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First annual retreat participants find common groundLast month, more than 35 student leaders, representing nearly 20 different cultural, academic, and social student organizations spent two days undergoing some of the most intensive training - learning with, from, and how to be better leaders. The students participated in the First Annual Retreat for Multicultural and Social Justice Student Organizations and found new friends and a common ground at the University's W. Alton Jones Campus. The skills-building retreat was designed for current and future leaders of student organizations that are committed to improving access for underrepresented groups, building campus community across identity lines, or engaging students in social change. The young leaders explored strategies for helping their organizations improve their performance and achieve their goals. The retreat provided information for those interested in reviewing mission statements, developing organizational action plans for the coming year, and offered support and feedback to student leaders interested in understanding their own values, roles, and styles as leaders. The organizers of the retreat may have set the example for the students themselves. The program was developed and cosponsored by the University's Multicultural Center, the Division of Student Affairs, the Memorial Union, and the Center for Student Leadership Development. Staff from these departments worked with students through the weekend and continue throughout the year. "Multicultural student organizations play a critical role in enhancing campus quality of life by easing the transition to college, creating opportunities for learning, and encouraging students to persist through to graduation. It is crucial that the organizations and their leaders be supported and nurtured in their efforts," said Melvin Wade, director of the Multicultural Center. Wade was one of the facilitators for the retreat. |
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