It was so fitting to celebrate the retirement of Gwendolyn “Mama Gwen” Winston during Women’s History month. Mama Gwen, Wisdom Institute’s co-founder and former Executive Director officially passed her torch to Cicely Allen and LaTanya Bell, Saturday March 23rd at her favorite social spot, Bert’s Market Place.  The event featured the passing of the torch ritual, poetry recitations by Dr. Gloria “Mama Aneb” House and Dr. Diane ”Fabu” Jackson, story sharing by community leaders, friends, family and longtime Wisdom Institute supporters, and sacred song and march led by Eunice Bell. Mama Gwen’s vision, leadership and audacious bodacious spirit  established the Wisdom Institute’s womanist-centered quest for a Gender Just Detroit that provides gracious space for sacred spirit-centered base building for enfranchised power using art as an engagement practice model and tool under our Womanist Praxis rubric.  Mama Gwen is stepping into her new journey which still  includes serving as WI’s trusted advisor.