News

On August 7-9, Open Buffalo’s tenth cohort of Emerging Leaders began their four-month training program with the annual Opening Weekend Retreat. Since 2024, our retreat curriculum has focused on the foundational practices change leaders need to not only do impactful work, but to care for themselves and others and avoid burnout so they can STAY in the work for the long haul. This year, with the expert guidance of Melissa Spikes-Archer, PMHNP-BC, Director of the NYS Office of Mental Health’s RECAST program and Emerging Leader 2021, we intentionally built in additional trauma-informed practices and supports for our leaders as they explored different aspects of leadership, experiences of injustice, and what it means to be a change leader in this historical moment.  

As Black feminist thinker and writer Audre Lorde put it, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” Changing intrenched systems is hard work, and while we often wish it were otherwise, it is long, slow, frequently thankless, and even sometimes comes with challenging consequences for organizers. Our objective for the retreat was to create a compassionate and brave space where the Class of 2026 could explore their leadership goals for collective liberation, learn more about themselves and their needs as they engage in this work, and make plenty of time for joy. At Open Buffalo, we know that a movement that doesn’t make space for healing and for joy is simply replicating the harmful systems it is attempting to change. This weekend was about building the foundations of self and community care so that our leaders can bring that healing and joy to themselves and the communities they serve. 

This year’s Opening Weekend training team included Open Buffalo Impact Officer Darryl Gaines (EL 2023), Deputy Director Max Anderson, Director of Leadership Development Leslie Nickerson, Director of Community Engagement Devon Patterson, Open Buffalo Board Treasurer Danielle Johnson (EL 2016), and Emerging Leaders alumni advisors Melissa Spikes-Archer (EL 2021), Kenyana David (EL 2018), Willie Griffin (EL 2024), Coach Onyx Castro (EL 2024), and Cherelle Warren (EL 2025), along with the incomparable photography services of Ahrie Stevens (EL 2024) and a newly-added Emotional Intelligence and Creative Leadership workshop with Jalen Law and Ashley Watson. The workshop lineup included a relationship-building healing circle, introduction to leadership styles and crafting a personal leadership statement, a choose-your-own-adventure activity segment featuring self defense, teambuilding activities, and opportunities to use the beautiful camp facilities (including the beach and several sports courts for basketball, tennis, and volleyball), one-on-one relationship building conversations, the annual Emerging Leaders talent show, self-care plans, nightly bonfires, and more.  

Many leaders expressed gratitude for the opportunity to pour into themselves and one another. In some of their words, given anonymously in the retreat evaluation: 

“I can use what I learned to advocate for myself and others, whether it is at work or in my personal life.” 
“I leave a lot more strong in my beliefs, values and mission. I can move forward more confidently.” 
“I loved the venue, the activities, and getting to know my fellow cohorts. I’m surprised we were strangers before this. I’ve had a great time.” 

“Everyone is doing the work. It’s not only on you. Seeing how Open Buffalo invests in the cohort and seeing everyone from the class to the staff show up, be present, and ready to work was really inspiring.”