Breast Cancer BaddieCon Reimagines Sisterhood…
Breast Cancer BaddieCon’s second summit was a stunningly sisterly gathering, and BOSSIP bore witness to the highly effective fusion of therapeutic, hope, and heartfelt connection.
The second medical professionals, survivors, advocates, and thrivers like Guerdy Abraira stepped inside the Stone Mountain, GA, event’s opening evening, the environment confirmed one thing particular was afoot.
Source: Jarek James
This 12 months’s Breast Cancer BaddieCon: Survivorship Reimagined, powered by For the Breast of Us, was a four-day expertise rooted in therapeutic and empowerment at Evergreen Lakeside Resort.
Amid an all-pink setting, laughter bounced from nook to nook as ladies embraced each other with hugs, stopped for selfies, gathered around photograph alternatives, and exchanged conversations that felt more like reunions than introductions.
Source: Jarek James / Jarek James
Music stuffed the space while attendees danced, smiled, mirrored, and settled into moments of fellowship. Black and brown ladies had been seen in every single place, creating a space where illustration was not an afterthought but half of the inspiration.
The expertise itself appeared fastidiously constructed around a journey.
Opening evening centered on Looking Back To Move Forward, starting with a Baddie Welcome Lounge designed as a “soft landing” for attendees before transferring into periods like This Is Our Mirror Moment and Main Character Energy: Owning Your Narrative.
Source: Jarek James / Jarek James
Even the language surrounding the programming mirrored one thing larger than surviving. While the event carried moments of celebration, organizers made it clear that pleasure didn’t imply pretending troublesome realities don’t exist.
“We’re up sometimes at 11 p.m. at night with our demanding full time jobs because this is The Lord’s work,” shared Marissa Thomas, Co Founder and CEO of For the Breast of Us.
Thomas also acknowledged the complexity that often exists behind survivorship tales.
“The real stories are not just cookie cutter. Breast cancer is ugly and ALOT so I’m not gonna act happy go lucky about this.”
Finding Community In Shared Experiences
Friday’s programming shifted into Holding Space For Our Whole Story, leaning into troublesome conversations and therapeutic work.
Source: Jarek James / Jarek James
Sessions including The System Ain’t Built For Us, Can We Talk: The Conversations We Love To Avoid, and From Survivor to Advocate: Using Your Story to Shake Systems acknowledged realities many ladies in the room already knew personally.
One of the most highly effective moments of the night, however, didn’t come from a formal presentation. Instead, it got here from a simple query directed toward attendees.
“How many of y’all felt alone until you found your community?”
Across the room, the bulk of palms rose. For a temporary second, the reply appeared to say every little thing without phrases.
That need for connection was seen in ladies like Belle, who traveled to Atlanta looking for one thing past assist.
“I need to find my community,” Belle told BOSSIP’s very own Lauryn Bass. “Like I got my family, I got my friends, they supported, but I need my sisters, like, that have been through what I’ve been through.”
Belle shared that she was recognized with breast cancer in 2019 after discovering a lump herself at age 38. After present process surgical procedures, chemotherapy, radiation, and persevering with hormone therapy, she said being in the room represented one thing deeper than another event.
“More than anything, a community,” she said.
While she described her household and pals as supportive, she explained that there’s something different about connecting with people who perceive the journey firsthand.
“I can’t ask for a better support group. However, it’s nothing like having somebody that’s been through what you’ve been through and get to really build a bond with them.”
Source: Jarek James / Jarek James
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