A Return to Restoration: The Big Easy Retreat Brings Healing, Sisterhood, and Purpose to Essence Festival Weekend

NEW ORLEANS, LA — During one of the most culturally significant weekends for Black women in the nation, a space for intentional healing and sisterhood is being cultivated just beyond the festival stage.

On July 4, 2026, the 3rd Annual Big Easy Retreat—founded by mother-daughter duo Dr. Toscha L. Dickerson and Kaleigh Dickerson—will convene women from across the country for a one-day immersive experience centered on wellness, restoration, and collective growth.

Held at the Hampton Inn & Suites New Orleans Convention Center, the retreat arrives during Essence Festival Weekend not as an extension of the celebration, but as a counterbalance—offering stillness, reflection, and recalibration.

A Space Rooted in Healing

This year’s theme, “The Power of Restoration,” reflects a deeper call—one that acknowledges both personal and collective fatigue, and the necessity of intentional healing.

The retreat is designed to address the full spectrum of well-being: mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual. Through integrative wellness sessions and curated programming, attendees are invited to not only engage in conversation—but to actively participate in their own renewal.

A panel of medical professionals will anchor key discussions, focusing on mental health within the Black community and the often-unspoken realities of grief and loss—topics that continue to shape lived experiences but remain under-addressed in public discourse.

From Grief to Purpose

For Dr. Dickerson, the 2026 retreat carries a deeply personal significance.

Following the loss of both her mentor and her sister—two foundational supporters of the retreat—the event paused. What would have been its fourth year became a season of mourning.

Now, its return represents more than continuation—it is embodiment.

“Moving forward with this retreat is my way of living out the very message I share with women,” she shared, grounding the experience in lived truth rather than theory.

In this way, the retreat becomes not just a gathering, but a testimony—of resilience, of faith, and of the ongoing journey toward wholeness.

Intimacy Before the Gathering

The experience begins the evening prior with a Fireside Chat titled “Pretty and Empowered,” taking place on July 3.

Designed as a more intimate setting, the conversation invites attendees into a space of vulnerability and connection—prioritizing dialogue over performance, and depth over scale.

Access to the Fireside Chat is reserved for registered retreat attendees, reinforcing the intentional nature of the weekend’s design.

Honoring Legacy, Investing in the Future

A cornerstone of the retreat is its awards ceremony, recognizing women whose leadership and service continue to impact their communities.

These honors extend the retreat’s purpose beyond internal reflection—highlighting the external work of women who are actively shaping change.

Simultaneously, the retreat invests in the next generation through its Teen Edition: “Glow Up,” a dedicated experience for girls ages 13–19.

Led by Kaleigh Dickerson, the program focuses on self-worth, confidence, entrepreneurship, and voice development—equipping young women with both affirmation and actionable tools.

“Young girls need spaces where they can be encouraged and reminded of their value,” she noted, positioning the initiative as both preventative and empowering.

Beyond the Weekend

While the Big Easy Retreat is a one-day event, its intention extends far beyond a single gathering.

It exists within a broader cultural moment—one where Black women are increasingly seeking spaces that move beyond visibility into restoration, beyond performance into presence.

In a city known for its rhythm, the retreat offers a different kind of cadence—one rooted in stillness, healing, and return.

The Big Easy Retreat and Fireside Chat will take place July 3–4, 2026, at the Hampton Inn & Suites New Orleans Convention Center.For registration and additional details, visit: www.thebigeasyretreat.com