Intercultural Leadership Retreat

The Leadership Retreat was one of my first major experiences with The Center. The trip helped me solidify many friendships as well as mentorships with people from Tulane. I felt that I could relate to so many people on the retreat but I also learned about our differences and how they are just as beautiful. The Retreat was refreshing but it also motivated me to succeed here at Tulane, especially with the help of the support system I gained from The O Leadership Retreat." - Jewell Prim

November 5 -7, 2021

The Annual Intercultural Leadership Retreat takes place during the Fall semester in an off-campus camp setting at the beach. The weekend is designed to develop skills that will serve students at Tulane, in New Orleans and beyond, with interactive activities designed to create an environment for individuals to explore cultural identity, share experiences and discuss the meaning of leadership within the context of a diverse society. Participants should come prepared to participate in activities by sharing views, attitudes, beliefs and experiences openly and honestly. 

The retreat is an opportunity to learn more about who you are, connect with other students, develop leadership skills to make a positive change at Tulane using Emergent Strategies, Critical Race Theory, and The Leadership Challenge frameworks. We bring together student leaders with diverse perspectives to build relationships across cultural differences and form a purposeful and sustainable leadership community whose members are committed to one another. The program is designed to provide a rich learning experience regardless of your leadership position. Students interested in running for office in any student organization, are strongly encouraged to attend.

We are collecting a $20 deposit for the trip. Deposits will be returned upon arrival on site. You can  bring your payment in person to the Carolyn Barber Pierre Center for Intercultural Life (Richardson Building Suite 101) by October 25, 2021. Please bring cash in an envelope with your full name and email address. If you are unable to make a deposit please contact Cara Guilbeau at cguilbeau@tulane.edu to make arrangements. Deposits are not returned if you do not attend the retreat.

We will depart campus at 3:30 p.m. Friday 11/5 from Freret Street and return Sunday 11/7 at 1:00 p.m. to the same location. 

Goals for the Weekend

Our goal is that students return from the retreat with increased enthusiasm and a heightened awareness of human difference. We desire for students to use each other as resources as they make efforts to step out of their "comfort zones" and make changes on campus. We will also be focusing on self care and wellbeing. We realize how important it is to take care of one's self to be able to take care of others. We also hope that students returning from the retreat are galvanized by the enhanced connections made during the weekend and are able to continue in their work as student leaders with a strong supportive community behind them.

  • Explore personal identities, family influences, and values
  • Listen, inquire, and reflect on diverse beliefs, values, attitudes, behaviors and emotions for the purpose of self-awareness and reflective citizenship
  • Develop a sustainable, collaborative, and inclusive community by integrating the values of the group's diverse constituents
  • Enrich your leadership qualities
  • Connect with upper-class students, faculty, and staff
  • Build intentional communities
  • Create an atmosphere for open dialogue across difference
  • Increase personal awareness of one’s impact on their community
  • Strengthen knowledge of diversity issues affecting the campus and community
  • Promote a deeper understanding of and respect for others
  • Encourage coalition building among future organization leaders
  • Cultivate skills and potential to be effective leaders
  • Develop techniques and practices for self-care