Issuu

ALICIA NICOLE

PAGES

Editor-in-Chief

Alicia Coulter, MPH, MSW

Fashion Editor

Kara Coulter

Art Director

Klarisa Coulter

Photography

Jamal-Akil, & ‘Kara Coulter

CONTRIBUTORS

Alicia Coulter, MPH, MSW

Founder, Author, & Curator of Safe Spaces for Black Women™

Kara Coulter Klarisa Coulter

Curriculum Specialist, AHN Foundation

Research Assistant, AHN Foundation

Dear Sis,

As we step into fall, I am reminded that weather does not just mark seasons; they are defined by how we care for ourselves amid constant demands. September is a threshold month. It calls us to slow down, look inward, and decide what to carry with us into the final months of the year.

This issue of Alicia Nicole Magazine centers on three words that have become both a mantra and a movement in my life: Relax, Release, and Restore. These are not just simple actions; they are practices, declarations, and responses to the weight we have inherited and the expectations we face every day as Black women.

To relax is to reclaim your nervous system from the constant state of alert. To release is to let go of what was never yours to carry. To restore is to remember the wholeness that already exists inside of you.

This is why I created the Relax, Release, & Restore Retreat, not as an escape but as a conscious space for Black women to practice these truths together. The retreat reflects what I hope you will discover within these pages: tools, reflections, and gentle reminders that rest is not indulgence; it is liberation. Sis, as you read this issue, I encourage you to ask yourself: What does it look like for me to relax? What am I ready to release? And where do I need to restore myself most deeply?

My prayer is that you will not only ask these questions but also create space to live into the answers.

Alicia Nicole

With love and intention

FROMTHE EDITOR

in this issue

Welcome to the Septemberedition of Alicia Nicole™ Magazine.Amonthly reminderthatvalidatesyourgrowth,we encourage rest, and evolution is onyour terms

Relax, Release, & Restore

This month,we focus onwhat it truly means to pause. Discoverhow relaxation, release, and restoration transcendwords, becoming acts of freedom,wholeness, and Safe Spaces forBlackWomen™.

From Brunch to a Movement: The storyof howRelax, Release, & Restore started as an intimate brunch and has nowgrown into a fullweekend retreat. Howto Practice Relaxing at Home Apractical one-pagerwith simpleways to bring intentional rest intoyourdaily rhythm.

Conferences and Community

Reflections from myexperience at the BlackGirls in SocialWorkConference, where connection and purpose came togetherin powerfulways

LookingAhead

Apreviewof Octobereventsyouwon't want to miss, showcasing howeach continues the mission of creating Safe Spaces forBlackWomen™.

Alicia Nicole™ Presents…

This October, Blackwomenwill gatherin the desert foran experience that transcends rest and redefines restoration.The 4thAnnual Relax, Release, & Restore Retreat returnswith unmatched intention and elegance, hosted at the fabulous JWMarriott Resort in Palm Desert.

Surrounded bypalm-lined serenity, cascading pools, and breathtaking mountainviews, this four-day, three-night retreat is more than aweekend getaway; it is a declaration.Asacred space where softness is honored, sisterhood is prioritized, and everydetail is designed to nourish the mind, body, and soul

From private Oasis cabanas to soul-stirring conversations, this retreat is curated forthewoman who gives everything and is nowreadyto receive.

SPACE IS LIMITED. LUXURYIS GUARANTEED.YOUR RESTORATIONAWAITS. OCTOBER 9–12, 2025 | PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA TO LEARN MOREAND RESERVEYOUR PLACE,VISIT: CLICKHERE THE RETURN OFREST:AN INVITATIONTO RESTORE

RELAX RELEASE RESTORE R TEAT

By Alicia Coulter, MPH, MSW

Relax, Release, & Restore

Photography by Brittany Murray

When I first created Relax, Release, & Restore, it was not a retreat. It was a brunch.

In 2022, I gathered 15 women together around a table to eat, exhale, and be. At that time, I knew we needed more than conversation; we needed space to release what we were holding and reconnect with ourselves in one another's presence.

That first brunch was intimate, but the response was powerful. Women left lighter, seen, and reminded that they were not alone.

What started as a meal quickly revealed itself as a movement. By 2024, Relax, Release, & Restore had evolved into a full weekend retreat. I realized we needed more than a few hours together. We needed days. We needed immersion. We needed time to truly step away from the demands of life and practice what it means to be whole again.

