Who We Are
Meet the Space Holders
Nico Le Blanc
(They/Them)
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Passionate Advocate for Marginalized Communities. Artistic Yogini. Sociological Scholar. Creative. Poetic. Disruptive.
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Nico is a passionate Black, Queer, Non-Binary, First - Gen, Afro-Caribbean Racial Equity Architect and digital Afro-Futurist Visual Artist.
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They are committed to the agency, self-care, health, vitality, and liberation of ALL Black Beings and historically marginalized identities through fostering positive and empowering spaces that facilitate vulnerability and healing.
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In service to this commitment and in addition to their Afro-Futurist Visual Artistry; Nico has served as an Adjunct Sociology Professor at Hudson Community College, Diversity & Inclusion Director/Consultant, and Yoga/Meditation Facilitator at organizations such as Harriet’s Apothecary, BRIC Arts Media, The Healing Schools Project, New York University (NYU), The Sanctuary in the City, and NCBLOC. Additionally, Nico is an aspiring farmer and eco-village sustainer and they are a 2022 alum of the Soul Fire Farm BIPOC Farming Immersion.
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Nico’s primary focus within all of their work is to create an open, transparent, self-reflective experience that facilitates vulnerability and healing towards liberation.
What does Unshackled Alchemy mean to you?
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"To be in embodied practice & dialogue about what it can look like to imagine/reimagine liberation/Black Liberation. To hear the voices of those most pushed to the margins - BIPOC, Trans, Queer, Non-Binary, Femme, on what they are doing right now to activate liberation for themselves and their communities. To center the magic, genius, wisdom, and compassion of BIPOC community."
- Nico
Kelley Nicole Palmer
(She/Her)
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Writer. Creative Community Advocate. Space Holder. Disruptor. Resourceful Solution Architect.
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Kelley Nicole Palmer identifies as a black, queer woman raised in the southeast United States, part of the first generation of her own family not born under legalized segregation.
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Kelley has chosen to center the care, rest, and liberation of Black people in her work. Her work often shows up as holding space for race & equity education in yoga and wellness spaces. Kelley is committed to creating equitable and sustainable access to Black-led healing spaces for Black People. She serves as a founder within The Sanctuary In The City, a charlotte based non-profit. In alignment with this work, Kelley also facilitates movement and contemplative spaces that explore yoga, self-study, and social justice.
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Kelley feels connected to cultivating spaces for folks to explore their wholeness, expand their perspectives and build new futures while building authentic community.
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What does Unshackled Alchemy mean to you?
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"To have conversations about Liberation for Black folx in an expansive way. To hold space to unlearn and build in community where we can invite curiosity about disrupting systems of oppression and uplift the voices of Black thinkers, activists, and creatives. For me, Unshackled Alcemy is an invitation to cultivate liberated ways of being RIGHT NOW. It is practice in releasing reaction to systems outside of my control so I can use my own energy to build new ways of being that respond to the needs of everything in our ecosystem."
- Kelley Nicole