By Niki Calastas, Hurliman Scholarship Foundation
When was the last time you were surrounded by people you’ve never met and then, after spending 6 hours together, realized you had found your peer group?
At the Next Generation Retreat session of the ASF 2012 National Conference, many of us departed having found ‘our people’, feeling more energized, supported, and not alone in our feelings. Held on Saturday, October 6, the retreat brought together 40 young trustees preparing themselves for involvement in their family’s foundation.
Lending to the session aims of inclusion and flexibility, the retreat was held inside of the SF Chronicle Building, at The Hub. When not being used by the Next Gen Committee, The Hub provides a community workspace for entrepreneurs and holds 20 private offices held by social enterprises, including Universal Giving, Bamboo Finance, SOCAP, and B Labs. The space also features an art gallery, large event spaces, meeting rooms, and two kitchens (let us not dismiss the importance of food!).
The retreat began with participants standing and gathering in a circle to introduce themselves and then moving around the room for a ‘spectrum exercise’. Continue reading
