The Creator Retreat

The Creator Retreat

Join Food + Wellness Equity Collective's 2nd annual retreat designed specifically for professional development of content creators!


Whether you're a seasoned publisher or an emerging creator ready to take your business to the next level, this event is for you. Let’s come together to create equity and uplift each other in the food and wellness digital publishing industry.

October 20-22, 2024

Atlanta

In Person

Epicurean Hotel

Meet The Speakers

Founders

Sonja Overhiser and Yoland "Yoli" Ouiya

Founders of the Food + Wellness Equity Collective.

Arsen Rabinovich 

Arsen Rabinovich is Founder and President of TopHatRank, an award-winning SEO agency, trusted by bloggers and content creators to deliver sustainable and measurable SEO results by meticulously improving both on-site and off-site SEO signals.

Andrew Wilder

Andrew is the founder and CEO of NerdPress, a collaborative team that provides WordPress support, optimization, and maintenance for hundreds of food blogs. He has been building, breaking, fixing, and maintaining websites since 1998, and started his first food blog in 2008. Andrew has spoken on a wide variety of technical topics (in plain English!) at many conferences, and is a regular contributor to the "SEO for Bloggers" webinars. He lives in Santa Monica, CA with his husband Matty and their dog, Harry.

Toni Okamoto

Toni Okamoto is the founder of Plant-Based on a Budget, the popular website and social media platform that teaches millions how to eat more plants without breaking their budget. She’s also the author of Plant-Based on a Budget Quick & Easy cookbook, and the co-host of The Plant-Powered People Podcast. Okamoto’s work has been profiled by NPR, NBC News, Parade, and she’s a regular presence on local and national morning shows across the country, where she teaches viewers how to break their meat habit without breaking their budget. She was also featured in the popular Netflix documentary What the Health.

Christen Rochon

Christen Rochon is a globally recognized, award-winning business leader with over two decades of experience in media, technology, and culture. A Detroit native, she has been honored by Black Enterprise, EBONY, ESSENCE, and others, receiving awards such as Verizon's Digital Trailblazer and Michigan Chronicle's 40 under 40.
 

Dela Wilson

Dela Wilson is a dynamic and sought-after thought leader, strategist, and award-winning social entrepreneur who captivates audiences with her powerful insights on innovation, leadership, and cultural transformation. As the founder of Axle Impact Studio, Dela leads a cutting-edge social innovation firm that blends management consulting, design research, and brand strategy to drive impact for forward-thinking organizations at the intersection of business, culture, and technology. 
 

Andrew + Larisha Bernard

Andrew and Larisha Bernard are the award-winning photographer and writer duo and founders behind Make It Dairy Free and The Nard Dog Cooks. Both of which are popular vegan website and social platforms that are known for creating accessible, approachable, and flavorful plant-based alternatives that challenge the notion that plant-based cooking lacks richness and comfort. Between the both of them, they’ve been featured in The Washington Post, Ebony, VegNews, The Today Show, Yahoo, Women’s Health, and more. 
 

Morgan Duckett

Morgan Duckett is a senior corporate campaigns associate at Worth Rises, where he has helped carry out the organization’s mission to dismantle the prison industry and end the exploitation of those it touches since 2021. He attended Auburn University, where he founded an abolitionist student organization instrumental in diverting hundreds of millions of dollars from the private prison industry, and holds a certificate in product design from Shu-Te University."

more speakers coming soon


‌Meet The Mentors

Brandi Crawford is a food blogger specializing in quick and easy meals for dinner along with classic Southern and soul food cuisine. She loves to share recipes that are simple to follow and never compromise on taste. 

Jessica Hylton is an award-winning photographer, videographer and home chef. Her website Jessica in the Kitchen, founded in 2014, is an award-winning vegetarian/vegan recipe website, sharing hundreds of whole foods recipes. Jessica is also the author of the online cookbook “It’s That Easy” which helps readers to easily transition to a plant-based lifestyle, and the force behind the Jessica in the Kitchen.

