Day 2, Leadership Academy Retreat Journal

Monday, August 6, 2007: On Sunday, all sixteen Fellows, Robert Mayer, Jason Cooper and I met for the first time at Grand Central Station, headed to the Trinity Retreat Center in Cornwall, Connecticut to meet our trainer, Ng'ethe Maina of the Social Justice Leadership Institute, and begin our first, four-day, leadership development retreat.

In the first few moments I could tell that as a group there was an unusually high level of social justice and political consciousness. They see their diversity — race, class, ethnicity, sexual orientation — as key strengths and sources of power in their position as leaders in their community.

The fellows understand the intrinsic value of their commitment to the movement and are deeply pursuing how they can best contribute to the movement. It was a thrill meeting them and listening to them as they shared their backgrounds and experiences with the group.

Today, we are engaging in a series of trainings around what it means to be leader. We heard from the Fellows that "leaders", the "led", "leading" and "being led" are dynamic roles and contributions necessary of all individuals participating in a collective and collaborative movement. For the rest of the afternoon we are exploring self awareness - practices we can pursue in order to act from "center" and be present in situations such that our mental, physical and emotional states are aligned according to our values and goals.

Each and every Leadership Academy Fellow has given a piece of themselves to the group and there has been an incredibly inclusive and positive dynamic as a result. It's only the beginning and already it has become clear to me that the progressive movement has a bright future so long as the spirit of collaboration, deeply held values and the vision we have expressed in the last 12 hours remain in tact.