WHEN will this experience happen?

The From Me to We experience will begin on the evening of Monday, May 18 and continue through the afternoon of Thursday, May 21. Be advised that this is the week between the end of spring classes and graduation. We will communicate housing related details with the selected participants. At the conclusion of the retreat on May 21, you will not be able to remain on campus unless you have a summer room assignment.

WHERE will it be held?

The Me to We experience will be held at an off-campus retreat center. Learn about this beautiful venue and see photos here. We will provide bus transportation to and from the site.

WHO is invited to apply?

This experience is open to all first and second year students. We believe first and second year students will greatly benefit from an opportunity to begin developing their social justice awareness early in their college careers and putting their knowledge to action for the rest of their time on campus. You may be nominated by a faculty or staff member, but you do not have to receive a nomination in order to apply. There are less than 50 available spaces, so take your application seriously.

WHAT can I expect in terms of the format?

The Me to We experience is modeled after several professional trainings and institutes which use lectures, interactive exercises, small group discussions and fun activities to deepen participants’ understanding of key issues around diversity, social justice and coalition building.

WHY should I attend?

This experience will likely be one of the most transformational of your college career. There are very few safe spaces for students to come together uncover hidden biases, examine stereotypes and begin to heal historical divides between groups. The best part is that we will take action by charting the course for a brighter future at Lafayette. Oh, and did we mention you’ll get a mini vacation in a comfortable retreat facility complete with breakfast, lunch and dinner at absolutely no cost to you? (There is only a $10.00 refundable deposit required to secure your spot.)

HOW do you define social justice?

The Intercultural Development Unit consists of the following professional offices at Lafayette: Gender and Sexuality Programs, Intercultural Development, International Student Advising, Religious and Spiritual Life, and the Landis Community Outreach Center. Together, we have adopted the following definition of social justice from Adams, Bell & Griffin (2007):

“We believe that social justice is both a process and a goal. The goal of social justice is full and equal participation of all groups in a society that is mutually shaped to meet their needs. Social justice includes a vision of society in which the distribution of resources is equitable and all members are physically and psychologically safe and secure. We envision a society in which individuals are both self-determining (able to develop their full capacities) and interdependent (capable of interacting democratically with others). Social justice involves social actors who have a sense of their own agency as well as a sense of social responsibility toward and with others, their society, and the broader world in which we live. These are conditions we wish not only for our own society but also for every society in our interdependent global community” (pg. 1-2).