Rematriation Diaries: Writing Our Way Back to the Homeland

This 3-hour masterclass invites Dominican writers in the Diaspora to explore Rematriation, the intentional journey of returning to our ancestral homeland to live in community, care for the land, and reconnect with our roots. Together, we will delve into the historical and cultural significance of Rematriation, examining how it can serve as a vehicle for healing, solidarity, and transformation. Through guided discussions, writing exercises, and shared reflections, participants will learn how to craft narratives and an actionable plan that support their own journey of Rematriation. This masterclass is not only about writing—it is about reimagining our collective future and actively participating in the rematriation process by sharing resources, knowledge, and love for our homeland.

About the Facilitator: 

Ysanet (she/her/ella) is a queer, Black-Dominican woman born in Harlem, NY and currently living in the north-coast of the Dominican Republic. She is a mother, community organizer, plant-based cook, racial equity facilitator, and an urban land steward. In 2016 she created the culinary arts & food justice worker co-op Woke Foods and for seven years she brought Dominican plant-based foods to people in NYC and in DR. Ysanet grew her knowledge of food & land sovereignty via the Farm School NYC Urban Agriculture Certificate program, the Soul FIRE Farming Immersion Program, a Certificate in Permaculture Design via Quisqueya Permacultura, and Maroon Beekeeping with La Colmena Cimarrona from 2016 - 2019. Today, Ysanet works with non-profit organizations doing programming and research for land sovereignty, cooperative economics, and racial equity. She also founded Rematriation RD, with which she supports Dominicans in the diaspora return to their homeland to live in community, care for the land and its people by sharing resources and learning with local Dominicans.