LT Alumni Racial Equity Retreat Highlights
On March 3, 2022, at El Centro de la Raza, LT held its second full-day retreat focused on racial equity. Alumni who participated in the retreat spanned the decades, with graduates from 1990 to 2022! Here’s what alumni said about their experience at the retreat and what motivated them to participate.
Tisha Held, LT’22
BECU
The Leadership Tomorrow Alumni Racial Equity Retreat and Workshop was a day filled with joy, learning, connecting, transparency, and sharing seeds. My takeaway is that when we hold back from bringing our authentic self, we don’t just lose out on our intended gifts, we fail to share seeds that will grow and impact others.
We experienced opportunities to play, go outside of our comfort zones, and connect. We explored our roots and planted seeds. I had no idea that coming into the space with optimism, curiosity, and openness would result in shifting my ability to consume new information. It allowed me to expand my perspective because I was not stuck in defending my way of being, but I was able to gently question why.
I'm thankful that I set my intention to be present for each person I encountered and share a moment with them. I was asked to share my seeds and provide instructions on how to use those seeds. It was a beautiful mutual exchange. What I realized is that our purpose is to share our seeds. This allows the knowledge we have gained and experienced to expand and help others. Seeds turn into roots, a trunk or stalks, and they bear fruit and flowers and move on. They are not meant to be kept.
Marcus Glasper, LT’20
Washington State Department of Licensing
Sometimes you just need to refill your cup. I love LT retreats because I get to refill my cup with new learnings, new connections, reconnections, and a reinvigorated charge in this journey toward racial equity. We are reminded of the power of the collective in making lasting change. I can truly say I got my cup refilled.
Veronica Smith, LT’11
data2insight, LLC
When I went through LT’s Flagship Program, I learned from Lola Peters, LT’03, at the Mid-Year Retreat that antiracism and social justice cannot grow if the rose petals of liberation are spread on the pumpkin patch of oppression. Instead, it takes digging up, replacing and tilling new soil, planting new seeds, and cultivating a multicultural garden. The Alumni Racial Equity Retreat & Workshop is about growing LT alums’ commitment to racial equity and our capacity to act in ways that result in a region where people from all communities and identities thrive.
I am deeply grateful for the 2023 LT Alumni Racial Equity Retreat and Workshop. It filled me up with new and renewed connections with people in our community, provided new seeds for my personal and professional growth, and evoked feelings of joy, sadness, pain, frustration, humility, and loving kindness that are all part of social justice work. At the end of the day, my heart was full, and I felt better prepared to continue tending to our region's beautiful multicultural garden.
David Bestock, LT’22
Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association (DNDA)
I'm grateful to have attended the LT Alumni Racial Equity Retreat and Workshop. I always enjoy meeting other alumni and being reminded of the incredible reach and influence of the LT alumni network. It was wonderful to connect with everyone and share stories of our work and our own racial equity journeys. The presenters were excellent, and the diversity of folks in attendance made for meaningful conversations. I'm taking away new friends and contacts, new strategies for nonprofit and team building work, and I'm still trying to answer some of the incredible questions asked of us as a group and of me personally that day.
Julie Pham, PhD, LT’16
CuriosityBased
As someone who facilitates and designs gatherings for a living, I so appreciated this thoughtful convening. It inspired joy and deep reflection. I especially loved the opportunity to meet with alumni from other classes.
Lolo Arévalo, LT’98
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services
I recently started a new job as Administrator of Equity Diversity Access and Inclusion for Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. I came to the retreat so I could continue to be a student of the field and add value to what I do. I’m walking away from the retreat with friendships, knowledge, and inspiration to be brave so I can share my seeds and experiences with others.
