This summer, California Humanities staff stepped away from our usual routines for something we don’t always get enough of: time to think, learn, and simply be together.
Hosted by the Sierra Health Foundation along the Sacramento River, our staff retreat gave us two days to reflect on where we’ve been, where we’re headed, and what it means to serve California’s humanities field right now.
And yes, we worked.
We dug into our program strategy and talked about the ideas connecting our work. We also asked some big questions about how California Humanities can continue to show up for communities across our state.
But we also enjoyed where we were.
We soaked up views of the Sacramento and American rivers. We spotted sea lions. We ate very well, with a taste of the Caribbean from Calabash and a meal at Crawdads on the River. We talked. We laughed. We spent time together outside the usual rhythm of meetings, emails, and deadlines.
Some of our best conversations happened in those in-between moments. Getting away from our desks gave us a chance to talk differently, spend time with colleagues we don’t always work alongside, and reconnect with the people behind the work.
Our retreat also gave us the chance to experience the humanities together.
We visited the California Museum to see Reclaiming Our Stories: Reflecting on the Land, an exhibition centering California Native voices and relationships to land.
There was something special about walking through the exhibition together after spending two days talking about our work, our programs, and the communities we serve. This time, we weren’t planning the program or talking about strategy. We got to experience the work as visitors.
And now, we’re inviting you to experience it, too.
Reclaiming Our Stories
Visit Reclaiming Our Stories: Reflecting on the Land
On view at the California Museum through October 4.
Listen to Reclaiming Our Stories: Voices of Indigenous Peoples of California
Hear the full six-part podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Already listened? We’d love to hear from you.
Take our brief listener survey and tell us what resonated, what you learned, and what you’ll carry forward.
