ALICIA NICOLE
Relax, Release, & Restore Retreat Recap PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE ALICIA NICOLE™ EXPERIENCE
O C T O B E R 2 0 2 5
PAGES
Editor-in-Chief
Alicia Coulter, MPH, MSW
Art Director
Klarisa Coulter
Photography Jamal-Akil
CONTRIBUTORS
Founder, Author, & Curator of Safe Spaces for Black Women™
Alicia Coulter, MPH, MSW Klarisa Coulter
Curriculum Specialist, AHN Foundation
PhotographybyJML-AK
FROM THE EDITOR
DearSis,
Thereareseasonswhenbecomingrequiresmorethanreflection.Itrequiresrelease. Stillness.Clarity.Thisissuewasbornfromoneofthoseseasons.
InOctober,Ihostedthe4 AnnualRelax,Release&RestoreRetreat,andsomething shifteddeeplyandpermanentlywithinme.Becauseofthat,Ihavehadtoreevaluatethe AliciaNicole™Experienceandmakesomeadjustments.Overtheupcomingweeks,Iwill sharewhatthatwilllooklike th
Attheretreat,IwatchedBlackwomenbreatheagain.Notinfragments,butfully.Notin survival,butinsoftness.Iwitnessedwomenreclaimingjoy,choosingease,and rememberingthatrestisnotsomethingtoearn.Itissomethingweembody.Watching thisconfirmedthedecisiontopivottheAliciaNicole™Experienceinawaythatisbest formeandtheladieswhoattend.
Pleasecheckyouremailformoreinformationonwhatthispivotwillmeanforyou.
Thankyouforreading Thankyouforchoosingyou. Thankyouforyourdesiretoelevate.
WithLove,
Alicia Nicole
Editor-in-Chief
in this issue
Welcome to the Octoberedition ofAlicia Nicole™ Magazine.Amonthlyreminderthat validatesyourgrowth, encourages rest, and says evolution is onyourterms
Relax, Release, & Restore Retreat Recap
This month,wewill giveyou a glimpse of ourexperience of the 4thAnnual Relax, Release, & Restore Retreat
Alicia Nicole™ Experiencevs Safe Spaces forBlackWomen®: Since 2022, theAlicia Nicole™ Experience has been providing luxurious spaces.Where does that leave Safe Spaces forBlackWomen®?
Safe Spaces forBlackWomen® Edit
Amonthlycollection of self-loving actions curated to helpyou relax, release, and restorewith intention.
LookingAhead
Apreviewof Novembereventsyouwill not want to miss,
By Alicia Coulter, MPH, MSW
Photography by Klarisa Coulter
This is my second year hosting the Relax, Release & Restore Retreat in Palm Desert, and each time, I am reminded that Black women deserve to experience softness, not as a weakness, but as a form of restoration.
This experience has always been about more than rest. It is about remembering the Black Queen that you are, deserving of all the beauty the world has to offer. Each year, I watch Black women arrive excited, trusting that I will deliver the experience they deserve while carrying invisible weight.
This time, I experienced it too. Although I believe 2024’s retreat was incredible, 2025 was elevated. From the arrival dinner to the Scented Brunch Experience™, the feeling of relaxation, release, and restoration was felt in every moment.
As women, we give endlessly. We nurture, lead, build, and hold. But somewhere between the doing and the being, we forget that we, too, deserve patience and gentleness. This retreat affirmed that gentleness is self-care.
It reminded me that I have become a woman who no longer rushes her peace. A woman who creates what she needs. A woman who understands that rest is not a reward. It is a right.
This year’s retreat reaffirmed my truth: Retreating is not escaping our lives; it is creating space for us to relax, release, and restore ourselves.
Next year we are going to Napa Valley and I cannot wait to share one of my favorite regions of California with you!
Day One: Arrive + Exhale
Sistas arrived as they were, battling traffic, but they came hopeful and ready to exhale. The evening started with warm welcomes, tacos, and champagne, and time to relax with sisters. Our welcome circle was not about icebreakers; it was about reentry into the Alicia Nicole™ Experience. It was the beginning of a weekend where nothing had to be explained. We were held, seen, and welcomed without condition.
