Staff Retreats
Strengthening organizational culture with retreats grounded in authentic connections, joy, and belonging
Engagement Overview
We believe that people are the most valuable assets in any organization. And we understand the role that belonging and community play in staff feeling deeply connected in ways that allow an organization to live out its mission and vision. Our retreats utilize our joy-based approach to build the foundations needed for a healthy and thriving organization.
Engagement Details
PRE-RETREAT: PLANNING & COLLABORATION
Before the retreat, we will meet with your team to deepen our understanding of your vision and organizational needs. We will collaborate with you to build out the agenda to design and craft experiences and sessions to help your team connect, build trust and belonging. We’ll work together to identify:
Existing organizational culture strengths and areas for improvement
Priority areas and themes that team members want to connect on based on staff experiences
Learning resources to help prepare staff for the retreat
RETREAT: FACILITATION & ENGAGEMENT
During the retreat, we engage staff through relevant interactive and joyful approaches such as storytelling, art, somatics, and opportunities to personally connect. We create multiple avenues of engagement for staff, balancing small and large group dynamics with creative ways to spark moments of connection. Our facilitation methods cultivate inclusive environments that honor all identities, and support individuals to navigate difficult and challenging conversations. Example experiences and sessions include:
Connection circles to help staff establish relationships with colleagues they have not met or may not work with
Interactive mapping of individual professional journeys that brought people to the organization
Storytelling and discussions on how belonging shows up at the organization
Communal art to honor the loss, trauma, and change of the past few years
POST RETREAT: REFLECTION & FOLLOW-UP
After the retreat, we continue to support organizations through reflection and follow-up planning to ensure that the impact of the retreat continues. We provide the curriculum of reading and session materials, tools, and resources, as well as a summary of findings from the sessions with recommendations on how to continue to foster community and build belonging.
As a result of this retreat, staff will:
Connect as a team and build a stronger community of belonging
Experience joy and creativity related to their professional journey and work
Deepen their knowledge and commitment to the organizational mission and vision
Feel seen and heard in their experiences in ways that support collective care as they move forward together
“Many of us had never met in person and, like other organizations, we have struggled with creating a culture while working hybrid and with integrating new staff. The Novalia Collective was able to provide a relaxing yet invigorating and rejuvenating space for us. They understood our need to come together to learn about each other and to spend time enjoying each other’s company.”
-AMY YOTOPOULOS, President & CEO, Avenidas
“Odelia and Vina were very thoughtful and intentional in the planning process of our retreat; they really listened to our needs and concerns and developed a day of turning challenges and obstacles into new and refreshed opportunities. Vina and Odelia are kind and very compassionate, and understood and knew when to step in to redirect conversations in the most positive, productive, and generative way..”
-MIMI NGUYEN, Executive Director, Step Forward Foundation
“Our team had Novalia Collective facilitate a session on Cultivating a Sense of Belonging at our summer work retreat. The session was thoughtfully curated with a variety of modes of participation and content, as well as thorough follow-up planning and support so that the work and conversations could continue post-session.”
-BARBARA PAPE, Senior Director, Learner Variability Project, Digital Promise