest friends and confidants are Black women who nourish my spirit and uplift me daily. My sister, my strongest supporter, has been my anchor through life’s challenges. These relationships remind me that our community’s power lies not just in our resilience, but in our ability to care for one another.
In times of continued social upheaval and persistent challenges, taking care of ourselves isn’t just a luxury—it’s essential. This guide celebrates the places, people, and resources that support our journey to rest and restoration.
Joy as Resistance
In a world that often challenges our right to simply exist, choosing joy becomes an act of rebellion. When we laugh freely, love deeply, and celebrate our existence, we resist systems that would prefer to see us diminished. Our joy – whether found in a Sunday brunch with sisters, a solo (+ pup!) hike in the mountains, or dancing in our kitchen – is both a shelter and a statement. It declares we are here, we are thriving, and we will continue to claim our happiness as our birthright.
In times like these, where we watch as hard-won efforts for investments in Black women come under attack, it’s important to take time to rest, replenish, rejoice in our strengths, and support each other. I encourage you to check out these spaces* and places throughout our state to celebrate Black women during Black History Month and every month.
Sanctuary Spaces: Where to Find Peace
Wellness & Beauty
- Soul 2 Soul Sisters (Denver): Wellness workshops and community healing. Also, they have an incredible page on their website dedicated to Black women’s healing resources! Check it out here!
- Urban Sanctuary (Denver): Accessible yoga and wellness for all
Natural Retreats Across Colorado
- Red Rocks Park (Morrison): Dawn hours offer peaceful hiking
- Garden of the Gods (Colorado Springs): Free yoga sessions at sunrise
- Yampa River Botanic Park (Steamboat Springs): Peaceful gardens
- Colorado National Monument (Grand Junction): Scenic drives and meditation spots
- Paint Mines Interpretive Park (Calhan): Unique geological formations for reflection
Nourish Body & Soul
Black Women-Owned Restaurants
- Sweet Sweetz (Denver): Delicious & sweet options with cultural touches
- Le French Bakery & Cafe: Senegalese French bakery & café with incredible pastries/menu
- Welton Street Café (Denver): A historic soul food staple in Denver
- TeaLee’s Tea House & Bookstore (Denver): “Move to the rhythm of tea” with tea-infused cocktails, soups, and more.
Cultural Connection & Community
Local Treasures
- Shop at Matter (Denver): Black-owned bookstore with curated wellness section
- Blair-Caldwell Library (Denver): African American research library and cultural center
- RedLine Contemporary Art Center (Denver): Fosters education and engagement between artists and communities
- Akente Express (Denver): African goods and cultural items
- The Museum for Black Girls (Denver) *pictured left*: A true love letter to Black women in a physical form/space. This place contains stunning exhibits, art, and celebrations of Black women throughout the years
- Justina Ford House/Black American West Museum & Heritage Center: Justina Ford was Colorado’s first Black woman doctor. Her historic home now serves as the location of the Black American West Museum and Heritage Center.
Spotlight: WFCO-Connected Black Women Entrepreneurs
- Chubby Curls Hair Products: Super-hydrating, heavenly-smelling hair butters that are the ultimate moisturizers for curls (shoutout to Chubby Curls “Moisturizer in Chief” and our very own Executive & Board Coordinator, Manushkka Sainvil!)
- Salve’ Natural Body Care: From chapped lips to the driest areas of your body, Erika has a salve for that!
- Curly Girl Fitness: Kickstart your fitness journey with Marquitta and her team
Essential Resources
Mental Health Support
Media & Books
Podcasts by Black Women
- “The Black Millennial Mom Podcast” – Ya Girl Cedes *pictured right with our President & CEO, Renee Ferrufino*
- “Black Girl Burnout” – Kelley Bonner
- “Black Girls Heal”
- ‘The Unapologetically Black Podcast”
- “Shades of Strong| Strength Without Struggle for Black Women” – Shirley Hubbard
Books by Black Women Authors
- “Bad Fat Black Girl: Notes From a Trap Feminist” by Sesali Bowen
- “Life, I Swear: Intimate Stories From Black Women on Identity, Healing, and Self-Trust” by Chloe Dulce Louvouezo
- “Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot” by Mikki Kendall
- “Finding Me: A Memoir” by Viola Davis
- “Becoming” by Michelle Obama
- “Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto” by Tricia Hersey
- “All About Love: New Visions” by bell hooks
Your Self-Care Toolkit
Remember:
- Rest is resistance
- Community is healing
- Your peace is priority
And Finally, A Love Letter to My Community
On this Valentine’s Day, let this be a love letter to every Black woman who has ever doubted her worth or wondered if she deserves to rest.
To the woman reading this – yes, you – who gives so much of herself to others that sometimes her own cup runs dry. Your strength isn’t just in what you can endure, but in how you choose to nurture yourself. Your beauty isn’t just in your appearance, but in how you show up for yourself and others. Your worth isn’t measured by your productivity, but by your very existence – an existence that makes our world richer, more vibrant, and more whole.
To my beautiful community: I hope you’ll take this Valentine’s Day – and every day – to rest, celebrate, and fill your cup. Go out dancing with friends, share meals with family, laugh until your sides hurt, and keep lifting each other up. Let this be your reminder to love yourself radically. Take that extra hour of sleep. Book that massage. Call that friend who makes your soul sing. Say “no” to what drains you and “yes” to what fills you up.
In a world that often demands your strength, remember that softness is also your birthright. Your joy matters. Your peace matters. You matter. Today and every day, you are loved, you are cherished, and you are worthy of every good thing that comes your way.
* This guide represents just a small sampling of the incredible resources, spaces, and businesses that support Black women in Colorado. While many of the featured locations are Denver-metro based, I recognize the need to cultivate and share more statewide options throughout Colorado. This list is not exhaustive, and I acknowledge there are many more amazing spaces, businesses, and resources that aren’t reflected here. We encourage our community to share and celebrate additional resources that have been meaningful in their own journeys of rest and restoration.
