The theme for the third semi-annual meeting held at James Madison University was “Discovering the Strength of our Relationships.”  The goal of the retreat is to help SV-SLI members become more effective mentors and leaders through skill building workshops, relationship building activities, and informative learning sessions.  To learn more about retreat activities, read on: 

The learning session for the Spring 2015 gathering featured Alicia Horst, Executive Director of the NewBridges Immigrant Resource Center (www.newbridgesirc.org). Ms. Horst focused her talk on helping the students and mentors to understand DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) status.  Future retreats will be held at other SLI partner institutions of the Shenandoah Valley (Bridgewater College, Eastern Mennonite University, and Shenandoah University).

The SV-SLI Spring Leadership Retreat was supported by the JMU School of Communication Studies and the JMU Professors in Residence Program, and was funded this year by a JMU award for innovative diversity enhancement (IDEA). The award made it possible to provide program materials and meals free of charge for the attending high school and college students. SV-SLI thanks Dr. Jennifer Mease and the team of students enrolled in SCOM 350 (Organizational Communication) for helping to organize this retreat as a service-learning project of their course.

SVSLI Leadership Retreat – Saturday, March 28 

9:00am             Breakfast buffet of juice, fruit, pastries, and coffee

9:30                      Welcome and introductions

10:00 -10:30    Morning Stretch: Building Trust and Fellowship through “Trainwreck”

10:30 -11:30      Workshop Session: Communication and Mentoring

Successful mentoring relationships are characterized by the ability to show empathy, provide support, and communicate perspective. In this workshop session, Dr. Carlos Aleman reviews some important communication practices for developing listening skills and managing an effective mentoring relationship.

11:30-12:30pm Lunch @ JMU D-Hall – Sponsored by a 2014-15 JMU IDEA Grant*

12:30-1:00pm    Free time to complete interview workbook and tour campus

1:00 – 2:00         Learning Session: Helping our Families and Communities to Understand DACA

Guest speaker, Alicia Horst (Executive Director, New Bridges Immigrant Resource Center) is an expert on the subject of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). She will talk with our group to briefly explain and hear questions as to what DACA means, eligibility requirements, and some common myths and actual barriers to being granted DACA status.

 2:00-4:00         JMU Outriggers’ Leadership and Relationship Building Activities

4:00-4:30          Final Stretch: “Shoulder Touch” Exercise

4:30-5:00          Reflection and Goal Setting

5:00                      Close of retreat

Look for another post as well as photos from this event sometime next week!

– Katie