Creating belonging for young people is not a one-and-done project. It’s a cycle of effort, learning, and improvement. Does that sound like an opportunity—or does it already sound exhausting?
For any educator who feels tired just thinking about working toward another goal, you’re not alone. K-12 education is still seeing the highest rates of burnout of all U.S. professions, and Girls Leadership knows that there’s a gap in support. That’s why the Collective Belonging learning retreat is a healing-centered program designed to support educators first and foremost. It’s not just a professional development—it’s a retreat.
“We prepare for so many months: we’re looking at participants’ names and where they work and what they might need. We have our quiet corner and we have our arts corner, we have bubbles for fun and gel pens and good-smelling markers,” Jenelle Nila, Training and Engagement Manager, laughs. “All those things are intentional because we want folks to take that joy and comfort back to their students, but also we want them to understand that they deserve it as well.”
Collective Belonging is about helping educators so that they feel reinvigorated and well-equipped to help young people. This means taking time to breathe and relax; time to play and laugh; time to be together with others while feeling safe and heard.
“I think one of the great things about the three days is that you’re surrounded by other people who are leaning in, and when that happens, you lean in too, right? I’ve seen this training refreshing for folks who have found themselves really disillusioned about the profession that they used to love at some point, and I think the collectiveness is a big part of that,” says Catherine Castillo Cruz, the Training and Engagement Associate Director.
Three days might not seem like enough time for truly restorative work, as the Collective Belonging team are well aware. The learning retreat is not meant to be a quick fix; it is about building the foundation for sustainable practices. This includes both personal practices and strategies for community-building and community engagement.
As Jenelle says: “One of the main things that I always hope folks get out of Collective Belonging is that change in schools is directly related to change in our community. I want them to leave with the knowledge that this is collective work, and that they’re not alone in this learning.”
There are still spots for our Collective Belonging Learning Retreat: April 14-16, 2025 in Oakland, CA. Sign Up Today! Sliding scale pricing.
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