Sacred Spaces

Selected participants will be established leaders rooted in faith and mercy, from various professional and social sectors, who have demonstrated influence and authority in furthering the cause of racial justice and systemic change. They will be from broad backgrounds, professionally, racially, geographically, religiously, and otherwise. Participants of diverse faith traditions are welcome and encouraged.

This 9-month, outcome-focused program aims to provide participants with the necessary knowledge, skills, and tools to engage in conversations about race, explore their own personal positions, and work towards creating a more just and equitable society. The program features group discussions, workshops, and conversations led by a nationally-renowned group of speakers, teachers, and mentors. Participants will be expected to have identified a policy or practice area they will work to change.

Key components include: 

• Virtual orientation
• Pre-retreat work (less than 1 hour) to prepare for the in-person events
• A 2.5-day in-person opening retreat at Washington National Cathedral
• Monthly virtual meetings and coaching sessions (1-2 hours) to support participants in developing and launching their social justice action plans
• A 2.5-day in-person closing retreat at Washington National Cathedral
• Ongoing participation in the Sacred Spaces alumni community to support future cohorts

Sacred Spaces participants will:

• Learn radical honesty as a guide to strengthen faith-inspired leadership skills
• Develop and share with others tools to effectively manage social change rooted in justice, love, and humanity
• Create and enact a clearly-defined action plan to drive social change
• Build a coalition of diverse change-makers dedicated to empowering others to challenge injustice, fight oppression, and work towards creating a more equitable and compassionate world

Sacred Spaces will be centered around a multi-day residential program at the newly-renovated Virginia Mae Center. Centrally located within the tranquility of the Cathedral grounds, the Virginia Mae Center is a place of learning, pilgrimage and spiritual renewal, a safe venue for difficult conversations, and a healing space for all who enter its doors.