Retreat Announcement
VISIONS: COMMUNITY, CULTURE AND CHANGE
Do you want to make a difference in your students life’s? How about creating a partnership that is meaningful and relevant, where you have the opportunity to create curriculum and/or study exchanges that are empowering and transformative — where students can apply what they’ve learned to their own communities. For instance, what can one learn from the Caribbean’s most dynamic muralist project? That is, how does a public mural incorporate oral histories and dialogues, bringing forth the possibilities and potentials within one’s own community, where one creates spaces of affirmation where all or the whole is fully embraced?
If this is of interest, then join us in the Dominican Republic for the Visions: Community, Culture and Change retreat. Hosted by SOMOS, an education center in the mountains of La Cumbre de Salcedo, Dominican Republic these retreats include lodging, meals, and airport pick-up. During these retreats, you’ll stay in the homes of families in the village where you’ll have the opportunity to be immersed in the local village, while also participating in a series of workshops, dialogues and excursions. Through these activities, you’ll develop a partnership, incorporating curricular projects and/or a study tour to be implemented in your school/classroom — tailored, of course, to meet the direct educational, cultural, community and financial needs of your school.
Since we have a limited number of openings and since the process for this conference is selective, we anticipate the sessions to fill quickly. So if you are interested, please apply now. Additional questions can be addressed to Dr. Campbell at leanne@globalroots.net.
Questions to be addressed during retreat?
The intent of these retreats are to address the following five questions:
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What does it mean to think globally, act locally? That is, how does a global vision foster innovation, creativity and an understanding of the synergies and possibilities at the local level?
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How can I create and implement for my school a global partnership that’s both meaningful and relevant — enhancing the educational needs of my students? More specifically, what type of curricula projects and/or study tours will allow this to happen?
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How will my students apply what they’ve learned, either in their schools and/or communities?
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What types of lessons and activities will my students need in order implement these types of programs and why?
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How can I garner broader support, be it through my institution, community, state or nationally to support (or fund) these initiatives?
Activities/sessions to be held during retreat
To answer these questions, participants will engage in a series of dialogues, excursions and workshops, meeting with several innovative community groups, such as a women’s group ‘Ama de Casa’ (love of home), MARHMI (the largest most inspiring muralist project in the Caribbean), local farming groups, youth groups and local schools. In addition, participants will visit the home (now a museum), of the former Mirabal sisters as told in the book “In the Time of the Butterflies” by Julia Alvarez, Chojaba, a chocolate cooperative, owned by a group of rural women, and the famous, inspiring mural route in “Las Hermanas Mirabal”. The goals of these exchanges are to inspire and motivate while also allowing participants to create a program plan for his/her school, college, etc.
For additional information, questions, suggestions and/or concerns, please contact LeAnne Campbell at dr.campbell@somos.center.
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How does the application process work?Since we have a limited amount of positions, we will carefully review each application and if necessary, interview you on the phone. This will take a total of 3-5 business days so you should know soon after applying. Once accepted, we ask that you immediately purchase your plane ticket, then send us a copy of your receipt, so that we can reserve your position.
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Where will I stay?For the most part, everyone will stay at the top of the mountain — at the SOMOS Center. However, if we have a mixed group of men/women and if everyone is from a different institution, we will house someone next door, in Dinora’s home. Regardless, everyone will have access to the bathing facilities at the center, (hot water, indoor plumbing, etc).
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What will I eat?You will be served three wonderful Dominican meals a day, starting with a hearty breakfast, a large fully prepared lunch and dinner. The meals will be served at the SOMOS center.
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Do I need to bring additional funds?Only if you plan to purchase gifts and/or snacks/drinks.
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Do I need to speak Spanish?No, it’s not necessary to speak Spanish. We will have translators available for all organized dialogues and workshops…..but if you want to practice your Spanish, you’ll have lots of opportunities to do so.
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What should I bring?We encourage you to pack lightly, bringing three outfits and comfortable walking shoes and mosquito repellent. In the evenings, it becomes quite cool so you will need a sweater and/or jacket. Also, you should bring a notebook and/or laptop computer.
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Is there internet at the Center and if need be, how can I communicate with family and friends in the U.S.?"Yes, there is internet service at the center so it’s possible to communicate with family and friends. We use the messaging app, “Whats App”, an internet based telephone service. However, to use this service, it’s necessary that you and the one that you call download the app before using it.
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What time should I arrive and will someone be at the airport to meet me?Please try to arrive between 1-4 PM and yes, we will have a driver waiting at the airport upon your arrival. They will have a large sign, reading SOMOS. Since it’s a small airport, you should be able to locate the driver as soon as you leave the airport.
Facilitators
LeAnne Campbell, PhD — LeAnne has over 30 years of experience working with schools and communities in the Dominican Republic and US. She has both a Masters and Bachelors degree from Cornell University in Human Service Studies and a PhD from UNC Chapel Hill in “Culture, Curriculum and Change”. In addition to serving on the faculty at Mississippi State University and Nazareth College, she taught at Duke University’s Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies. On the international front, she founded and directed a family literacy program, and served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic. More recently, she directed an international non-profit known as the Global Leadership Institute.
Maestro Hector Blanco — President and Founder of MARHMI. Graduating with honors from the National School of the Arts (ENBA) in Santo Domingo, Hector has made a powerful impact on the public landscape of his community. Through his leadership role in the Caribbean’s largest mural project, Hector oversaw the development of 300 large, inspiring murals. He founded and directed MARHMI (Movimiento Artistico Hermanas Mirabal), an artistic collective of over 200 artists. Currently, Hector resides in the province of Las Hermanas Mirabal in the city of Salcedo, Dominican Republic, where he serves as the director of artistic development for SOMOS and assists in the student leadership programs.