what | who | when & where | Community Organizing Institute | CO-LEADS | register

What? The annual Diversity & Unity (DU) Retreat is a FREE, two-day program bringing together a diverse set of students to explore issues of identity and social systems, and to build campus alliances. Participants develop their knowledge of self and others, enhance their awareness of historical and current intergroup dynamics, and expand their "toolkits" of campus resources and involvement opportunities. Students return to campus relationships, organizations and other involvements with new knowledge of diversity, skills to promote understanding, and networks for action.

Who? The Retreat is a powerful "starting point" for students interested in making a positive difference for diversity and Inclusive Excellence in their classes, organizations and the overall DU community. Students can participate in the Retreat once*, with attendees then Advancing into other campus/community actions, involvements and leadership roles.

*Past participants are invited to apply to serve on the student Retreat Team, assisting with and leading aspects of Retreat planning, publicity and implementation. Contact our office if you're interested.

When and Where? The 2012-13 Retreat was held September 28-29th, 2012, at the Red Lion Hotel Southeast Denver.

The Retreat is FREE to accepted students, and included meals, snacks, housing and materials. Participants take the light rail between hotel and campus (free with DU transit pass) as a group, travel with the group AND commit to the entire Retreat experience (no on-your-own or late arrivals or early departures). Participants are housed up to four-to-a-room, sharing two large (queen+ sized) beds, and are given the opportunity (during registration) to select roommates and/or to choose same/mixed gender rooms.

Community Organizing Institute: As part of our efforts to support student leadership development and public good impact, we partnered with DU's Center for Civic Engagement and Service Learning (CCESL) to connect our awareness-raising Retreat and their Community Organizing Institute, on the Friday after the Retreat, October 5th, providing participants the opportunity to learn skills for collective action. As both knowledge and skills are critical for making positive change in our communities, we encourage Retreat participants to attend both events. Students can co-register for the Retreat and the COI; priority for Retreat attendance may be given to students able/ willing to commit to participating in both.

For other questions about the Retreat, email igr@du.edu.

2012 one-day alternative: CO-LEADS

Students not able to commit to the full, two-day 2012 Fall Retreat were encouraged to consider attending CO-LEADS instead: the one-day, regional student summit at the Auraria campus on Friday, 19 October. The Center for Multicultural Excellence is a co-sponsor of this annual event, a great opportunity to meet, learn and work with university students from around the Front Range area! CME can sponsor the registration fee for a limited number of students; contact a staff member for details to enter in the "sponsorship" section of the registration form when it opens.