Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. We believe that the opportunity to connect and deepen relationships with like-minded emerging leaders in the Chicago area is a major benefit of structuring this fellowship in the form of retreats. We therefore require fellows to stay at the retreat centers for the duration of the sessions. All meals will be provided.
No. The content of each retreat is designed to build on that of the previous one, so participation in each retreat is required.
Please plan for two to five hours of work between retreats for assignments and peer or staff coaching.
Possibly! While our ideal participant works in one or more of these spheres, we will consider applicants who can demonstrate a passion, a history, or an active engagement in a volunteer or personal capacity in one or more of them.
No. Our food system has many problems—some are animal related, while others are not. We seek fellows who recognize the intersectionality of these problems, but we do not require you to follow a specific diet. During the retreats, however, only plant-based meals will be served.
Yes! Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions.
Each retreat will begin Thursday, with lunch and check-in around noon, group welcome and learning activities, dinner, and some final activities before we settle in for the evening. On Friday and Saturday, we’ll have breakfast, a morning training block, lunch, an afternoon training block, and then dinner and optional social activities. Sunday morning, we’ll wrap up with breakfast and closing activities. We have lots of scheduled breaks throughout the training blocks and encourage people to take whatever care they need during this time!
We draw from a variety of frameworks in designing our curriculum and activities, and we make changes based on participant feedback. We design our sessions using experiential learning and emergent design frameworks. You will discover many new tools and frameworks, but this is not lecture-style learning! Participants will actively engage in the learning process alongside their cohort peers, applying tools and practices to projects already underway in their personal lives, workplaces, and communities.
Participants who request need-based financial support will be offered an amount on a sliding scale of $500–$1,250. The stipend will be divided by three and paid out in equal amounts after each retreat attended. For example, a fellow who is awarded $750 total will receive $250 after their participation in each retreat.