Healing Through Water, Words, and Connection
Iwosan Collective reconnects landlocked communities with the healing power of water for mental healing. Through marine education, underwater storytelling, somatic healing, and Direct Compassionate Communication (DCC), we restore access to nature, nervous system regulation, and environmental literacy.
We believe healing is collective. So is liberation.
About Iwosan Collective
Iwosan (ee-woh-sahn): Yoruba for “healing.” It reminds us that wellness is not individual—it’s collective
Formerly known as Brown Sisters Speak, Iwosan Collective is the continued evolution of healing, advocacy, and access pioneered by myisha t hill —mental health advocate, author, and community builder dedicated to liberation through rest, relationship, and reclamation.
myisha t hill is a nationally recognized voice in healing justice and racial equity. As the curator of Heal Your Way Forward and Iwosan Collective, her work centers on the intersections of mental wellness, social healing, and community care. With Iwosan Collective, she expands that visionbringing the medicine of water, compassion, and environmental connection to those who’ve historically been excluded from it.
WHAT WE DO
Our core programs create healing-centered, water-based access for historically excluded communities:
Critter & Coastline youth Scuba Education
Critter & Coastline reconnects landlocked youth with the ocean through marine science education and embodied water experiences. Students explore underwater ecosystems through photography, storytelling, and critter-focused curriculum while building confidence and safety in the water through Discover Scuba Days. Learning happens in the classroom and in the water—because both matter.
We offer both in-person and virtual experiences.
DCC + Water Dialogues
Water teaches us how to move—how to be soft and strong at once, how to hold and release, how to find our way around what's hard without breaking ourselves against it. Direct Compassionate Communication (DCC) is that same practice, applied to how we speak and listen. Rooted in Nonviolent Communication and somatic awareness, DCC invites us to communicate from the body so we can show up with honesty, empathy, and presence even in moments of tension or disconnection.
Healing Waters
Healing Waters weaves together somatic practices, ancestral care, breathwork, and water-based healing experiences to help individuals and communities reconnect with themselves and each other. Through Reiki, guided meditation, peer support circles, and embodied water immersions, we create space for nervous system regulation, grief tending, and the reclamation of healing as a collective practice.
RETURN TO THE WATER CAMPAIGN IS LIVE
Water is a right, not a luxury. We're raising $50,000 to bring marine education, somatic healing, and water access back to landlocked communities.
Your gift funds Critter & Coastline youth programming, Direct Compassionate Communication training, Healing Waters sessions, and the publication of our self-compassion children's book.
Donate $50 or more and receive a signed copy of the book in February 2026.
Access is the barrier, not brilliance.
By donating, you’re not just giving money.
You’re rewriting who gets to study, protect, and lead in the future of our planet.
We’re also investing in the next wave.
For too long, marine biology has been gatekept from the research labs to the dive tanks. The Marine Futures Fund, powered by Iwosan Collective, is changing that.
In 2026, we’re building pathways for youth and emerging marine scientists of color, especially from underserved and landlocked communities, to access scuba certification, underwater research experiences, mentorship, and visibility in environmental science spaces.
This isn’t just about science. It’s about returning our people to water—as learners, leaders, and liberators.
Our 2026 Goal: $25,00
This fund will provide:
Marine biology scholarships
Scuba and dive gear stipends
Research travel and fieldwork support
Mentorship and curriculum for aspiring ocean stewards
Ways to Support
Give what you can: Every dollar funds access.
Sponsor a scholar: $2,500 covers a full Marine Futures grant.
Share with your network: Amplify this campaign to people who care.
Funders + Donors
We are currently seeking:
Individual major donors
Community foundation partners
Values-aligned grantmakers
Brand partnerships with healing, nature, or DEI focus
We’re Looking For
Donor Campaign Manager(s)
We’re building a fundraising team to:
Run digital giving campaigns
Cultivate our donor base and recurring givers
Host giving circles or live activations
Manage backend donation tools + thank-you processes
Board Advisors
We need guidance in:
Fundraising strategy
Environmental justice education
Storytelling + curriculum distribution
Why It Matters
Water is being held back from the people who need it most.
Our communities deserve access to beauty, breath, and belonging.
This work isn’t charity—it’s return.
Let’s Talk:
Myisha T. Hill
IwosanCollective@pm.me
@iwosancollective