Alicia Nicole’s 4th Annual: RELAX, RELEASE, AND RESTORE
PhotographybyJML-AKIL
Day Two: Relax
The morning began with mindful movement to awaken our bodies, not to burn calories, but to connect. The day offered freedom. Some sistas worked out, read by the pool, others wandered the resort, and a few took long naps without guilt. It was a reminder that stillness is also productive. Our yoga session with local Black Yogi Jade was relaxing and much needed for the ladies. This was a Zen yoga flow that focused on stretching and relaxing our bodies.
Immediately after yoga, the ladies had 30 minutes to themselves in preparation for a delicious three-course lunch. During lunch, we had a robust discussion led by Alicia regarding menopause, thyroid disease, and women’s health.
Immediately following lunch, the ladies relaxed in our quiet room for Christine’s sound bath. This day anchored the group with a shared sense of peace. As her voice and bowls filled the space, a calm descended, one that felt ancestral, familiar, and necessary.
The day ended with the option to gather for dinner or rest alone. No pressure. Just presence.
Alicia Nicole’s 4th Annual: RELAX, RELEASE, AND RESTORE
PhotographybyJML-AKIL
Day Three: Release
This was the day of truth: Release as Liberation. Alicia started each day with an affirmation and a question. During this session, facilitated by Alicia in partnership with Crystle, we explored what we were being called. We also discussed the benefits of release and how we will not get to our destination until we let go of people, places, things, and ideas. This is an activity Alicia likes to call “Release the Nouns.”
During our three-course lunch, we discussed the importance of having self-care practices and prioritizing ourselves.
Following lunch, Toi led a S.O.U.L. Circle. This space is private, so I will not share what was discussed. I will share that healing happened.
After our session, we experienced the boat on the JW Marriott’s man-made lake. This was a lovely experience of sisterhood as our safe space.
To wrap up the day, a few of us went to the spa to enjoy the amenities, including the jacuzzi, saltwater pool, and steam and sauna rooms. It was truly a lovely way to culminate the day.
Alicia Nicole’s 4th Annual: RELAX, RELEASE, AND RESTORE
PhotographybyJML-AKIL
Day Four: Restore
The final morning was quiet. This was the time for the ladies to have to themselves as they prepared for our time of restoration together.
Our farewell brunch was pure joy. Words cannot express the luxuriousness that we experienced in the T&T Immersion Kitchen at the JW Marriott.
This was an experience worthy of the queens we are. No words or pictures can truly capture what we felt. From the fivecourse brunch with free-flowing sparkling wine to the handmade pear, to Jo Malone London providing us a private scent pairing and shopping experience, the afternoon was filled with pure joy.
One thing I know for sure is that I am glad I was in the room!
Alicia Nicole’s 4th Annual: RELAX, RELEASE, AND RESTORE
PhotographybyJML-AKIL
nd Annual Planning for the New Year & Healthier Me
An Intimate 3-Course Dinner, Fundraiser, & Virtual Auction
On Saturday, December 6th at 6:30 PM, the AHN Foundation invites you to an evening that combines luxury, purpose, and community. Held at Luna Bistro Café, a Black-owned treasure in Long Beach, California, this exclusive dinner is designed to end the year with intention and generosity. This year ’ s fundraiser will directly support a scholarship for a Black mother returning to college, a gift of opportunity, empowerment, and legacy Guests will enjoy a chef-curated three-course dinner, live music, and a sile auction filled with meaningful treasures. This isn’t just a dinner; it is a night celebration, renewal, and purpose. With just 12 seats available, this intimate gathering provides the ideal mix connection and influence.
Date: Friday, December 6, 2025
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Luna Bistro Café, Long Beach, CA
Ticket: $150
Secure your seat in this season of giving and transformation. Your presence makes a difference.
Hey Sis: With Alicia Nicole
In this episode of Hey Sis! With Alicia Nicole, we are joined by Toi Nichols, Founder & CEO of Motherhood Together & M.O.R.E. Mothers. What began as a personal tragedy evolved into a call to create space for women navigating the complex terrain of motherhood, grief, and self-reclamation. This conversation is not just about loss. It is about what rises from it.
With vulnerability and vision, Toi shares how she transformed sorrow into structure, isolation into intimacy, and silence into voice. She speaks about the courage it takes to hold space for others while healing in real-time, and the spiritual depth required to mother while mourning.
