Our mission

Black River Life creates art, gatherings and stories that honor global Black identity and our deep ties to land and place. Our storytelling centers migration journeys — where we come from, what we’ve overcome and how we can heal together.

We call this work narrative repair. We believe that migration stories have the power to illustrate paths out of harm into a future that’s abundant with liberation and dignity for all.

Our Team

Collette Watson

Brian Watson

Lindsay Bernardez

Walonda Williams

our work

We tell Black migration stories as pathways to belonging, care and power by:

  • Producing cultural events and media

  • Partnering with artists and community on creative activations

  • Amplifying Black-led organizations through visual storytelling

  • Offering political education rooted in justice and land

  • Supporting artists’ growth and sustainability

our philosophy

Black River Life Collective is a love letter, a loudspeaker and an exploration of the many streams of Black life. We deliver news, information, documentary films, cultural events and community gatherings that highlight the African diaspora.

We are pro-Black, pro-Queer, pro-Trans, pro-Immigrant, pro-Worker, pro-Abolition, pro-Reparations and in solidarity with all oppressed peoples around the globe.

We believe that land must be restored to its Indigenous caretakers. And we understand that achieving safe, just societies means centering those who are on the margins.

When Black people get free, we all get free.

Creating the healing environments we deserve–it’s not something any of us can do by ourselves.