For the Many is building a grassroots movement to make New York (housing, healthcare, labor and environmental practices, among others) work for the state’s majority. Their retreat, held from 21-23 July, allowed the group to reflect and strategically plan, as they assessed their progress in the first half of the year and set goals for the months ahead. The retreat combined structured meetings about their mission, goals and strategies and opportunities for personal and collective relaxation. Against the backdrop of sweeping hills and valleys, they blended critical discussions on social justice with activities like hikes, sauna sessions, and lawn games to recharge their energy for the work ahead.
The group arrived on Monday in the late morning, with time to settle in before a nourishing lunch. They moved right into their group meeting, grounding in with each other and then with the space, during some leisure time before a dinner of carrot soup, lasagne and salad. Perfect weather enabled them to enjoy time on the patio together after dinner, celebrating one another and shared accomplishments, before relaxing into a balancing sound bath in the yoga room to cap the night.
Their full Uplands day — Tuesday — began with an optional heart- and chest-opening yoga session. After a hearty breakfast of home-made granola, green eggs and focaccia with local cheeses, they entered into productive meeting time together, alternating between large group discussions, breakout groups, and individual reflection—both indoors and out. Lunch invited participants to build their own tacos and burritos and enjoy a cordial made of elderflower. The group then enjoyed some free time before dinner, including exhilarating, staff-led rides in an all-terrain vehicle around the property, spa time, and lawn games.
The dinner of grilled chicken and vegetables, smashed potatoes, beets and a kale salad filled the dining room with color and ended with a stone fruit tartine for dessert. In the evening, the group enjoyed a fabulous bonfire for all to enjoy and relish the night sounds and each other’s company in a leisurely, spacious way.
On the group’s final day of the retreat, they alternated between meetings, fitting in all they had planned and being nourished by the Uplands chef’s delightful meals. By the end of the retreat, the group had a clearer vision of their strategic priorities for the second half of the year. The retreat not only helped them evaluate the effectiveness of their ongoing projects, but also strengthened the foundation for future work in areas like economic justice, worker organizing, and immigration justice.
The balance of focused meeting time and restorative activities made for a holistic retreat experience that supported both the personal well-being and collective mission of For the Many.
