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The Changemakers Retreat is an intensive, in-person leadership development experience intended to hone skills, build community, and empower current and aspiring boundary-spanners and changemakers.
Over four days, participants are given the tools, space, and community they need to come into their own identities as campus leaders. The retreat focuses on three overarching themes:
- Identifying as an as community engagement professionals
- Place-based leadership
- Community building
Through a series of interactive workshops, equity-centered community building, coaching, and goal setting, participants develop their skills to advance civic and community engagement work on their campus.
*Because our annual conference is moving to June, we will be pausing the Changemakers Retreat in 2027. This means the upcoming June session is your final opportunity to participate until 2028*
Register for our next retreat
Registration is now closed for the 2026 Changemakers Retreat from June 15-18, 2026 at Towson University, hosted by the Offices of Partnerships & Outreach and Civic Engagement & Social Responsibility.
Towson University's Office of Partnerships & Outreach builds and sustains relationships with community partners and addresses the needs of the region to make positive impacts on our surrounding communities. The Office of Civic Engagement & Social Responsibility creates a thriving civic culture in which every member of the Towson University community has the disposition, skills and knowledge to be an active co-creator of a shared future.
Who should attend?
We welcome higher education community engagement professionals in faculty or staff roles who are looking to further develop as agents of change. Participants can be at any stage in their careers. The retreat is limited in size to ensure that the retreat is an intimate, tailored experience for each group of participants.
There is a $450 fee to participate. Participation in the Changemakers Retreat is a benefit of Campus Compact membership and is only open to faculty and staff at member campuses.
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Changemakers Retreat Agenda
*Subject to change*
Day 1 – Monday, June 15
Focus: Community building and framing the retreat
1:00 PM — Welcome: TU senior administration and other representatives
1:20 PM — Community norms
1:30 PM — Participant introductions
3:30 PM — Break
4:00 PM — Community Engagement Professional (CEP) as an identity and CEP functional areas framework
4:45 PM — Exploring your values
5:15 PM — Social change ecosystem
5:30 PM — Reflections on day one
6:00 PM — End of day one
7:00 PM — Optional group dinner
Day 2 – Tuesday, June 16
Focus: Knowing yourself—exploring your capacity to create change
8:00 AM — Reflect, reconnect, replenish
9:30 AM — StarTUp tour
10:00 AM — Exploring your unique gifts as a changemaker interactive workshops
12:30 PM — Lunch
1:30 PM — Policy and changemaking
3:30 PM — Break
4:00 PM — Critical questions collaborative time
5:30 PM — Close out
6:30 PM — Reception hosted by Towson University
Day 3 – Wednesday, June 17
Focus: See what impact can look like
8:00 AM — Reflect, reconnect, replenish
9:30 AM — Navigating structures in higher education
11:00 AM — Braving the Moment: A Conversation with Towson University Changemakers
12:30 PM — Mentoring lunch
2:00 PM — Break
2:30 PM — Towson University partnership highlight: G.I.V.E. & Historic East Towson outing
5:30 PM — Return to StarTUp
6:30 PM — Group dinner
Day 4 – Thursday, June 18
Focus: Moving Forward as a Changemaker
8:00 AM — Reflect, Reconnect, Replenish
9:30 AM — Restorative Leadership
10:30 AM — Being a Changemaker on your campus
11:30 AM — Final Reflections
12:00 PM — Adjourn
Program Details
Retreat Design
The Changemakers Retreat focuses on three overarching themes: identity as community engagement professionals, place-based leadership, and community building. The retreat offers dedicated time and space for radical rest, connection, and strategizing. We will identify individual strengths, learn how to motivate others, push for institutional change, and develop strategies to address challenges at participants' respective institutions. Retreat components will include:
- Centering key tenets of community engagement
- Developing changemaker ecosystems and collective leadership strategies
- Peer-to-peer coaching
- Goal Setting
- Building connections with the host institution
Timeline
Currently, registration for the Changemakers Retreat opens early in March and closes in May to give time for Changemakers to plan travel to the in-person event. Stay tuned for future updates and additional opportunities!
- Registration open — March 12
- Registration deadline — May 14
- Retreat — June 15-18
Registration
Registration is now closed for the 2026 Changemakers Retreat at Towson University from June 15—18, registration closes on May 14th.
Participants are asked to provide detailed information upon registration as we strive to have a good blend of position types and career levels.
Preview registration questions:
Personal Information
- First name
- Last name
- Institution
- Phone number
- Main Institutional role
- Institution type
- State where your institution is located
- How many years have you been doing higher education civic/community engagement work?
Demographic Information
- Campus Compact aims to create inclusive programs and resources that support people from all backgrounds
- Demographic information submitted here will help us see how well we are doing
- Information provided will be kept confidential and will not influence your eligibility for the Changemakers Retreat
CV, Resume, or LinkedIn
- Each applicant must submit a current curriculum vitae or resume focused on their community engagement work. Alternatively, you may provide a link to your LinkedIn profile. A complete registration must have at least one option submitted.
Additional Questions
- Why are you interested in attending this year’s Changemakers Retreat?
- What do you hope to get out of attending the retreat?
- How do you describe your work as it relates to being a boundary-spanner or changemaker?
Retreat Agenda
*Subject to change*
Day 1 – Monday, June 15
Focus: Community building and framing the retreat
1:00 PM — Welcome: TU senior administration and other representatives
1:20 PM — Community norms
1:30 PM — Participant introductions
3:30 PM — Break
4:00 PM — Community Engagement Professional (CEP) as an identity and CEP functional areas framework
4:45 PM — Exploring your values
5:15 PM — Social change ecosystem
5:30 PM — Reflections on day one
6:00 PM — End of day one
7:00 PM — Optional group dinner
Day 2 – Tuesday, June 16
Focus: Knowing yourself—exploring your capacity to create change
8:00 AM — Reflect, reconnect, replenish
9:30 AM — StarTUp tour
10:00 AM — Exploring your unique gifts as a changemaker interactive workshops
12:30 PM — Lunch
1:30 PM — Policy and changemaking
3:30 PM — Break
4:00 PM — Critical questions collaborative time
5:30 PM — Close out
6:30 PM — Reception hosted by Towson University
Day 3 – Wednesday, June 17
Focus: See what impact can look like
8:00 AM — Reflect, reconnect, replenish
9:30 AM — Navigating structures in higher education
11:00 AM — Braving the Moment: A Conversation with Towson University Changemakers
12:30 PM — Mentoring lunch
2:00 PM — Break
2:30 PM — Towson University partnership highlight: G.I.V.E. & Historic East Towson outing
5:30 PM — Return to StarTUp
6:30 PM — Group dinner
Day 4 – Thursday, June 18
Focus: Moving Forward as a Changemaker
8:00 AM — Reflect, Reconnect, Replenish
9:30 AM — Restorative Leadership
10:30 AM — Being a Changemaker on your campus
11:30 AM — Final Reflections
12:00 PM — Adjourn