Inaugural Nonprofit Staff Retreat Restores and Connects
Rest - Collaborate - Thrive
The below blog was written by Chloe Fabricante, COMCorps member serving at ACF
Gathering
As morning sunlight illuminated the dewy grass at the Ora Anderson trailhead, 17 staff members from Athens County nonprofit organizations gathered on September 10th for the inaugural retreat hosted by Athens County Foundation. Folks assembled in The Loft of the Dairy Barn Arts Center to restore capacity and encourage connections between their organizations. Dani Esperanza, the event facilitator and host, began the day by reading an excerpt of Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer which set the dynamic for the retreat as an open and collaborative space that allowed for vulnerability and bravery among those attending and sharing their experiences in nonprofit work. This dynamic was maintained throughout the self-care sessions, group discussions, and team building activities.
Members of the group were encouraged to create their own paths with self-care activities including mindful movement led by Shei Sanchez, a conversation on wellbeing facilitated by Rachel Siegel, healing touch by Andrew Shackelford and Amanda Birt, and a self-led creative station. Agency and adaptability through the created paths gave folks a chance to reflect and recognize what would be best for them, which helped to highlight the theme of restoring individual capacity. With options like chair yoga, the ability to choose what healing touch is most comfortable, and different creative activities folks were given space to voice their needs and care for themselves.
Guarding From Burn-Out
During a fishbowl conversation, folks shared their own experiences working with nonprofit organizations to help give insights on burnout and self-care before moving to team building activities to encourage interagency connections. Those attending the retreat shared the different ways burnout shows up, both mentally and physically, and shared how they prevent or recover from burnout. One person shared the benefits of leaning into the positive energy preceding burnout and how they “let the dumpster fire lead the way,” while another shared the negative impacts burnout has had on their physical health to emphasize the importance of recovery time and self-care. Many folks connected with the metaphor of a marathon runner taking a day to recover after a race, realizing that a recovery day after important events could be essential to preventing burnout. This metaphor connected to a larger theme of the discussion revolving around giving oneself permission to recover and take time for yourself, despite feeling like there is always something to do while working for a nonprofit organization.
Following the fishbowl conversation, folks moved to team building activities to foster interagency connections. Recreating sounds of the rainforest, creating conga lines, and giving each other nicknames provided levity following brave conversations, while helping improve strategies for teamwork. The diversity of the group and the activities folks participated in contributed to another important theme of the retreat: the importance of building a strong network to collaborate with others and embrace individual strengths. Team building activities allowed the group to solve problems in creative ways and strategize with one another before leading to the final discussion of the day.
Possibilities
When the group was asked “What’s possible here?” they gave answers that built on the day’s themes involving giving yourself permission to recover, care for yourself, and make room for collaboration. The next question, “How do we succeed together?” transformed these themes into tangible goals. The group focused on the importance of sharing tools with one another, meeting people where they are, asking for help, and curating space. The culmination of this conversation led to a commitment to regular cadence of intentionally meeting to share tools, give space for shared learning, and continue to build on the connections created through the day. Rather than divide and conquer, this group chooses to share and thrive while creating a unique space for nonprofit employees to grow and learn.
Heavy, Hype, & Hopeful
At our retreat, we asked: “If today had a theme song for how you’re feeling, what would it be?”
Together, those songs became a playlist that captures the arc of nonprofit life in Athens County — the messy real, the grind, the joy, and the hope we carry forward.
- With or Without You – U2
- Baby Put Your Pants On – Natasha Neufeld
- Noc Turne – Zeitgeister
- 7th Symphony 2nd Movement – Beethoven
- Last Son – David Fleming
- Umagang Kay Ganda – Various Artists
- Non-Stop – Hamilton Cast
- How It’s Done – HUNTR/X, AJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI
- I AM WOMAN – Emmy Meli
- Free – Rumi, Jinu, AJAE, Andrew Choi, KPOP Demon Hunters Cast
- Como Chocolate – Grupo Coco y Chocolate
- Walking on Sunshine – Katrina & The Waves
- Happy – Pharrell Williams
- So Easy – Royksopp
- Abracadabra – Lady Gaga
Like the retreat itself, this playlist is heavy, hype, and hopeful all at once. We invite you to explore the songs, follow the arc, and notice what resonates with you.
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