WISDOM Leadership Retreat Held Jan. 17-18
by Pam Gates
MOSES members turned out in force for this retreat, which was held at the Green Lake Conference Center near Green Lake, Wis. Deborah Adkins, Talib Akbar, Saundra Brown, Phil Carlson, Barbie Jackson, Jessica Jacobs, Rachel Kincade, James Morgan, and I attended from MOSES. Along with other WISDOM members from around the state, we learned more about diversity, Integrated Voter Engagement, and each other – and about the specific issues that drew us together. We shared excellent meals, trying to sit with people we didn’t know yet. Many of us participated in a talent show, where some real talent showed up in the form of poetry, storytelling, an amusing skit, and song. There was a guided meditation session, and plenty of time to sit with each other and talk.
In the presidents’ meeting, new MOSES president Saundra Brown learned that some of MOSES’s counterparts around the state are struggling with membership, fundraising, or other issues. Hope was expressed that stronger members, like MOSES, can offer support to those having trouble. Saundra mentioned this at the Feb. 4 general meeting, to get at least some of us thinking about how we can offer that support.
Another important result of the conference was the election of former MOSES president Rachel Kincade as a vice president of WISDOM. Now both WISDOM vice presidential positions are held by MOSES members; Talib Akbar is the other WISDOM vice president.
The retreat inspired a few poems; here is one that I wrote.
We’ve drifted in, making our way
Down slippery roads
Through bitter cold
From all across the state,
And here we are
In this quiet place
Of dazzling winter beauty.
We stay.
Something here feeds our souls.
Something here slakes our thirst
For justice – or a dream of it, at least.
We reach across deep chasms
Empty of promise
And fill them with the hope
Of a shared, joyous future.
We stay, and gain some power
That we didn’t have before
Gain strength to stand
A little taller, to be a little braver
A little more outspoken
Than we ever were before.
We stay, knowing we’ll go back
To where we came from
To help lift other souls
Also longing to be free
Of oppression’s might,
which is, perhaps, more powerful
And more insidious
Than it’s ever been before.
Back we go
Back down those slippery roads,
Strengthened by the spirit of this place
And all that we’ve encountered here.
We leave new friends
We carry new hope
We’ve healed a bit, and –
We’re going forth
To help with healing
A little more able
Than we were before.