Retreats
A gentle pause from the pace of everyday life. BMe’s Smart Optimist Annual Retreats (SOAR), Wellness-Focused Retreats, and BMe Vanguard Retreats are designed to build connection, deepen trust, and strengthen collaboration—less training, more restoration, and time to simply be.
❋ Expert Facilitation
Led by experienced facilitators who know how to hold space and encourage participation, leaders gain paradigm-shifting knowledge from national and global authorities on 21st century skills including Cultural Competency, Asset-Framing, and funder-specific knowledge depending on each program.
❋ Collaborative Energy
BMe VETS FOR ‘BUILDERS,’ authentic, competent, and purpose-driven leaders whose value comes from serving others. We provide the knowledge and experiences that build trust, collaboration, and impact, enabling these leaders to support one another at every level.
❋ Expert Facilitation
BMe VETS FOR ‘BUILDERS,’ authentic, competent, and purpose-driven leaders whose value comes from serving others. We provide the knowledge and experiences that build trust, collaboration, and impact, enabling these leaders to support one another at every level.
❋ A Supportive Space
We incorporate wellness activities that inspire bold thinking, while shared meals, sightseeing, and unstructured downtime deepen connection in a beautiful setting. We also prioritize comfort, safety, and respect so participants can show up as they are and fully engage in the process.
“Such a wonderful group of peers with a generous spirit whom I wouldn’t have met otherwise. I expect to collaborate with half a dozen or more.”
-Rachel Levin, President of Philanthropy, Hearthland Foundation
Results Across All BMe Retreats
Every community we build begins with an invitation-only executive leadership gathering that applies cognitive, social, and cultural psychology to achieve remarkable results through workshops on paradigm shifts, wellness and mutuality often presented by the world’s top authorities in their disciplines.
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94% Report “meaningful bonds were formed” and 83% report that those “relationships formed with other BMe Vanguard allowed them to collaborate more quickly and fully.”
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In addition to your content, all BMe-run retreats and programs include Asset-Framing training, group wellness, and real social networking.
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Since 2013, 100% of participants report collaborating with two or more leaders they met or got to know better VIA a BMe-run program.
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88% of participants report that BMe programs “significantly strengthened personal and emotional well-being,” with 71% also noting significant improvements in their physical health.
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All participants report that they’ve gained greater confidence and agency after attending a BMe event.
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Since 2013, 85% of leaders rate BMe-run events and programs “incredibly effective” at building trust. Even the final 15% rate BMe “very effective.”
Smart Optimist Annual Retreats (SOAR)
SOAR brings together executive leaders who benefit from building deeper, more intrinsic bonds with one another. Ranked #1, we tailor our approach to improve trust, collaboration, and impact among regional, national, and issue-based leaders.
This fully customizable program includes:
5 day, 4 night retreat
Beautiful location with beaches or trails
Up to 30 vetted participants
Standard Facilitation and workshops
Opt-in activities measure social bonding
Collaboration follow-up discussions
Formal peer consulting session
Group sight-seeing opportunity
Unstructured meals & conversations
24/7 hospitality suite for socializing
Wellness- Focused
Our wellness retreats place well-being at the core of leadership, creating space for leaders to restore, reflect, and strengthen the trust and clarity needed to lead with impact.
This fully customizable program includes:
4 day, 3 night retreat focused on joy, relaxation, and personal growth
Beautiful location with a plethora of activities
Orientation and nightly group dinners with discussion topics (e.g., financial literacy, career development, etc.)
Opportunities for participants to share challenges and request support
Unstructured time for reflection, socializing, and building trust
Accountability partners for 90 days after the retreat
WE FACILITATE YOUR AGENDA
BMe Vanguard Retreats
BMe Vanguard retreats are reserved for our invitation-only membership that provides inspired leaders from all walks of life with additional Knowledge, Influence, and Networks (K.I.N.) to fulfill the aspirations of Black people and all people to Live, Own, Vote, and Excel (L.O.V.E.).
We can also design similar customized programs for foundations, corporations, and associations seeking to cultivate high-trust, high-impact leadership communities.
This fully customizable program includes:
4 day, 3 night retreat
Typically held in a beach location
$10k angel grant to advance initiatives that help people to Live, Own, Vote, or Excel
Advanced training in asset-framing and applied cognitive, social, and cultural psychology
Year round support including a private leadership community app