We had a great time. Great food, accommodations, and camaraderie.

Great experience. No hiccups.

Good seeing Ados from the past. The workshops were excellent. The initiation ceremony went well. I fell in love with Adodi in 2012 because we started each date with “group” affirmations, that set the tone for me each day. The affirmation session on the last day, while engaging, felt cumbersome. If the budget allows, retreat badges could be prepared prior to the retreat, making the registration process seamless. I look forward to next year’s retreat in Forest Hills.

I have attended Adodi gatherings for many years, but this 40th Anniversary Summer Health & Wellness Summit was unlike any other. I arrived carrying a weight of personal pain that, at times, felt almost too much to bear. Despite that, I found myself embraced by a brotherhood whose love, kindness and generosity allowed me to participate fully while also feeling safe enough to simply be myself, even in my moments of sadness and quiet distress. What struck me most was that Adodi is far more than a mindful retreat. It is a community where Black, Same Gender Loving (SGL), men can show up authentically—with joy, laughter, vulnerability, strength and even sadness—and know they will be met with oodles of love and compassion rather than critical judgement. After returning home, I shared publicly that I had needed Adodi more than ever this year. The responses from my brothers were overwhelming. They reminded me that I didn’t have to carry my burdens alone, that they had felt my light even when I was struggling to feel it. And, they shared that they were grateful for the opportunity to care for me in the same way I have tried to care for others there, over the years. Those words confirmed everything I had experienced during the Health and Wellness Summit. The workshops were thoughtful, the careful and professional organisation excellent, and the sense of intentional community extraordinary! Yet the greatest gift was something that cannot easily be scheduled or taught: unconditional love, genuine brotherhood, and the feeling of true belonging. I returned to London lighter than when I left it. For that, I will remain deeply grateful. If you are wondering whether to attend an Adodi gathering, my answer is simple: go with an open heart. You may discover, as I did, that it offers exactly what you didn’t know you needed. And, if you know ahead of time that your needs are for raw and real acceptance, to be fully seen in your truthfulness, and loved, go for it!

It was great to be back in the presence of my brothers. Kudo to Lemar and Marcellus for the phenomenal job that they did coordinating everything. Their attention to detail and their patience was absolutely phenomenal. The facility was nice. It was a little more suburban. I like the rustic, wilderness experience of previous retreat locations. This was such a cultivated facility that it didn’t Fosterthe solitude that I have enjoyed the previous retreats.