A Circle of Trust® retreat offering space for perspective and opportunities to appreciate the true value of our work in higher education.
About this Event

Join us in June to reflect on our place in the mosaic of higher education. Enter a space from which we can take perspective: draw in close and treasure what’s precious, and stand back and appreciate the true value of our work, even when all of this may be hard to discern amid the everyday ferment of institutional life.

All of us who care about higher education struggle at times in our work and daily lives to see and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us. This may be especially true now, as institutions we thought would always be there for us are rattling amid shifting landscapes. At times like this, our fears can shroud the things we love; we may find ourselves focusing on what is broken, losing sight of the beauty that is all around us – the beauty that can sustain us.

Through poetry, visual imagery, journaling, and opportunities to share with and listen deeply to one another, these three days in a Circle of Trust will offer abundant opportunities to reclaim the sense of awe and wonder that first drew us to our life’s work. Guided by the Courage and Renewal Touchstones, we know it is possible to leave the circle with whatever it was we needed when we arrived.

Details

Three 3-hour sessions will be held online on consecutive days (2nd, 3rd and 4th June 2025) at the same time, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM eastern, U.S. We encourage all participants to be available to participate in all 3 sessions as they build on each other.

The last day to register is May 1, 2025. Payment is due at the time of registration.

Please note: Refunds are not available after May 1, 2025. If you ask for a refund before this date, a processing fee of approximately $12 is retained by Eventbrite, our booking platform, to cover their administrative costs.

What to expect before we meet

We will send an orientation message to all registered participants around 10-14 days before the event. This will invite you to do some preliminary reflection beforehand, and also give some guidance on what you need to bring to our sessions (e.g. pens, paper, etc.). We encourage all registered participants to be available to participate in all 3 sessions as they build on each other. We use Zoom as our medium, and request that you join our sessions from a space that is private where you are not going to be overheard or interrupted. Our 3 sessions will be held by our ‘touchstones’ and follow a reflective journey on our theme, drawing on writings, poetry and music to support our contemplations. This weekend event is part of a wider programming of events by CCR for people working in Higher Education.