The BYC National Conference
Twenty-4-Twenty-K Founders Circle
2026 Blackyard Collective National Conference
Friday, October 9th - Monday, October 12th
Tahquitz Pines Retreat, Idyllwild, CA
Imagine 100 Black queer and trans people from across the country gathering under one roof — resting, laughing, loving, and dreaming together. Imagine a weekend where our beauty is celebrated, our stories are centered, and our spirits are nourished.
That’s the vision of the first-ever Blackyard Collective National Conference — a sacred space for healing and homecoming, for solidarity and storytelling, for joy and rejuvenation. It will be the first national gathering of its kind, designed to build lasting networks of care and leadership among Black queer people who are creating change in their own communities every day.
The Blackyard Collective National Conference is a groundbreaking gathering designed to celebrate, connect, and empower Black queer and trans people across the country. Rooted in joy, healing, and collective liberation, the conference will bring together Black queer and trans people in recovery from all across the country to deepen our recovery from the grip of addiction and alcoholism. This is OUR homecoming — a space where our brilliance is centered, our voices are amplified, and our future is imagined TOGETHER.
JOIN THE FOUNDERS CIRCLE
As we prepare for this epic event, The Blackyard Collective (BYC) is launching our “Twenty 4 Twenty-K” campaign — a call to 20 supporters to each contribute $1,000 and join the BYC National Conference Founders Circle.
Founders Circle members will:
Be recognized as early investors in this epic opportunity of Black queer and trans recovery and care.
Receive guaranteed conference registration, preferred rooming assignments, and honorary recognition at the conference.
Know that your gift directly supports equitable access for participants, community scholarships, and the infrastructure needed to make this conference a reality.
Your contribution is not just a donation — it’s an act of solidarity and belief in the power of Black queer and trans community to heal, create, and thrive.
TWENTY-4-TWENTY-K FOUNDERS CIRCLE MEMBERS
Michael Crumpler
Jacob Haigler
Marvin Alexander
Chris Patterson-Rosso
Reginald Bruno
Chris Bland
Mizael Ramos
Jeremy Wenz
Delano Burrowes
Tyrone Carter
Jean Paul, Jr
The Blackyard Collective is a registered 501(c)(3) organization (Federal Tax ID # 88-3641425) and all donations are tax deductible to the extent allowable by law.