Magic Wands and Community Data
If we were given magic wands…
We shared a Community Call with Cameron, Olivia, and Noopur from Retreat Guru this week, as a way to explore what challenges are prominent for retreat centers right now. We recognize there may be shared challenges that affect the sector as a whole, but wanted to explore this conversationally together, instead of Retreat Guru managing a survey.
Click the video above to get the full conversation.
We had a vibrant discussion, the first part of a two-part series. We’ll continue this conversation in a follow-up session at HCN’s Virtual Gathering in May, where the Retreat Guru team will be able to offer insights into best practices and solutions for the sector, as they have annually for several years.
At the end of our call with 25+ leaders (representing 20 retreat centers and allied orgs), Cameron lifted up and interpreted a few immediate themes from our enthusiastic and wide-ranging conversation.
Retreat centers wish for…
These themes thread together what participants across the continent shared as their “three wishes” when asked to “wave their wands” at specific pain points for their organization and for the sector at large.
An increasing awareness of a global movement (communication), with a large audience (marketing)
Transformation: the ‘why’ of the work, the wonder, and how retreats dovetail with a whole/life path for participants’ everyday lives
Opening up our centers again: What do we keep, what do we let go, and how does that impact our future?
Collaboration: sharing data, a warehouse for policy, a communal statement on the ‘state of retreat centers’
Social, racial, and economical accessibility and inclusion
Staffing, volunteering, keeping the motivation going
Curiosity: how do we regularly offer new products to new audiences
A shift from ‘me to we’ — from individual soul work, to RCC, and even to global movements
Communication: working to better articulate the benefits of retreat centers
We hope you’ll join us for part two of this conversation at the Holistic Centers Network’s annual Virtual Gathering, May 3-6, 2021.
Retreat centers may benefit from…
Here are a few tools we’ve been developing this year at RCC
A network map, built from RCC survey data, that reveals connections among retreat centers.
A geographic map of the RCC community. Learn about the retreat centers in your area.
A short video with navigation tips for the RCC maps.
A social platform to connect retreat center leaders online, gather folks around specific interests, collect and store policies and procedures, share ideas, and ask questions of the larger community. Our Mighty Network is like a tiny Facebook, built just for retreat centers.
And some tools from our collaborative partners
This Equity and Interdependence report shares the learnings accumulated from Inward Bound Mindfulness Education as they worked to transform their organizational culture toward greater equity and shifted into a collaborative leadership model.
A recent webinar from Holistic Centers Network (HCN), Pricing Analysis for Holistic Programs, was facilitated by Esalen, and addressed timely questions of social justice, seasonality, and AirBnB.
Consider a wide range of webinars available with a membership at HCN, on topics like marketing, cultural blindspots and mission impact.
Facilitators: Cameron Wenaus, Olivia Stille, and Noopur Parmar, Retreat Guru
Ben Scott-Brandt and Justine Johnson, RCC
More notes, visuals, and an audio recording of this session are available at the link below.