Fall Leadership / Ambassador Retreat

September 2013
Application available July 1, 2013

Multicultural Leadership Retreat takes place during the Fall semester in an off-campus camp setting. The MLR weekend is designed to fortify participants in their leadership at Tulane, New Orleans and beyond, with interactive activities designed to create an environment for individuals to explore cultural identity, share experiences and discuss the meaning of leadership within the context of a diverse society. Participants should come prepared to participate in activities by sharing views, attitudes, beliefs and experiences openly and honestly. 

The MLR is an opportunity to learn more about who you are, connect with other students, develop leadership skills using Social Change Model of leadership development (HERI, 1996; Astin, 1993) and the Multicultural Competence Model (Pope & Reynolds, 1997), and to make a positive change at Tulane. We bring together student leaders from a diverse array of organizations to build relationships across cultural differences and form a purposeful and sustainable leadership community whose members are committed to one another. The program is designed to provide a rich learning experience regardless of your leadership position.

Goals for the Weekend

Our goal is that students return from the retreat with increased enthusiasm and a heightened awareness of human difference. We desire for students to use each other as resources as they make efforts to step out of their "comfort zones" and make changes on campus. We also hope that students returning from the retreat are galvanized by the enhanced connections made during the weekend and are able to continue in their work as student leaders with a strong supportive community behind them.

• Explore personal identities, family influences, and values
  
• Listen, inquire, and reflect on diverse beliefs, values, attitudes, behaviors and emotions for the purpose of self-awareness and reflective citizenship
  
• Develop a sustainable, collaborative, and inclusive community by integrating the values of the group's diverse constituents
  
• Enrich your leadership qualities
  
• Connect with upper-class students, faculty, and staff
  
• Build a peer support network
  
• Create an atmosphere for open dialogue on multiculturalism
  
• Increase personal awareness of one’s impact on their community
  
• Strengthen knowledge of diversity issues affecting the campus and community
  
• Promote a deeper understanding of and respect for others
  
• Encourage coalition building amongst future organization leaders
  
• Cultivate skills and potential to be effective servant leaders

Who is This Retreat For?

All Tulane University students belong to a multitude of different cultures including areas of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, socio-economic status and many more. We are looking for a group of people that come from many different cultural backgrounds, including those in the "majority." Every Tulane student is eligible to apply and is highly encouraged to do so.

Where and When: The retreat will take place at the Seashore United Methodist Assembly Retreat Center

Transportation and Food: Group transportation will be provided to the retreat center at 3 p.m. Friday and will return to campus at noon Sunday. All participants are expected to ride in the vans and participate in the entire two-day session. Meals will be provided.

Cost: The cost of the retreat is FREE! However, we do ask that you submit a $20 deposit to reserve your space which will be returned upon check-in the day of the retreat.

How do I register: Registration is currently closed.

Sponsored by: Office of Multicultural Affairs and Student Affairs

Learning Outcomes

• develop relationships with other students
  
• be able to state how their identity affects their leadership
  
• be able to define and create safe environments
  
• learn how to personally reflect
  
• learn how to share personal identities
  
• learn how to identify and articulate their values, beliefs, preconceptions and prior learning
  
• gain a better understanding of others personal and cultural identities
  
  

Weekend Schedule 

Friday
2:30 PM – Meet at Tulane LBC Suite G04
5:00 PM – Arrive at site Seashore United Methodist Assembly
5:15 PM – Welcome
6:00 PM – Dinner
8:00 PM – Family Breakout
10:00 PM – Conclude for the night

Saturday
9:00 AM – Breakfast
9:45 AM – Activity
11:00 AM – Free time
11:30 AM – Lunch
1:00 PM – Family Breakout
2:00 PM – Leadership Development
6:00 PM – Dinner
7:00 PM – Activity
7:30 PM – Activity
7:30 PM – Leadership in community (with SOAR)
10:00 PM – Bonfire

Sunday
8:00 AM – Breakfast
8:30 AM – Activity
9:00 AM – Family Breakout
10:00 AM – Depart for New Orleans