Rockwood Community Calls are a FREE online event series created to support leaders from everywhere within the social justice ecosystem so that you can feel connected, supported, and replenished.

Every other month, we host a 60-minute Zoom call with a teacher, healer, leader, activist, artist, or speaker who will hold space for whatever our collective spirit is seeking in that moment.

Everyone is welcome, whether you’ve been through a Rockwood program or this is the first you’ve heard of us. Register for the next call and give yourself the gift of space, ease, and joy in your workday.

November 6, 2025 | Prentis Hemphill 

 Join us in resilience and personal ecology as we engage in an embodied exploration of how we might choose deeper connections in times of stress and crisis. We will practice learning and remembering how to reach for each other.

Prentis Hemphill is the bestselling author of What It Takes to Heal, a groundbreaking exploration of healing, justice, and transformation. A therapist, somatics teacher, facilitator, political organizer, and writer, Prentis is also the founder of The Embodiment Institute and a leading voice in embodied leadership and collective healing.

For over a decade, Prentis has worked with individuals and organizations through their most challenging moments of change—navigating leadership transitions, conflict, and the alignment of practice with values. Grounded in an embodied approach, their work ensures that our intentions aren't just ideas, but are fully lived, felt, and practiced.

Before founding The Embodiment Institute, Prentis served as the Healing Justice Director at Black Lives Matter Global Network and was a lead somatics teacher with generative somatics and Black Organizing for Leadership and Dignity (BOLD). They hold an M.A. in Clinical Psychology and have provided therapeutic services in low-cost mental health clinics, centering marginalized communities.

Prentis has contributed to Atlas of the Heart (Brené Brown), The Politics of Trauma (Staci K. Haines), You Are Your Best Thing (edited by Brené Brown & Tarana Burke), and Holding Change (adrienne maree brown). They are also the creator and host of the acclaimed podcasts Finding Our Way and Becoming the People, which have surpassed over a million downloads.

At its core, Prentis’ work challenges the complacency of mainstream therapeutic models, infusing healing with the rigor of justice, repair, and accountability. They believe that reclaiming feeling and relationship creates space for true transformation—in ourselves, our movements, and the world.

Prentis lives on a small farm in Durham, NC, with their partner, Kasha, their child, and two dogs.

Learn more about Prentis at prentishemphill.com. 

May 7, 2026 | Evolve Benton 

In this supportive workshop, we'll explore tools to navigate life's uncertainties with grace and strength. Through guided meditation and expressive writing, we'll delve into the fear and anxiety that often accompany challenging times. Together, we'll discover personalized practices to cultivate well-being, allowing you to move through life's uncertainties with a renewed sense of love, joy, and inner peace. 

Evolve Benton, a distinguished HBCU alum of Dillard University, has made a significant mark speaking at colleges, universities, and corporate stages. With over 8 years of experience as a DEI manager at the top US medical school, the University of California San Francisco, Evolve seamlessly integrates themes of diversity, equity, inclusion, and personal narratives to pioneer transformative policies and strategies.

Evolve holds a BA in Communications, an MA in Clinical Psychology, and an MFA in Creative Writing; their expertise is in communication and psychology. A proud Los Angeles native, Evolve's achievements span various domains: they authored "SIR: poetry dedicated to boihood and black queer love," created The BOI Documentary, and founded Speaking 4 Profit University. Here, they mentor diverse speakers and consultants in scaling to six-figure enterprises.

Evolve’s "Speaking 4 Profit" podcast delves into the intersections of money, business, and wellness. Through their workshops, Benton provides a roadmap to discern and address normalized biases, always advocating for enhanced inclusivity. Benton's deep-seated knowledge of DEI ensures organizations receive tailored strategies that nurture diversity and inclusiveness from the ground up.

Learn more about Evolve at evolvebenton.com.