Asian American &

Pasifika Cohort

Finding our voice in justice work,

Our stories in Scripture,

and liberation for our communities

Receive the gift of a community where you can heal, grow, and learn to lead authentically.

It can be hard to know where we fit in. We care about justice, but we don’t totally know where we fit into the work. The theologies we grew up with, no longer feel like they fit, but even Asian American churches don’t talk about our liberation. We want to explore cultural practices, but it feels hard to know where to start without guides.

What does healing, liberation, community, and justice work feel like for us?

Perhaps you are feeling…

Lonely after leaving your church and are still looking for a safe spiritual community
Unsure when it comes to really finding your voice in justice work
Stuck because most of the resources for deconstruction come from white folks, and tools for justice from Black folks, and you appreciate both, but they don’t totally feel like home

You’re not alone. Journey and share story with women and non-binary folks who are also looking for a way forward.

A SPACE THAT IS TRULY FOR US

A COMMUNITY THAT GETS YOU

Join a community of folks who are ready to find healing and nourishment in each other’s presence. What does it mean to do justice work as Asian American women/folks, or as Pacific Islanders? Many of us care about justice, but we need a community to help us find out voice in the work.

A FAITH THAT IS EXPANSIVE

Explore an authentic, embodied spirituality and reclaim cultural practices to reconnect with Creator. Many of us are still figuring out how to relate to certain cultural practices. In this community there is lots of safety and permission to be curious and try cultural practices that we were told we had to leave behind.

A THEOLOGY THAT LIBERATES

We know what we no longer believe, but we need space to explore other options, new possibilities. Most of us have never heard theology that centers our lived experience. Most of us have never truly seen our stories in the Bible. Together we will explore new ways forward.

One of the things I love about this community is that connection is not hard. Coming as you are is encouraged and expected. I don’t ever have to explain my stance or my perspective in details because all of these women GET IT! And THAT is hard to find. But the thing that’s even more unique is the fact that all of these women are bad ass Asian American women who are trying to make this world livable for all generations, present and future. And it makes me so excited and proud to be working alongside these women for the greater good.

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This space feels like a healthy place for me to ask questions, learn and grow without the judgment that is often found in social justice spaces. And although we all don’t share the same ethnic background or life stage, we can still meet each other and journey together.

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COHORT REFLECTIONS

Cohort Facilitators

Meet your hosts, who will create the space for you to learn and explore

ERNA KIM HACKETT is a preacher, trainer, public theologian, and founder of Liberated Together. She is passionate about helping women get free from the trauma of white heteropatriarchal Christianity and begin to move in embodied and integrated leadership.

Drawing from her experiences with the Institute for Indigenous Theological Studies, Black liberation theology, and the Korean immigrant church she seeks to build radical solidarities without erasing the unique experience of each community.

Erna worked with college students for 15 years, focussing on Black Campus ministries and Justice Programs. She served as Executive Pastor at The Way Berkeley, and is currently focussed on creating liberative learning communities for WOC/Queer WOC.

PUANANI POTI-CALVILLO is a Samoan Filipina/Ilocana, who has accompanied WOC for more than 15 years. She is a spiritual director, facilitator, holds a Masters in Teaching and a certified personal trainer. Her practice centers care for communities of color at the intersection of liberative spirituality and embodied movement (exercise). Puanani brings her lived experiences as a mother of 3 children, multi-ethnic multicultural person, former elementary school teacher and ministry leader.

As a devout charismatic evangelical youth, she dedicated her young adult years to ministry leadership. She began her deconstruction process 15 years ago alongside her Chicano partner while pastoring in an immigrant majority community wherein many members lived on the edges of society due to their legal status. As her faith continues to expand and evolve she simultaneously navigates how these changes inform her parenting and leadership. She looks forward to holding space for collective care, storytelling, and co-learning to support women and folks on their deconstruction journey.

The Cohort Experience

Your cohort will be a curated community with up to 15 women and non-binary folks ready to journey together. All Asian Americans, this includes South Asians, SE Asians, and East Asians and Pacific Islanders which includes all of our Melanesias, Polynesias, and Micronesian kin. Cohorts are open to all Non-binary folks of color who feel comfortable in a community that centers the lived experience of WOC.

The Cohort Commitment: Each cohort member commits to making attendance a priority, being fully present during gatherings, and setting aside 2 to 3 hours per week for reading, reflecting, and connecting.

Zoom Gatherings

This is where we begin building our community together. We gather weekly to explore liberative theologies, reclaim our stories, practice breath work, and try new spiritual practices in a space where we feel understood.

In-Person Retreats

Step away for four days where the focus is on hosting you so that you can focus on each other. You’ll leave with a renewed sense of hope after being well fed and building connection. All of this in a beautiful Airbnb with a hot tub, luxurious outdoor space, and plenty of room to exhale. (Photo of our actual retreat location)

1:1 Coaching

Coaching sessions with Erna will help you think practically about how to integrate what you’re learning, whether that be at work, at church, or in general. Sessions will be shaped by your priorities in this season. Some topics you might explore in coaching are: learning to lead out of your values, navigating predominantly white spaces, and healing from internalized white supremacy, patriarchy, or homophobia.

1:1 Spiritual Direction

Connecting with the divine can be difficult in this season. Spiritual direction with Puanani will help you find connection with your sacred self and Creator. Together, you and Puanani will decide what kind of space you need in order to be deeply present and what kind of practices may be helpful to supporting you as you explore connection to Creator.

Cohort Details & Value

ZOOM GATHERINGS

Fall 2024 -Tuesdays starting October 1- December 10th, 2024

Weekly at 5:30 pm Pacific/ 8:30 pm Eastern

Spring 2025 - March 4- April 29 2025

5:30 pm Pacific/ 8:30 PM Eastern

IN-PERSON RETREATS

February 20-23, 2025: Near Oakland , CA

August 7-10: Near Oakland, CA

Flights Included in Cohort Cost

1:1 Coaching

2-3 sessions with Erna in spring 2025

A $300/hour value, included

1:1 SPIRITUAL DIRECTION

2-3 sessions with Puanani in spring 2025

A $150/hour value, included

COST

$ 6,600

The cost reflects fall and spring online gatherings, 2 in person retreats, including airfair, and spiritual direction and coaching sessions with Erna and Riana in the spring. It is a deep investment in yourself, in connecting to community, and nourishing your soul.

PAYMENT OPTIONS

Each person makes a $600 non- refundable deposit to secure their spot. This counts toward the overall cost. After that you can choose between one time, quarterly, or monthly payments. And for some it is possible to pay for the cohort over 18 months.

One-time: $6500

Quarterly:: $1500 Four times

Monthly: $500 for 12 months

18 months: $340 for 18 months

SCHOLARSHIPS

We want this cohort to be accessible to as many people as possible and understand how systems of race, gender, and capitalism give us different access to resources. And so we work to offer scholarships when possible.
We also ask that cohort participants with a home church, ask their churches to help them participate in the cohort.