Tenant Bloc organizes tenants and tenant unions across New York State to call for more affordable and dignified housing for low-income rental residents. Most of their work is focused in cities, where more than 9 million tenants live and where the real estate industry holds disproportionate influence over homes, neighborhoods and democratic processes. Tenant Bloc works to make rent affordable, build homes for all, house the homeless and crack down on slumlords.
Over a couple of days in mid-September, 21 tenant organizers came together at The Uplands to focus on strategic questions relating to their organizational structure, decision-making processes and shared goals. Most organizers arrived in time to enjoy a welcome pizza party complete with diverse garden-fresh toppings.The group soaked in quality time together in the pool, sauna and the hot tub under the stars.
Their full retreat day began with an optional Uplands-guided Wellness Walk, followed by a hearty breakfast of home-made granola, farm eggs on garden greens, chocolate muffins, fresh sourdough bread and local jams and cheeses. The group then spent the day moving between spaces in the facility – from the art studio to the yoga room, the living room to the East-facing patio – as their conversations evolved. Discussions in plenary were followed by small group work and some unstructured time for reflection.
In their free time, some participants explored the many trails on the land, a few going on an early morning run across the meadows. Others curled up on a plush couch with a book, and some wandered the grounds, noticing wildlife, pollinators and the late summer vegetation. At night, the group gathered around a circle in a grove of cherry trees, where they made s’mores over an open fire.
After an optional yoga class and breakfast, the group concluded their process the following morning, and shared a celebratory lunch of Colombian food, including ajiaco soup, arepas, squash, hogao (tomato-onion sauce) and a salad of cucumbers and tomatoes, all with vegetables from the Uplands garden.
It was a pleasure to host Tenant Bloc and we look forward to witnessing the growth and further consolidation of the tenant movement, coming out of the retreat, across New York State and beyond.
