For The Many, a Kingston/Poughkeepsie-based group, arrived in July for their first retreat at the Uplands. Their aims included renewal, team building, and diving deeper into their grassroots movement to transform New York so that it works for everyone – focusing on healthcare, housing, immigration, racial justice, climate and energy, and the economy.

Everyone arrived and settled in before a beautiful welcome lunch of black bean soup, cornbread, and a southwest salad. They dove right into a group meeting to reconnect with the organization’s purpose and reground in resilience. They enjoyed a bit of leisure at the spa and took in the Uplands’ grounds before a scrumptious veggie lasagna dinner and an outdoor group-led staff appreciation event. They celebrated one other in a playful way with a red carpet, music, sashes, and roses. Their first evening wound down with an soothing sound bath with singing bowls and chimes, accompanied by the backdrop of thunder rumbling outside.

Their second day began with nourishment of a connecting yoga class and a breakfast of waffles, scrambled eggs, and home-fried potatoes, which supported the group into a productive morning meeting where they assessed political conditions on a local, state, and national level. They continued their meeting after a comfort food lunch of tomato soup and grilled cheese. They then spent the evening enjoying leisure time in the spa, playing lawn games, taking walks to the vista shed, and gathering around a bonfire just before dark.

On their final day, the group again met for several hours, enjoying tasty meals and access to the spa. They were able to have a leisurely pack-up time and enjoyment of the Uplands Center and its grounds after their wrap-up and closure as a group, readying themselves to get back out there and fight the good fight in New York State.