The Day Black Women Decided to Take a 4-Year Vacation is built by a team of thinkers, artists, and organizers committed to honoring Black women’s experiences with care and intention.

Each member brings a distinct perspective, from psychology and research to film, design, and administration, working together to document, uplift, and imagine new possibilities for rest, resilience, and recovery.

The People Powering the 4-Year Journey

  • A woman with black hair, wearing a bright blue pantsuit, sitting on a brown leather sofa with pink pillows, holding a notebook and a pen, in a brightly lit room with white blinds and a wall decoration.

    Jasmine Ross, Ph.D.

    Psychologist and storyteller leading the 4-Year Vacation project and its research initiative on Black women’s mental health and rest.

  • A woman with short curly hair, glasses, and a smile, wearing a gray blazer and patterned blouse, sitting indoors with a plant and modern decor in the background.

    Ayanna Cato

    Producer, Administrative Team Lead

  • A woman with dark skin and curly hair styled in twists, smiling with arms crossed, wearing a beige t-shirt, with a blurred background of colorful artwork.

    Brandi Brooks

    Creative Team

  • A person with short hair, wearing glasses and a black turtleneck sweater, smiling at the camera.

    Tania Best

    Creative Team, Wellness Lead

  • Close-up of a woman with short black hair, glasses, and a red top smiling.

    Renita Johnson

    Administrative Team

  • A woman with dark skin and curly black hair, wearing glasses, gold earrings, a black top, and a beige jacket, smiling at the camera.

    Connesia Handford, Psy.D.

    Lead Researcher, Research Team

  • A smiling woman with glasses and blue earrings, wearing an orange top, against a plain light background.

    Alexis Faison, Ph.D.

    Research Associate, Research Team

A woman in a blue dress with colorful high heels is speaking and gesturing with her hands while three women listen attentively. A camera is set up on a tripod capturing the scene inside an office with artwork on the walls and bookshelves in the background.
A man with a beard and tattooed arms standing next to a woman with braids and a nose piercing, both smiling and looking in the same direction, in an indoor setting.
A professional camera viewfinder captures a woman sitting in a room with natural light coming through the window. The woman has dark curly hair, a necklace, and wears a gray top. The room has wooden floors, a table with a cup of strawberry yogurt and a spoon, and a bicycle in the background.