Ilera

07/02/2025

Iya Rev. DeShannon Barnes-Bowens incorporated ILERA 20 years ago and is celebrating two decades of service! Enjoy the short video below which shows pics of her very 1st Take Back the Night march in 2006 to participating in a powerful international leadership & self-compassion summit for black women in Portugal in 2022. We look forward to continuing to be of service!

ILERA has turned 20 and I’m celebrating all summer long 😊! I began my journey with a commitment to raise awareness about sexual assault, prevention & healin...

10/22/2024

Pleased to share the last installment of Iya Rev. DeShannon's interview w/ independent scholar & author, Iyanifa Jo Anna Hunter! Iya Jo Anna shares information on the odu of the year from Ile-Ife, they discuss mental health and the power of words.

In part 3 of their Summer 2024 interview, Iya Rev. DeShannon Barnes-Bowens and Iyanifa Jo Anna Hunter discuss the role our mouths play in emotional & mental ...

10/08/2024

We are pleased to share the 2nd part of our interview with elder Iyanifa Jo Anna Hunter as she shares what inspired her contribution to the upcoming book, "The Wisdom of Ifa: An Ancient Paradigm for the 21st Century & Beyond". Enjoy!

In part 2 of their Summer 2024 interview, respected elder, author & independent scholar, Iyanifa Jo Anna Omotinuwe Hunter, explains what inspired her to cont...

09/18/2024

Many years ago Iya Rev. DeShannon conducted in-depth interviews with women who advocated for change through a spiritual &/or religious foundation. ILERA Inspirations featured amazing people like Rev. Drs: Sally MacNichol, Cari Jackson & Traci West.

Today we are happy to share part 1 of an interview with Ifa-Orisa priest, author & independent scholar, Iyanifa Jo Anna Hunter. In this segment, she shares what drew her to Ifa-Orisa spirituality. Stay tuned for more segments to be released in the coming weeks. Enjoy!

Iya Lewa (Iya Rev. DeShannon Barnes-Bowens) interviews respected elder & independent scholar Iyanifa Omotinuwe (Jo Anna Hunter) about what lead her to Lucumi...

04/30/2024

As Sexual Assault Awareness Month & National Poetry Month come to a close, we offer these words of encouragement.

Whatever it Takes

Making my way back to freedom
Taking a deep breath
Submerging, rising
Crawling, climbing, walking, running
Reaching way up ~ by Shonda D. Nicholas from Some Won't Say

The key to freeing ourselves from shame must involve an assessment of who we have given our power to. ~ from Hush Hush by DeShannon Barnes-Bowens

12/01/2023

Today is World AIDS day. We give honor to those who have transitioned from HIV/AIDS and celebrate those who are living and sharing their gifts in the world.

Much appreciation to NY State Dept. of Health AIDS Institute Faith Communities Project & Hosanna City of Refuge Church in Queens, NY for hosting an Interfaith discussion on HIV/AIDS and allowing an Ifa-Orisa faith perspective on how to support people living with HIV.

06/26/2023

MONDAY: Join Iya Dr. Funlayo and special guests for an important community conversation.

While we’ve largely stopped talking about it, especially in the wake of COVID, HIV hasn’t gone anywhere. And Black folk—especially Black women and LGBT+ fam—are still being heavily affected.

This conversation will center the continuing impact of HIV in our communities and how leaders and practitioners of African and Diasporic Religions have made and can continue to make a difference.

We will talk about shutting down the sexual shame that often contributes to our unwillingness to speak on HIV, stopping the spread, ending stigma, and better supporting those in our communities living with the virus.

Guest speakers:
Hoodoo Saint Gerard Millerroots

Rev. Iya DeShannon Bowens

Manbo Dr. Kyrah Malika Daniels


Chief Babalalawo Oluwole Ifakunle


Convened by:
Iya Dr. Funlayo E. Wood

Cosponsors:
, , KOSANBA, ILERA, and

06/20/2023

Summer is here are we are excited to announce 3 amazing events Ilera is participating in next week!

1) Monday, 6/26, Iya Rev. DeShannon is joining Ase Ire & Iya Dr. Funlayo & African Diasporic Religious practitioners for a conversation on Sexuality & HIV. Attendance is free! Find out more here: http://www.wixevents.com/viewEvent/v2/5de1402e-f6ef-491d-a42e-5dc4552ad0a7/01a38f97-4a1c-40c2-ac6a-85e02c8f903a

2) Tuesday, 6/27, Iya DeShannon is joining NYS Dept. of Health for an Interfaith panel to discuss Sexuality & Sacred Texts. Attendance is free! Find out more here: http://www.wixevents.com/viewEvent/v2/5de1402e-f6ef-491d-a42e-5dc4552ad0a7/71b8d915-e5b4-4039-9716-856f9baf7ae0

3) June 28th & 29th, 10am-1pm, we are partnering with CONNECT NYC to offer another Power of Transformation Vicarious Trauma Training online. Costs & registration details are here: http://www.wixevents.com/viewEvent/v2/5de1402e-f6ef-491d-a42e-5dc4552ad0a7/6fe2be32-f629-4804-b8c8-b5f6f307626c

05/11/2023

Thursday, 5/25, 10am-1pm, we're looking forward to being part of a free trauma training in NYC hosted by FPWA. Spiritual leaders and communities are welcome to join us as we explore, Trauma, Spirituality & Resilience. More information is here: https://www.ilera.com/event-details/trauma-response-resiliency-in-spiritual-communities

Join us 5/25, 10am-1pm, for a free trauma training hosted by FPWA as we explore, Trauma, Spirituality & Resilience. Register here: https://www.fpwa.org/may-25-training-exploring-trauma-responsive-practices-within-faith-and-spiritual-communities/

02/22/2023

Iya DeShannon truly enjoyed being interviewed by the fabulous Aquaila Barnes about Spirituality & Money on her Barnes Financial Concierge podcast, "The Story Behind the Numbers". Take a moment to listen 🙂!

When diving deep into the purpose of “The Story Behind the Numbers” we would be remiss to not include the spiritual aspect of financial perspective. Many of ...

09/28/2022

Join us for our Interfaith Dialogue on Reproductive Justice and Intimate Partner Violence next Thursday, September 29, 2022
6-8PM EST via Zoom.

Our panel of faith leaders will share how their faith informs their work on IPV and reproductive justice, the intersection between the two, as well as the impact of the Dobbs decision on our faith communities and survivors of IPV.

REGISTER: https://bit.ly/3rqv5eq