To relax is not laziness. It is reclamation.

Our bodies were not designed to run on constant demand. To relax is to lower cortisol levels, allowing your mind to soften and letting your spirit breathe.

Relaxation is the first step toward remembering we are human, not machines.

To release is to surrender what no longer belongs.

This is the most challenging work, because it requires us to unclench our hands and hearts.

Release is saying no without apology. It is about letting go of the weight of expectations that do not serve us. It is permitting ourselves to let go so that we can be made whole again.

To restore is to come home to yourself.

Restoration is the moment we realize that rest is not something to be earned; it is something to be given. It is our birthright. It is where joy, creativity, and clarity live. To restore is to remember who we are beneath the layers of responsibility.

This is why I continue to hold space for Relax, Release, & Restore. It is neither whimsical nor optional. It is a practice of liberation. It is a declaration that says: “I am worthy of more than survival. I am worthy of rest. I am worthy of ease.”

I hope that as you read this, you not only reflect on these words but also take a step toward them.

Maybe that looks like one full night of uninterrupted sleep.

Perhaps it looks like a phone turned off for a few hours.

Or maybe it looks like saying yes to an experience that was created for you, with you in mind.

I'm Speaking

Safe Spaces for Black Women™ is more than words to me; it is a way of life. I create them, I desire them, and I wrote a whole book about it. Earlier this month, I shared my data, along with my philosophy: Black women deserve and need validation, encouragement, and elevation, especially in a room of Black women. These experiences always humble me.

One thing I will say is that the stories shared in my best-selling book, Safe Spaces for Black Women™, are not germane to those women. From the conversations I had with women at the conference, the stores are similar to mine and possibly yours.

What does that mean for Black women?

Stay tuned, this has invigorated me to do more than curate experiences.

Announcing Alicia's Podcast Return

After a much-needed hiatus, the “Hey Sis! With Alicia Nicole” podcast returned on Tuesday, July 8th! This season, we are celebrating the power, presence, and purpose of Black women who are shifting culture, building legacy, and creating space for us to rise.

We have changed the format, and I am excited to introduce it to you here first!! Each episode, I’m sitting down with phenomenal women doing impactful work in their own way, on their own terms, to empower our community.

In this episode of Hey Sis! With Alicia Nicole, we are joined by Candice Williams, M.Ed., a passionate career educator, content creator, model, and devoted mother who has mastered the art of navigating life’s transitions with grace and intention.

With over 21 years of experience teaching high school English across four states, Candice shares what it means to stay grounded while embracing change. From Kansas City to Los Angeles, Texas to Maryland, her journey is filled with lessons on identity, motherhood, and creating joy wherever life takes you.

Candice opens up about balancing her many roles: educator, blogger, influencer, model, and proud parent of two thriving daughters, while finding time to honor herself in the process. Together, we explore:

· What it looks like to create a sense of home , no matter where life takes you

· How motherhood and career have reshaped her definition of identity

The power of choosing joy and living fully while juggling multiple roles

The importance of community and creating space for women to be seen and celebrated This conversation is an invitation for every woman who has ever questioned who she is becoming during change. Candice reminds us that joy is not found in perfection, but in presence.

You can listen, subscribe, and learn more about the Hey Sis! With Alicia Nicole Podcast @ alicianicole.org/listen!

UPCOMINGEVENTS

How to Practice Relaxing at Home

Rest is not an How to Practice Relaxing at Home. It is a practice. Here are four simple ways to bring intentional relaxation into your everyday life.

1. Create a Calm Corner

Choose one space in your home where you can breathe deeply and feel safe. It does not need to be big, a chair by the window, a spot on the couch, or even a corner with a candle. Protect that space and return to it daily.

2. Practice a Five-Minute Reset

Set a timer for five minutes. Put your phone on silent. Close your eyes, unclench your jaw, and take slow, deep breaths. Feel your shoulders lower with each exhale.

3. Soften with Sound

Play gentle music, a sound bath track, or even silence if your environment allows. Sound shifts the nervous system and signals the body that it is safe.

4. Release with Movement

Relaxation is not always stillness. Sometimes, the body needs a gentle release. Try stretching, rolling your shoulders, or lying on the floor and letting your body fully sink into the ground.

Remember: Relaxation is selfish, and being selfish is positive for our physical and mental health. If you do not put yourself first, who will? It is the foundation of your health, your clarity, and your wholeness.