Together, we explore:
What it means to release expectations and identities that no longer serve us
The quiet ways grief reshapes our sense of self and purpose
Why softness is not weakness but wisdom
How sisterhood and storytelling can restore what sorrow tried to steal
Toi’s story is one of sacred becoming. Through her leadership, Motherhood Together has become more than a platform; it is a sanctuary for women to be fully human. To grieve. To grow. To gather.
This episode is not about polished answers or performative healing. It is an offering for anyone who has ever wondered how to keep going. Toi reminds us that healing is not a destination. It is a choice. A practice. A possibility.
You can listen, subscribe, and learn more about the Hey Sis! With Alicia Nicole Podcast @ alicianicole.org/listen!
GEN Z: BACK TO SCHOOL
By: Klarisa Coulter
With school in session, I want to share my guide to navigating back-to-school for all your littles and big ones who are adjusting to their new grade or year!
1 Prep Your Mindset
Get excited for the year ahead Set personal goals, whether it is acing a subject or making new friends, and keep them in mind for motivation.
2. Reset Your Routine
Adjust your sleep schedule a few days before school. Set up a clean, organized study space to keep your focus sharp from day one.
3. Gear Up
Make sure your backpack is ready with essentials: pens, notebooks, and any homework due. Pack it the night before for a smooth start.
4. Reconnect
Catch up with friends and make an effort to meet new people. A friendly smile can lead to fresh connections.
5. Tackle the Workload
Ease back into studying by breaking tasks into smaller chunks. Stay ahead of deadlines with a planner or digital calendar.
6. Get Involved
Join a club, sport, or group activity to meet new people and keep the school year exciting.
7 Prioritize Self-Care
Stay hydrated, eat well, and exercise. Mental health is just as important as schoolwork.
8. Stay Organized
Use a planner to track assignments, tests, and activities. Staying on top of things reduces stress and boosts productivity.
The Safe Spaces for Black Women Edit
A monthly collection of self-loving actions curated to help you relax, release, and restore with intention.
The Safe Spaces for Black Women edit is not rooted in things you buy; as much as I like nice things, I know that intentional restoration happens when we do the inner work. ®
Let this month’s guide be a reminder: you are allowed to consistently show up for yourself without guilt.
1. Wear with Intention
Softness begins with how you adorn yourself. Our home life is where we show up for ourselves first and where we can determine how we show up outside the home.
Choose pieces that express your desire for rest while elevating your comfort. Wrap yourself in comfortable clothing that affirms your right to feel luxurious in your skin, even when no one else is around.
Self-loving action:
Wear clothes around the home that do not have holes or look worn.
2. Read Yourself First
Before you engage with the outside world, check in with your own voice.
Self-loving action:
Begin each day with silence, avoiding scrolling, texting, or communication.
Take a deep breath, placing one hand over your heart and the other on your belly.
The Safe Spaces for Black Women Edit
Keep your feet flat on the ground as you breathe in slowly and breathe out completely.
3. Indulge Without Guilt
Create beauty where you are through your senses. Use your favorite fragrance, eat your favorite meal, play your favorite song, and have a car party. Let your space feel like peace.
Self-loving action:
Choose one part of your routine to elevate this week. Not because it is earned, but because you deserve it!
4. Reflect Without Performance
Journal your feelings without erasing or editing; there is no judgment in the private moments that you share with yourself..
Self-loving action:
Use the prompt: “Today, I give myself permission to…” Let the words flow with no judgment.
5. Unplug to Restore
They say silence is golden, and I say silence is necessary for your mental health. Turn down the volume of the world so you can hear the rhythm of your own becoming.
Self-loving action:
Schedule a time this week for deep stillness. No phone. No scroll. Just you and whatever you need to restore yourself.
This is not a checklist. This is a lifestyle. Softness does not always happen without planning and a lifestyle shift.
IDESERVEREST WITHOUTGUILT, JOYWITHOUT APOLOGY,AND LOVEWITHOUT LIMITS..
MY PRESENCE TRANSFORMS SPACES AND UPLIFTS THOSE WITHIN THEM.
Affirmation Cards
Where will I intentionally bring my light and influence this month?
What guilt will I release so I can fully embrace rest and joy?
Alicia
By Alicia Coulter, MPH, MSW
Photography by JML-AKIL