Black Mama Magic 2026
Our hearts, minds and imaginations were truly fed at this year’s Black Mama Magic Meet-Up at the sister dreamer sculpture park!
P4L village members from ages 3 on up to 70s were immersed in the grandeur and majesty of Lauren Halsey’s sister dreamer, “an architectural ode to tha surge n splurge of south central los angeles”!
The day began with attendees viewing the sculpture on their own and viewing the past, present and future images depicted on the reliefs, columns and Sphinx gallery.
To connect and ground us, attendees were then welcomed by P4L Executive Director, Trina Greene, and led in a reflective practice by Ivory Parnell-Chambeshi. Attendees were invited to share thoughts about the sights, sounds and sensations they felt at the sculpture park and attendees noted the hustle-and-bustle of the traffic and oldies emanating from a nearby neighbor’s speaker among others.
The visit continued with remarks by Ikon, a multimedia artist who served on Lauren Halsey’s creative team which helped bring her vision to life. Ikon shared about the timeline, components involved in the monument’s production, and his interpretation of the Sphinxes representing the royalty of our people.
Our collective nourishment continued with lunch and activities at M’Dear’s Bistro. During lunch, attendees reflected individually and in groups about the meanings of the sculpture park through their own drawings and journaling. One attendee shared about her recent return back to her home in Los Angeles and that the sculpture park reminded her of the community gems she is looking forward to reconnecting to. Another attendee shared her group’s perspectives on how mothers nurture dreams and sometimes sacrifice themselves to do so, but she and her group’s generation is striving to achieve balance and self-care while mothering.
Aside from M’Dear’s delicious soul food spread capped with delectable strawberry shortcake and banana pudding parfaits, lunch also included attendees sharing incredible talent! We were graced with a poem by a mama recited with her 3-year-old on her hip and a reflection piece by a mom, grandma and beloved P4L community member. We were also serenaded with an ‘Art is Beautiful’ song by an 8-year-old P4L member!
To celebrate the mothers in the midst and conclude the day, we gifted moms with roses and crystal candleholders shaped as pillars. Our intention was to “give mamas their flowers while they can smell them”, and acknowledge the ways that they anchor us as pillars in their families and our community.
We were grateful for a beautiful day shared with our P4L village!
We encourage you to check out the extremely inspiring, monumental sister dreamer! If/when you do, we invite you to use this worksheet as a tool to reflect on your experience and dream-up your own visions to realize for your self, family, and community! Please also check out Lauren Halsey's website and nonprofit for other sister dreamer activations.