SWAMP JAM

2025
Black Soil Invitational

 

June 7, 2025
at the Avila Center in Durham, NC

Swamp Jam is a celebration of environmental justice work, past present and future. An open door for those looking to make an impact in their communities. A space that places art, artists and culture as essential to the world we are building. 

Join us in conversations, experiential learning, shared meals, dynamic participatory workshops, lots of play, and immersive art. We will engage ideas around local and national climate policy, building backyard solutions for everyday life, and creative pathways into environmental justice work. We will also have space to process the grief around what we have lost and honor the possibilities for what we can still create together. 

Ways to Participate

DAYTIME

Dynamic Workshops and Immersion in:

The History of Environmental Justice
in North Carolina

Contemporary Policy

Expansive Genealogy

Land Walks and
Outdoor Embodiment Spaces

Art Installations

Farm-to-Table Lunch 


NIGHTTIME

A Jamboree

featuring NC Musicians and Artists

What You Need to Know

  • Housing space is limited on Avila’s campus, prioritizing Black, Indigenous, people of color from Eastern and Western North Carolina (or more than 2hrs away). Please fill out this housing request.

    Prefer to make your own housing arrangements for the weekend? Book your stay at Hampton Inn & Suites Durham/North I-85, a ~15 minute drive from Avila. Or call the hotel directly at 919-688-8880 and refer to "Grounded Possibilities Swamp Jam 2025"

  • We're here for the community builders, tree huggers, muckrackers, organizers, artists, accidental leaders, solution seekers, world builders, dreamers, and folks who don’t know what do you but are willing and ready to want to try

  • You're invited to move throughout the day with ease – engaging your mind, body, and heart and connecting with each other and the land.

    More details TBA!

    10:30 – Welcome Gathering

    11:00- 1:00 – Menu of Experiential Workshops

    1:00-2:00 – Farmer’s Lunch

    2:00-4:00 – Menu of Experiential Workshops

    4:00-5:00 – Reflection and Fellowship Break

    5:00pm – Food Trucks for Dinner

    6:00-9:00pm – Jamboree Featuring NC Musicians and Artists!

  • The Swamp Jam is one of our offerings to strengthen our collective imagination around environmental justice work, and center artists as important context experts.

Register to Join Us!

Space is limited.

Swamp Jam is free and we would gratefully benefit from your support, a love offering. Any amount would mean so much and allow for a more dynamic and sustainable event. Every donation is tax deductible.

Grounded Possibilities is funded by the Hive Fund and fiscally sponsored by Southern Vision Alliance.