Social Justice Leadership Retreat Report Prepared by Sayumi Irey, Ph.D. September 10, 2014 Participants (2014-2015): Name Abraham Eli Rodriguez-Hernandez Beabe Akpojovwo Donna Miguel Gita Bangera James D. Lett Jared Abwawo Jeremiah Roland Jerod Q. Grant Karen J. Bolton Liz Becker Maria Sefchick Del Paso Monica Herrera Neera Mehata Patrick Carter Rezina Habtemariam Ron Holland Rozlyn Leon Gureerro Saorva (Sy) Ear Tina Young Vicke Bell College Everett Community College Pierce College Tacoma Community College Edmonds Community College Everett Community College Olympic College Green River Community College Cascadia Community College Lake Washington Technical College Pierce College Puyallup Shoreline Community College Clark College Green River Community College Seattle Central Community College Pierce College Participating/Sponsoring Colleges: 1. 2. Cascadia Community College 3. Clark College 4. Edmonds Community College 5. Everett Community College 6. Green Ricer Community College 7. Lake Washington Technical College 8. Olympic College 9. Pierce College 10. Seattle Central Community College 11. Shoreline Community College 12. Tacoma Community College 13. Whatcom Community College
Demographic Information about Participants: a. Ethnicity African American 10 Asian American 3 Pacific Islander 2 Hispanic American 3 Native American/White 1 Other 1 Total 20
b. Gender Female 12 Male 8 c. Job titles Faculty 5 Program Manager 4 Director 3 Assistant Director 3 Others (e.g., Academic Advisor, Senior 4 Accountant) Testimonials: I want to express my sincere gratitude for giving me this opportunity. The tools that I have learned here will last me a life time. This program has changed my life. I have found my inner voice. "It was a transformative experience. There were many stories and revelations everywhere during the retreat..." I experienced, at this retreat, for a first time in my life, a sense of my voice being truly valued and listened to consistently throughout my time here. I now come back to Edmonds with a more developed sense of leadership, an ability to maximize strengths of both my staff and students, and a reinvigorated sense of urgency for courageous conversation. As a person of color working in WA college system, this is the first time I've been in an environment where I've felt truly to be myself. The power and magnitude of that is tremendous. Identifying and affirming my dependable strengths has given me confidence to return to GRCC with renewed zeal to be the leader I know I can be. I'm hopeful that others from GRCC will be able to participate in the institute, it could be transformative not only for our institution, but for the system.
The Social Justice Leadership Institute has been an amazing and powerful experience! I've had the opportunity to discover leadership strengths that I can be applying to the work I do no campus. The location/space the workshops, and discussions took my perspective of what it means to be a social justice leader to another level. I look forward to continue learning and growing with this group and bringing what I learn back to campus and the community. With much appreciation! This has been a transformative learning experience. I have not only identified my own Dependable Strengths (a seed of leadership has been planted within me), but I have acquired a new perspective of working at my peers and students. By knowing each other s' dependable strengths, we create deeper relationships, felt each other up and have more effective, collaborations at work. Setting the stage with like-minded diversity, where I don't have to explain myself and others my journey created the safety I needed to open myself up for receiving and giving. This experience has fed not only my mind but soul. Thank you!"
"Thank you for making this opportunity possible for me. This experience was truly transformative. Being immersed in a space created for people of color to engage in critical dialogue about social justice and leadership has been healing. I feel recommitted to being my authentic self- and that is to be a bold, conscious and courageous leader." Thank you for the opportunity in participating in the first cohort group of the Social Justice Leadership Institute. This program has made me reflect and envision a mission, goal, and plan to develop our diversity initiative.
I cannot articulate how blessed I am to have participated in this retreat. It's truly opened my eyes to embrace and hold my strengths and my visions in social justice and more importantly, my role at Clark College. I am truly excited for this program to develop and flourish me for not just one but Clark College. Thank you for your constant and great support. Thank you for being part of my journey. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to attend The Social Justice Leadership Institute. This has been an amazing opportunity to connect with other underrepresented peer leaders from the community and technical college system. This experience has been transformative for my personal and professional development. Through the three-day retreat, I have developed a clearer sense of direction on my journey to serve students. My hope is that other leaders of color will have this same opportunity in the future.