About Gran Bwa Heritage Arts

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Gran Bwa Heritage Art is a Clarksville- and Nashville-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth, families, veterans, and underserved communities through cultural arts, wellness, and education.

The name "Gran Bwa" means “Great Forest” in Haitian Kreyòl. It honors the hidden maroon communities of escaped enslaved people in Haiti who found refuge in the forests, preserved African traditions, and organized for freedom. These spaces became symbols of resilience, healing, and liberation. We carry that same spirit forward by creating a modern-day place of growth, belonging, and transformation in Nashville.

Our mission is to promote mental and physical wellness, cultural education, and community connection by providing safe, inclusive, and empowering programs rooted in Afro-diasporic traditions. We believe healing happens through connection—to history, to community, to movement, and to the earth. 

We go beyond a single practice to offer a transformative journey that nourishes the whole self. Our unique programs are designed to be inclusive for neurodiverse youth and individuals managing anxiety, ADHD, and PTSD.

• The Art of Capoeira: Experience the dynamic Afro-Brazilian art form that combines martial arts, music, and dance in a communal circle (roda) to build discipline, fitness, and joy.
• Cultural Gardening: Connect to the earth and heritage by learning to grow traditional plants and understand their historical uses in food, medicine, and ritual.
• Poetry & Storytelling Circles: Find your voice and share your narrative in supportive gatherings that explore oral traditions as tools for personal and cultural preservation.
• Survival Skills & Resilience Training: Empower yourself with practical knowledge that fosters confidence, self-reliance, and a deeper connection to the natural world.

Gran Bwa Heritage Art proudly serves the following:

• Youth and teens 
• Neurodiverse children and families 
• Veterans 
• Individuals navigating anxiety, ADHD, and PTSD 
• Underserved communities in Nashville 
• Anyone seeking wellness, culture, and connection