Amy Palanjian is the creator of Yummy Toddler Food and is the author of the New York Times bestselling cookbook, Dinnertime SOS: 100 Sanity-Saving Meals Parents and Kids of All Ages Will Actually Want to Eat. She lives in Central Pennsylvania with her family.

Toni Okamoto is the founder of Plant-Based on a Budget, the popular website and social media platform that teaches millions how to eat more plants without breaking their budget. She’s also the author of Plant-Based on a Budget Quick & Easy cookbook, and the co-host of The Plant-Powered People Podcast. Okamoto’s work has been profiled by NPR, NBC News, Parade, and she’s a regular presence on local and national morning shows across the country, where she teaches viewers how to break their meat habit without breaking their budget. She was also featured in the popular Netflix documentary What the Health. When she’s not cooking up a plant-based storm, she’s spending time with her husband and their rescued dog in Sacramento, CA.

Immaculate Adamu is a professional food blogger and passionate traveler behind the Immaculate Bites website and Instagram, with 10 years of experience in creating engaging content that connects culinary stories with audiences worldwide.

Jenné Claiborne is a vegan chef, content creator, and author of "Sweet Potato Soul" and the upcoming "Vegan Vibes" (February 2025). Known for her colorful, innovative Southern-inspired vegan recipes, Claiborne's work has been featured on The Today Show and in The New York Times and Washington Post. Her recipes are available at SweetPotatoSoul.com, and her cookbooks can be found wherever books are sold.

Agenda

9:00 am

Monday, October 21, 2024
8:30 AM - 9:15 AM
Registration & Breakfast
 
9:15 AM - 10:00 AM
Opening / Ice Breakers
 
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Creating with Integrity: Equity and Transparency in the World of Content Creation
Speakers: Yoli & Sonja
 
10:30 AM - 10:45 AM
Break
 
10:45 AM - 11:30 AM
Top 5 Strategies for Successful SEO Content Creation in 2025
Speaker: Arsen Rabinovitch, Top Hat Rank
 
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Top Things You're Doing Wrong on Your Website—And How to Fix Them
Speaker: Andrew Wilder of NerdPress
 
12:00 PM - 12:15 PM
Break (15 minutes)
 
12:15 PM - 1:00 PM
Bridging the Gap: Expert Tips and Strategies for Mastering Negotiation
Speaker: Christen Rochon
 
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Lunch Break
 
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Fireside Chat: Brian from Mediavine & Uplift Program
 
2:30 PM - 3:15 PM
What’s Next: Navigating the Rapidly Evolving Landscape of Digital Publishing
Diversifying Your Revenue Streams: Fireside Chat
Speakers: Toni Okamoto / Plant Based on a Budget
Larisha and Andrew Bernard - Make it Dairy Free
 
3:15 PM - 3:30 PM
Break (15 minutes)
 
3:30 PM - 3:45 PM
Activism: Eliminating Prison Labor in the Food System
Speaker: Morgan from Worth Rises
 
3:45 PM - 4:00 PM
Finding Your People: Building Community & Uplifting Each Other for Sustainable Business Success
Speaker: Dela Wilson from Axle

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Mastermind & Networking Sessions
Facilitator: Dela Wilson from Axle

5:00 PM - 5:10 PM
Closing Remarks & Farewell
 
5:15 PM - 6:15 PM
Ice Cream Social with Worth Rises and Ben & Jerry's

7:00 PM 
Dinner (sliding scale tickets can be purchased HERE)


9:00 am

Day 2

Tuesday, October 22, 2024
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Breakfast & Networking 
Join us at Flying Biscuit for our Collective hosted breakfast. Email update will be sent out separately.
 
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Strategies for How to Best Use AI in Your Business
 
10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
Small Group Audits and Ideation Workshop
 
11:15 AM - 11:45 AM
Goal Setting
 
11:45 AM - 11:55 AM
Closing Remarks & Farewell

About Us

The Food + Wellness Equity Collective is a diverse group of content creators and entrepreneurs committed to being change agents for equity, diversity and anti-racism in the food and wellness industry.


