Baltimore, MD – St. Matthews New Life United Methodist Church (416 E. 23rd Street) and Govans-Boundary United Methodist Church (5210 York Road), in partnership with the Better Baltimore Alliance, will host “Reflections of Love: Black Women, Body Image, and the Mirror of Intimacy”—a transformative 10-month workshop series led by author, storyteller, and food story coach Michelle Petties.
The series will run monthly from October 2025 to July 2026, with two different workshops offered each selected Saturday: 11:00 AM–12:30 PM and 2:30–4:00 PM.
Workshop Schedule & Topics
- October 18, 2025
Origins: The Body as Inherited Story (11 AM)
Unspoken Rules: What We Learned About Love and Size (2:30 PM) - November 15, 2025
Mirror Talk: Learning to Love What You See (11 AM)
The Body as Home: Returning to Ourselves (2:30 PM) - December 20, 2025
Sisterhood as Mirror: Witnessing and Being Seen (11 AM)
Sexpectations: Body Confidence in the Bedroom (2:30 PM) - January 24, 2026
Shrinking for Love: Diet Culture and Relationship Goals (11 AM)
Color, Curves, and Contrast: Who Gets to Feel Beautiful? (2:30 PM) - February 7, 2026
The “Good” Body vs. The “Bad” Body: Breaking the Binary (11 AM)
Becoming the Beloved: Closing Circle & Celebration (2:30 PM) - March 14, 2026
Object of Desire or Objectified?: Race, Fetish, and Fantasy (11 AM)
Sacred or Shameful?: Sex, Faith, and the Female Form (2:30 PM) - April 4, 2026
Reclaiming the Erotic: Lessons from Audre Lorde (11 AM)
Dating While Healing: Triggers, Trauma, and Trust (2:30 PM) - May 9, 2026
Intimacy Beyond the Physical: Emotional Availability and Attachment (11 AM)
Self-Worth ≠ Relationship Status (2:30 PM) - June 6, 2026
Sex After Shame: Rewriting the Scripts (11 AM)
Love at Every Size: Finding Joy in Movement and Expression (2:30 PM) - July 11, 2026
Sisterhood as Mirror: Witnessing and Being Seen (11 AM)
Becoming the Beloved: Closing Circle & Celebration (2:30 PM)
Why These Workshops Matter
For generations, Black women have carried the weight of trauma, culture, tradition, and unspoken pain. Body image, intimacy, and emotional eating are often intertwined with histories of resilience and struggle, shaping how women see themselves and how they are seen by others. Michelle Petties—author of Leaving Large: The Stories of a Food Addict and a nationally recognized speaker—brings more than four decades of lived experience, cultural insight, and expertise in healing through reading, writing, and storytelling. Her work has helped countless women uncover their “food truths,” confront shame, and reclaim their joy.
“These workshops give us the space to break cycles of silence, shame, and self-criticism,” Petties says. “Through storytelling, scripture, and sisterhood, we create healing pathways where women can see their bodies as whole, beloved, and worthy.”
Community Voices
Pastor Andre Briscoe Jr., Executive Director of the Better Baltimore Alliance, which is hosting the workshops at both churches, said:
“These conversations are long overdue in our communities and in our churches. By hosting Reflections of Love, we are affirming that Black women deserve safe spaces to heal, to tell their truths, and to be reminded that they are fearfully and wonderfully made.”
Event Details
- Locations: St. Matthews New Life UMC (416 E. 23rd Street) and Govans-Boundary UMC (5210 York Road), Baltimore
- Dates: Monthly Saturdays, October 2025–July 2026
- Times: 11:00 AM–1:00 PM and 2:30–4:00 PM
- Registration: Not required, but seating is limited. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early.
For more information, contact:
Michelle Petties
Food Story Coach, Author of Leaving Large – The Stories of a Food Addict
Michelle@michellepetties.com
