Expand self-awareness and inclusive leadership through a new off-campus retreat

For students desiring to expand their own self-awareness around identity, what it means to be a leader and how to become more inclusive within their scopes of influence, the Center for Community Engagement and Service is offering a new three-day Identity, Leadership and Inclusion Retreat to be held March 6-8. Interested students can use the online application, which will be open until Saturday, Feb 21.

The retreat is being organized in large part by Ashley Delgado ‘20 (M), a current graduate student studying holistic clinical mental health at Salve Regina. Delgado is also the Newman Civic Fellow at Salve Regina, which has given her training and resources to help her develop strategies for positive social change. It is through her work as a Newman Fellow that Delgado conceived the idea behind this Identity, Leadership and Inclusion Retreat.

Ashley Delgado has received New England Pride T.V.’s 2018 Person of the Year.

“[The retreat] is brand new, and I have designed it myself—which is why the name is very specific to the things that I wanted to bring to campus,” Delgado said.

Delgado—who came out to her parents as a lesbian in high school and studied human services at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts—has been deeply involved in the LGBTQIA+ community in Rhode Island for years.

In 2017, she was crowned Ms. Lesbian Rhode Island through Rhode Island Pride’s Triple Crown Pageant, which has lead to many opportunities to raise awareness around topics like inclusion, leadership and identity. She currently works at Family Service Association in Fall River, Massachusetts, as an in-home clinician and intern, and she provides intensive family therapy services to youth up to age 21.

Ashley Delgado celebrates at a Pride Parade.

Delgado hopes to impart on undergraduate students the life lessons she has gained through her own journey of self-awareness and identity, as well as what it means to be a leader that listens, collaborates and creates inclusive spaces for all.

“My objective … is to support student development, networking and on campus collaboration,” said Delgado. “Students will gain insight on identity and awareness and how this fosters positive social change. Students will explore ways to create and promote efforts for inclusion and practice skill building for effective leadership.”

The Identity, Leadership and Inclusion Retreat will begin on Friday, March 6, at 5 p.m. with pizza and a panel discussion with individuals that Delgado was able to personally pick to speak to students in regards to their unique relationships with identity, leadership and inclusion. Days two-three of the retreat will be an overnight excursion to Rose Island.

“Rose Island is … a travel destination. You can only get there by boat,” Delgado described. “So we’re really lucky that Salve was able to offer this opportunity to us. It’s really giving us a space where we can focus on the goals of the retreat.”

The Identity, Leadership and Inclusion Retreat will take place on Rose Island, a travel destination in Newport.

During the retreat on Rose Island, Delgado has a variety of student organizations from Salve Regina who are coming to lead activities and talks, and she herself will also be leading art projects and discussions. She hopes that the varied facilitation will be a catalyst to help undergraduates discover their own inner strengths and the unique leadership offerings they can bring to the world.

“We’re really looking to be reflective,” she said. “I think that the real work is going to happen with the students that attend.”

Use the online application to apply until Saturday, Feb 21. Only 18 students will be accepted. Cost for participants will be $25, which will be nonrefundable. Financial assistance is available as needed. For more information, contact the Center for Community Engagement and Service at community.services@salve.edu or (401) 341-2440.