BIPOC Leadership Retreat Overview

Event: BIPOC Leadership Retreat 
Hosted by: Nonprofit Network 
In partnership with WKKF 

The BIPOC Leadership Retreat is hosted for the WKKF Battle Creek BIPOC Cohort of Nonprofit Leaders in our two-year capacity building program at Nonprofit Network. During a full day retreat, we will hold space of empowerment, connection, and strategic leadership. The event will gather individuals dedicated to fostering equity, community relationship building, and collective liberation, establishing a supportive network that promotes shared goals. This is an invitation only event that is asking organizational leaders to bring themselves and one other team member to the retreat. This could be a board member, another key volunteer or stakeholder, or a staff member.
We have designed the retreat this way to ensure whole organizational growth by including our cohort’s organizational community to learn with us. This retreat will be hosted by Dr Crystallee Crain, Capacity Building Consultant, with Nonprofit Network.

Agenda:  9:30 a.m. – Arrival & Breakfast
Participants will check in and have a chance to begin networking and enjoy breakfast with others attending the retreat.

10:00 a.m. – Welcome & Opening 
Dr. Crystallee Crain from Nonprofit Network will provide a brief welcoming address at the start of the retreat, providing a message that sets a tone of collaboration and inspiration. The opening will be led by Lillian Grant-Baptiste, who will ground the participants in history, truth, and the power of spirit.

10:30 a.m. – Collective Liberation/ Intersectional Leadership 
Facilitated by Tha T. Par, this session will focus on the importance of intersectional leadership in promoting collective liberation. Participants will engage in discussions that highlight the interconnected nature of various social justice movements and strategies for effective leadership in diverse communities.

12:30 p.m. – Lunch
A buffet-style lunch will allow attendees to continue networking and sharing their experiences in an informal setting.

1:15 p.m. – Lift as We Climb: Using Stories to Organize and Build Communities 
Lillian Grant-Baptiste will lead this interactive session, demonstrating how storytelling can empower individuals and foster community building. Participants will learn to harness their personal stories and cultural narratives as tools for organizing and advocating for change.

3:15 p.m. – Reflections & Opportunities for Engagement
Dr. Crystallee Crain will facilitate a reflective discussion on the day’s learnings, encouraging participants to share insights and identify opportunities for future collaboration and engagement within their networks.

3:40 p.m. – Close 
The retreat will conclude with final thoughts and a collective commitment to action among attendees, emphasizing the importance of ongoing support for one another in their respective endeavors.

PLEASE REGISTER BELOW

Date: Friday, October 11, 2024 
Location: Courtyard by Marriott Battle Creek  (Banquet Room)
12891 Harper Village Drive 
Battle Creek, MI 49014 
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

We'd love to celebrate you! In the registration form is a chance to submit at least one thing you are proud of this year and a picture or two from your work and activities in the past year. Or, you can email [email protected]  with your updates and pictures with brief descriptions. And, if you need any help with registration you can call or email us and Anne or Tracey will be happy to assist you!

 Facilitators:

Tha T. Par (she/her) 

A local experienced leader deeply committed to equity and community development, Tha currently serves as the co-executive director of the Battle Creek Coalition of Truth Racial Healing and Transformation. With a solid background in strategic leadership, fundraising, and program management, she excels at fostering partnerships across sectors to achieve shared objectives. Tha's approach emphasizes continuous learning and community engagement, making her a vital voice in discussions around leadership and equity.

Lillian Grant-Baptiste (she/her) 

Lillian is a celebrated cultural artist and storyteller with nearly 30 years of experience in motivational speaking and performance. Known for her captivating storytelling, she shares narratives that uplift and empower audiences, particularly focusing on folktales from the African Diaspora. Her signature piece, “The People Could Fly,” embodies resilience and the transformative power of faith. Lillian's work emphasizes the importance of preserving cultural narratives and utilizing storytelling as a tool for social change.

Dr. Crystallee Crain (she/her) 
An interdisciplinary public health scholar and human rights activist, Dr. Crain has a robust academic background in sociology, political science, and psychology. She specializes in addressing institutional inequalities while supporting community healing and advocacy. As a capacity building consultant for Nonprofit Network and the founder of Prevention at the Intersections, she focuses on community-centered projects aimed at preventing future harm within systems and organizations. Her contributions to literature and capacity-building efforts highlight her dedication to fostering social change and empowerment within communities. Crystallee was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of the Michigan Nonprofit Association.

REGISTER HERE

Please Note: Nonprofit Network may record, video or photograph public events. Recordings, videos and photos are used solely for the promotional purposes of Nonprofit Network. Nonprofit Network will regard as confidential all non-public information obtained during the course of its professional assignments. Information given in a public setting has no expectation of confidentiality.