Solidarity Economics: Our Economy, Our Movement

Reimagining our economy for the benefit of all

A Fall Gathering & Dialogue Workshop

Sunday, September 8th  – Wednesday, September 11th, 2024
Please register by September 1st 11:59PM Pacific

Join us this September for an interactive workshop dialogue with Chris Benner and Manuel Pastor with the goal to have us reflect, share, and learn ways to cultivate solidarity in our economy and to popularize that story to build a mass movement for justice.  

As we quickly approach those 2024 elections, it is clear that we are in desperate need of a collective narrative that bridges many of our issues negatively impacting our communities. One critical area is the lack of a racially-just centered economy – and, just as important for organizing, the lack of a solid narrative about such an economy. This is truly a historic moment: our country’s promise of democracy is at stake.

The dialogue will invite us to imagine and create a new sort of solidarity economics – an approach grounded in our instincts for connection and community – and in so doing, actually build a more robust, sustainable, and equitable economy. Solidarity Economics argues that we can change our economy, and the types of results it produces, by changing what we prioritize. In particular, to address inequality, social divisions, and ecological destruction in our current economic and political system.

Learn more about the speakers and theme at https://solidarityeconomics.org/ 

We encourage you to join the dialogue while also embodying the rest and restorative practices the center has to offer.

Who is invited? We are inviting a select group of movement organizers, policy advocates, philanthropic leaders, and other allies to be part of this discussion helping us all chart a path forward for this movement. We hope you’ll join us. 

This invitational is offered free of charge to guests with the invitation to offer contributions towards fees at registration; this helps us to offer programs like this.

The collective power and magic of a retreat like this arises from the container we co-create. We ask that attendees intend to be present for the duration of the program from dinnertime on Sunday to retreat close on Tuesday. (We understand that there may be extenuating circumstances.)

Cost:

Complimentary, donation-based

This invitational is offered free of charge to guests with the invitation to offer contributions towards fees at registration; this helps us to offer programs like this.

Schedule:

(click here to see the full schedule)

Sunday, September 8th: 1-4pm Check-ins and Arrivals
*we ask everyone arrive by dinnertime*

Tuesday, September 10th: 7:30pm Retreat Close and Checkout

          Wednesday, September 11th: 12:00pm Checkout
           1:00p Lunch (optional) *please sign up at registration or by Sunday

I can think of no better way to spend a week than to take in the breathtaking beauty of BBRC. This is the place to learn how to truly appreciate life. Everyone I have encountered there has been nothing but kind and helpful. – Retreat Guest, May 2023

Your Stay with us Includes:

• A private bedroom in a shared retreat cabin (up to 3-4 rooms), with wifi, a kitchen, living room, central heat, and a private deck in nature
• Meals (three healthy freshly prepared, delicious vegetarian meals)
• Daily center guided wellness, mindfulness and dialogue activities
• Access to center amenities and natural environment and trails

Activities and what to expect:

We have organized the rest of the schedule to be light to support your rest and time in nature. We have also included daily optional center-led wellness and nature-based activities to best experience this space. We encourage you to attend as much or as little as serves you.

Morning Mindfulness
Each morning a gentle start to the day will be offered with an invitation for a brief meditation sit, some light breath work, and stillness. This is open to all levels, new or experienced, and an invitation to invite the day with intention. This will be led by various members of the BBRC staff.

Mindful Movement: Yoga
The schedule will offer some mindful movement: yoga. These are designed for all levels, and open to beginners. All the supplies are provided. Come to this stimulating yet relaxing activity. More information provided at orientation and ask a staff member for more if this is new to you.

Mindful Movement: Nature Hikes
We will offer light hikes (easy to medium difficulty) in nature around the property and national forest. Topics and specific hikes included below and in the schedule. We encourage you to join for some fresh air and time in the beautiful pines that surround us. Sunscreen and/or a hat and comfortable walking shoes are strongly recommended.

Welcome Walk/Hike: This is a great grounding and introduction to the center. We will take a gentle (30-45 min) walk around the property, the trails, and point out additional trails for exploring. A chance to connect with the land upon arrival. We strongly encourage this!

Daily Hikes: Join us for staff/peer-led excursions around the center’s land and surrounding national forest. If snow is present, we’ll also offer options for snow-shoeing.

I can think of no better way to spend a week than to take in the breathtaking beauty of BBRC. This is the place to learn how to truly appreciate life. Everyone I have encountered there has been nothing but kind and helpful. – Retreat Guest, May 2023

Take a virtual tour of a cabin!

Accommodations:

The Center consists of several single-story buildings and cabins for dining, meditation and sleeping. Our residence cabins are large furnished and comfortable with 3-4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, living rooms, a full kitchen and decks outside in nature for shared use.

The Meditation Hall:

Our beautiful meditation hall is a large room that accommodates most meditation and movement retreats. We have supplies for most participants, but guests are always welcome to bring their own supplies (not required). Guests can typically expect to have access to a zabutan (large cushion), zafu (small cushion), yoga mat, blocks, a meditation chair, a blanket and a selection of other yoga and meditation props with limited supplies. If you’re unsure, please contact us or visit our welcome guide for more details.

Meals:

The Center provides fresh, healthy meals made with seasonal and organic ingredients to support a nourishing time in retreat. Meals begin with dinner on arrival evening through to breakfast on departure morning. For this retreat, meals will be offered to support meditation retreat practice with a simple medium breakfast, hearty lunch, and light dinner (typically soup and salad). All meals will be vegetarian, and we accommodate most major dietary restrictions. Snacks will be available in the dining hall 24/7, including teas and coffees. The Center has refrigerators in the cabins and dining area for guests to store their own snacks – please bring any foods that might support your time here.

Any questions please contact guestservices@bigbearretreatcenter.org or visit our website bigbearretreatcenter.org.

Planning your trip: If you are booking a flight for your trip our recommendation is to search for flights to the Ontario Airport (ONT) whenever possible. If your travel plans require you to land at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) we highly recommend arriving at least one day prior to your arrival at BBRC for retreat. Registration opens on Arrival day from 2:00pm – 4:00pm. The final day will conclude by noon or later on, so please allow yourself adequate time for travel to the airport. Please visit our Getting to Big Bear page on our website for more detailed travel recommendations.

Ride-share: Ride-sharing / Carpooling is highly encouraged, and is one of the most convenient ways to travel to Big Bear Retreat Center. For this retreat we have set up a self-organized ride-share page that you can visit at anytime before, we will send email reminders closer to the retreat.  Visit the ride-share page

Covid Policies: For this retreat we are requiring a negative rapid test on-site.  Masking is optional, but subject to change.

Guests are asked, when possible, to bring their own rapid tests. Tests will be provided by the center by request only. We recommend testing BEFORE your travel to us.

For any questions please contact guestservices@bigbearretreatcenter.org or visit our website bigbearretreatcenter.org

Cancellation Policy: For this retreat, we ask that you do not cancel if you have booked. However, we understanding that unforeseen circumstances may arise. If that is the case, please notify us as soon as possible.

We look forward to hosting you soon!