In these times of chaos and unsettling shifts, the Newark Community Street Team (NCST) held a restorative retreat around the theme of “Remember to Relax,” June 27 – 29 2025. The retreat was created to offer rest, reflection and renewal for the professionals working on the frontlines in Newark communities affected by chronic violence, the collateral consequences of mass incarceration, substance use and systemic neglect. The staff and leadership at NCST, also residents of the same spaces where they work, provide emotional, physical and logistical support to their communities daily. The Remember to Relax retreat sought to create a safe space for participants to release tension, process shared challenges, reconnect with their inner resources and experience the healing power of community, creativity and rest.
The weekend included structured and unstructured activities designed to support emotional expression, relaxation and restoration. Uplands-guided activities included a yoga class and an art exploration focused on watercolor painting, allowing participants to process their experiences through color and imagery rather than words. Participants also enjoyed a gentle Biodanza session, which is a practice using music and inspired movements to reconnect with the body, regulate the nervous system and awaken joy. Additionally, retreat participants enjoyed a lively group sharing exercise called “Curious Heart,” that helped teammates deepen their connections through a fortified sense of solidarity and mutual vulnerability, resulting, as well, in moments of laughter and beauty.
Throughout the weekend, the group was held by nature, enjoying a garden tour, scenic rides in the ATV and nutritious foods lovingly prepared with organic ingredients from our garden and local farms.
Participants expressed appreciation for the opportunity to step away from the violent environment in which they live, and the high stress roles they hold in working in that environment. Many expressed emotional release, renewed clarity and a sense of connection with themselves and others facing similar struggles. All participants received respite and renewal, if only for the weekend, from the exhaustion of witnessing and bearing besieging trauma. They underscored the pressing need for spaces like The Uplands for restoration and community care.
This retreat served as a gentle reminder for everyone involved that resting, healing and joy are not merely luxuries, but, indeed, necessities for those working with systemic injustices and resulting trauma. In this context, rest becomes an act of resilience. The Newark Community Street Team’s “Remember to Relax” retreat offered more than just a break: it facilitated healing, renewal, connection and hope, and a deep commitment to wellness and care, for those they serve and for the caregivers who serve them.