We seek to:


  • Connect, educate and support our fellow content creators & entrepreneurs
  • Compel industry brands and media to infuse diversity, equity and inclusion into their brand DNA.
  • Advance food justice and wellness equity at the national and local level


We are writers, bloggers, entrepreneurs, social media influencers, recipe developers, podcasters, photographers and media personalities in the food and wellness industry who are passionately pursuing equity and health for all people and the planet. 


The Food + Wellness Equity Collective is a diverse group of content creators and entrepreneurs committed to being change agents for equity, diversity and anti-racism in the food and wellness industry.


We seek to:


  • Connect, educate and support our fellow content creators & entrepreneurs
  • Compel industry brands and media to infuse diversity, equity and inclusion into their brand DNA.
  • Advance food justice and wellness equity at the national and local level


We are writers, bloggers, entrepreneurs, social media influencers, recipe developers, podcasters, photographers and media personalities in the food and wellness industry who are passionately pursuing equity and health for all people and the planet. 


 

What Can You Expect

This innovative experience is not your normal conference! Join us for an intimate retreat of workshops, round-table discussions, networking, and community-building in Atlanta. Here’s what you’ll get out of this event:


  • 1 1/2 days of sessions and guided workshops around building your business, community, and equity in the food and wellness content creation industry 
  • Networking and relationship building, with the opportunity to find a mentor or accountability partner
  • Tangible business goals for the next 12 months, plus an action plan to get there!


This innovative experience is not your normal conference! Join us for an intimate retreat of workshops, round-table discussions, networking, and community-building in Atlanta. Here’s what you’ll get out of this event:


  • 1 1/2 days of sessions and guided workshops around building your business, community, and equity in the food and wellness content creation industry 
  • Networking and relationship building, with the opportunity to find a mentor or accountability partner
  • Tangible business goals for the next 12 months, plus an action plan to get there!
 

Find The Location

Can't Wait To See You!

Epicurean Hotel 

...

Atlanta, GA

What Our Attendees Said

Here's what some attendees shared from our last event.

Clara Nosek @yourdietitianbff

Attending the FWEC Creator Summit was an incredibly enriching experience, as Yoli and Sonja created and fostered a special sense of community unlike anything I have ever experienced. The collective wisdom and unity among attendees left me inspired and deeply connected to a diverse network of individuals committed to truly inclusive and equitable, positive change.

Jenny Patrice Krystal Dunham @themotherroaddietitian

What I found was a community genuine about building one another up. I gained so much knowledge from this Summit & I'm grateful for Yoli & Sonja for their wonderful vision turned reality.

Liz Thompson @iheartveggies

The Creator Summit was such a great experience. I met so many incredible creators and I learned so much. I've been blogging for 13 years, and this was one of the best conferences I've ever attended.

Get Your Tickets Now!

...

Regular Ticket

Regular Ticket

$100

$100

This ticket will include 1 day and 1/2 of sessions and guided workshops around building your business, community, and equity in the food and wellness content creation industry.

Access to all general sessions

Access to breakout sessions

Conference materials and program

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and refreshments

Uplift Ticket

Uplift Ticket

$100

$100

Can't attend our retreat but still want to make an impact? Consider purchasing a ticket for someone else! By sponsoring a community member, you can help them experience the event and contribute to their growth. Your generosity can make a difference!


All features of a standard ticket

Support Ticket

FAQ

Food and wellness content creators of all levels and backgrounds with a primary focus on digital publishers.

Yes there will be resources and take away kits.

The entire day is designed around networking and meeting your next publisher bestie. Between interactions weaved throughout the day and dinner, there will be plenty of time to meet everyone!

If you are in need of support for a conference ticket, please send an email to info@foodwellnessequity.com.

Be comfortable. We just ask that you don't wear any costumes as we will be distracted by its greatness.

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