December 30, 2011 – January 8, 2012
Boston University Campus in Washington, DC

Thanks for your interest in our first Howard Thurman Center Social Justice Retreat to Washington, DC. Those who attend this 10 day winter retreat will have the opportunity to explore and understand the interplay between those who advocate for and those who ultimately legislate social justice issues.

We’ll spend some time understanding the history and culture of our nation’s capital, through visits to various neighborhoods and museums, as well as monuments along the famed National Mall. In addition, we’ll dialogue with staff from the Holocaust Memorial Museum, Human Rights Campaign, Enough Project, Campus Progress, and the State Department, among others.

We’ll also participate in a service learning project at DC Central Kitchen, where we will seek to understand how a social enterprise model can address the interconnected problems of poverty, hunger, and homelessness. And, yes, we’ll spend some time with the folks at Occupy DC, to learn more about the impact this unique model of protest may have on the upcoming presidential election.

Our home base will be the cozy confines of Boston University’s Washington Campus, adjacent to the National Zoo, in the historic Adams Morgan neighborhood. We’ll cook and enjoy meals together while planning for or reflecting on the events of the day. And, we’ll also take plenty of time to enjoy the amazing food, music, and culture that DC has to offer, including trips to the historic Ben’s Chili Bowl and Busboys & Poets.

Applications for this year’s retreat are now closed. If you have any questions, please email Raul Fernandez at raul@bu.edu.