The CSSC’s 5th biannual leadership retreat this Winter was a success! From January 16th to the 18th, twenty five students and alumni gathered at our beautiful retreat space amongst the hillsides of Arroyo Grande representing thirteen campuses to build community amongst our statewide leaders, exchange ideas, and collaborate on programs and campaigns that address the problems we face in the 21st century. The weekend resulted in new friendships, new campaigns, great ideas, and inspiration to progress forward. From endorsing campaigns to team building games and from creating a new Operating team to cooking meals together, ultimately the weekend turned out to be very successful.
After learning the CSSC was undergoing leadership transitions amongst our staff, students with overwhelming enthusiasm stepped up to create the new operating team of the CSSC, which will ensure that the daily operations of the CSSC continue forward. In addition to forming an operating team, there were many campaigns, projects, programs, and skills shared throughout the weekend. Students were excited to hear Energy Action Coalition is having another Power Shift campaign - or what is now called the “Define our Decade” Campaign. The campaign plans to engage youth in the next midterm congressional elections as well as send thousands of students to Washington DC in February 2011. All student leaders enthusiastically endorsed the campaign and are looking forward to hearing next steps.
Other exciting new opportunities arose as well: the CSSC endorsed a new program, Environmental Education for the Next Generation, where college students make weekly visits to neighboring elementary schools and teach interactive environmental lesson plan. There was also ample time to meet in working groups as well as hold open space for any other discussions, campaigns, or programs not on the agenda. Throughout the weekend group conversations were held around leadership best practices, the Education for Sustainable Living Program, The Real Foods Challenge, Responsible Investing Coalition, The Green Initiative Fund, Power Shift, and an Ultimate Civics Campaign.
Sunday morning we spent forming our new operating team, which resulted in applause as a new driven team stepped up. Shortly after, the team collectively set next steps. That afternoon we planned for our next convergence and came to a cheerful consensus that the next convergence will be held at UC San Diego from April 31st- May 2nd. The weekend came to a close with our friends Betty, Tataucho, Gene, and Freddie joining us in a closing ceremony and grounding discussion setting a broader context for the sustainability movement. And for all those who were still at the ranch that evening we celebrated the successful weekend with an evening game of football in the rain!
Our next leadership retreat will be held in August, so if you would like to attend look for more information in our newsletter as the date approaches.
