Palenque is a creative partnership between two friends and Atlanta-based creatives to showcase the radical diversity in healing and wellness spaces. The project promotes Mindful Maroon, the first tech-enabled holistic health platform and community for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPoC).
The culturally-rooted platform connects people to healers of color online and in real life. Candi Reddick, the founder of Mindful Maroon and mastermind behind Palenque, wanted to bring people together, use art for social change, and promote healing and wellness in marginalized communities.
Marilyn Ocasio Nieves, an award-winning Latinx photographer, is the other half of the dope duo. As the owner of Suspended Image, a creative studio, she is passionate about showcasing underrepresented communities and telling powerful stories through stunning photography.
The duo has set out to decolonize healing by using photography to center BIPoC and queer folks that are often erased from mainstream media and wellness platforms. For example, many people cannot fathom a partially paralyzed yoga teacher, a Muslim transman leading a guided meditation, or a body-positive herbalist and spiritual advisor. Yet, these are real people living and working in our communities.
Representation and visibility matter in photography because images are powerful. Photographs help shatter stereotypes, heal perceived divides, and stretch our collective imagination to envision new possibilities. The two plan to engage new audiences by expanding the critically acclaimed photographic series to major cities across America.
Peerspace is on a mission to bring people together. We believe it is impossible to achieve that goal unless we also fight for equality and access to resources in the communities we serve.
Having a space to gather, create, and exchange ideas is an important part of any movement. In order to magnify voices that are often quieted, Peerspace will sponsor venues for people who challenge prejudice and fight for social justice and equality.
Each quarter, we will sponsor space for three projects that are relevant to our community. These projects can range from fundraisers and educational initiatives to art exhibits and photo series.
