Leading from Within: Tending to Ourselves and Our Communities

The challenges of our time provide an invitation to slow down, reflect, and bring care and integrity to our relationships with ourselves and our communities.

How can we bring greater wholeness to how we show up for ourselves, our communities, and the world?

How do our individual and collective shadows influence how we move through the world, impacting our capacity to lead with heart?

What resources support us in being able to tend to ourselves and those we serve or lead?

How do we uncover and listen to our inner wisdom?

This Courage to Lead® weekend intensive for women is an opportunity to pause and disconnect from the fast pace and distractions of daily life, and join other change-makers who dare to engage their work with presence and compassion.

Together we will explore components of the heart and soul of leadership through:

• Co-creating a trustworthy space for telling our truths and listening to the truths of others
• Using imagination and contemplative practices to access personal and collective wisdom
• Developing skills for holding meaningful conversations and building relational trust
• Learning practices for holding the complexities we encounter in our personal and professional communities

Who is this retreat for? This retreat is open to people from diverse fields who identify as women and is designed to help participants renew their passion and enthusiasm and commitment toward their leadership and community. Past participants in our Courage to Lead® programs have included school-based educators and administrators, activists, writers, clergy, coaches, doulas, mental health practitioners, and leaders from nonprofit and corporate sectors. Leadership can also be reflected in the ways that we show up in the world through our professional, family, or community life.

“The combination of wisdom and presence shared while sitting in circle together, self reflection through journaling and creative exploration, along with small group reflection and connection was a powerful example of the beauty and sustenance we can bring to ourselves and to each other. We came together as strangers and left knowing ourselves and the essence of humanity a little bit deeper.” – 2023 Retreat Attendee

Matsya Siosal, a Courage & Renewal facilitator will be joined by Rafaela Steen, LCSW who has been bringing people together for purpose, support, and connection for most of her adult life. For the last two decades, Rafaela has worked as an educational leader and strengths-based licensed clinical social worker offering consultation, guidance, and professional development related to mental health and well-being in K-12 schools and districts. Rafaela is an experienced facilitator, thought partner, convener, and problem solver who sees the importance of meaningful connection and joy within communities. Rafaela intentionally and strategically creates proactive, welcoming communities of care throughout her life, both personally and professionally.