Wake Forest, NC [September 24, 2024]

In 2024, the Faith COMPASS Center of Wake Forest School of Divinity hosted a three-day Summer Institute entitled, “Re-Storying and Restoring: Theology, Sacred Memory, and Health in the African American Community.” This work builds upon the existing partnership between Dr. Toure and the Wake Forest University School of Divinity on storying and re-storying The Summer Institute convened more than 60 faith leaders, health service providers, and community advocates from across the eastern United States to engage in excavating sacred memory and decolonizing imagination. As an example, one of the LIT Cohort members presented a music video he produced that detailed his journey of re-storying his HIV diagnosis. Through the Institute, participants also gained knowledge and skills on how to apply different theological lenses in order to reduce stigma and promote healing, life-affirming narratives related to HIV in Black communities.