A retreat is both position and place. It’s the pause we take along the way to reassess plans and, some-times, realign our very selves.

» Event space for up to 100 people» Small Meeting Room for up 6 people» Work Office » Podcast Studio

Inspired by human and social wellness, The Retreat is space for ideas to plan and play and a place for people to gather and grow.

The Retreat is the vision of husband and wife team Kima Hamilton and Dasha Kelly Hamilton to create space for courageous conversations and mission -driven events.

WHERE IDEAS PLAN

& PLA

Y

2215 N. Martin Luther King Dr. Milwaukee, WI 53212 | www.TheRetreatMKE.com

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Table of Contents

Plan and Play………………………….1

Welcome Letter………………………..3

About The Retreat……………………..4

Workshops at The Retreat……………6

Retreats at The Retreat……………….8

Programs at The Retreat……………...9

Folk School at The Retreat…………..11

About Leadership…………………......12

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Welcome to The Retreat, where ideas plan and play. The Retreat is a 1,800 sq. ft. venue

for trainings, performances, and conversations. The Retreat offers a gallery space with a

separate seating lounge, kitchen area, private meeting room, and podcast studio.

We opened The Retreat to create space for purpose-driven work and events. So far,

we’ve hosted board meetings, a focus group for sickle cell research, a retail shop’s

anniversary, writing workshops, photoshoots, a stage play, a start-up team planning

session and a symposium on community development.

Located on historic King Drive in the heart of Milwaukee’s Bronzeville neighborhood, The

Retreat is blocks away from Fiserv Forum, around the corner from America’s Black

Holocaust Museum and adjacent to a public parking lot. The Retreat can accommodate

up to 100 people. The space rental includes tables, chairs, basic A/V and complimentary

coffee, water, and tea. To inquire about any of our offerings, please call 414-763-5887 or

visit TheRetreatMKE.com.

We’re continually inspired by ideas and initiatives and look forward to welcoming a host of

endeavors in our space. The team retreats are shaped and scheduled for your group’s

objectives. Enclosed are details about the venue, rentals, our podcast class and our

retreat programs. We’re looking forward to opening our doors for your conversations and

events in 2020.

Be Well,

Kima Hamilton Dasha Kelly Hamilton

Mail:

P.O. Box 12908

Milwaukee, WI 53212

Venue:

2215 N Martin Luther King Dr.

Milwaukee, WI 53212

414-763-5887

www.theretreatmke.com

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A retreat is both position and place. It’s the pause we take along the way to

reassess plans and, sometimes, realign our very selves. Inspired by human and

social wellness, The Retreat is space for ideas to plan and play and place for people

to gather and grow.

OUR SPACE

We’re passionate about creating space for mission-driven endeavors and ideas. Our

venue has two levels with an event gallery, breakout areas, meeting room, “floating

desk” shared office, and a podcast studio. We’re located on historic King Drive in

Milwaukee’s Bronzeville neighborhood, less than five minutes from the arena and

downtown and around the corner from America’s Black Holocaust Museum. We are

adjacent to a city parking lot and have ample street parking.

ABOUT THE RETREAT

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Meeting RoomAccommodates small group conversation for upto 6 people. Includes conference table, chairs and white board. Projector, teleconference speaker available upon request. Reserve and secure themeeting space through our online scheduler.

Work OfficeReserve this solo office space to work, write orthink undisturbed, (including a door toclose). Reservation blocks available for five hoursor ten. The work space includes a desk, chair, white board, basic office supplies and a printer. Reserve and secure the meeting space through our online scheduler.

Event GalleryIdeal for lectures, receptions, workshops, train-ings, performances and moderate meals. Recep- tion for 100. Stage and seated audience for 85. Presentation or workshop seating with tables for65. Seated meal for 50. Available Tuesday through Sunday, 8am - 1am. Discounts extended to 501c3 organizations, social entrepreneurs and small busi- nesses. Call us to schedule an event or meeting, oremail events@theretreatmke.com

Podcast StudioThis studio resource is designed with the novicein mind. The studio package includes two half days of instruction on everything from format and marketing to equipment lists and uploading tips. At the end, participants will be clear about thepurpose and platform for their digital stories, and ready to record. Recording time and sound engi neers are included in the package. Editing support is available. Established podcasters are encour aged to consider a live recording or broadcast event as part of our “Studio Live” series. Call us to schedule an event or meeting, or email podcast@ theretreatmke.com

2215 N. Martin Luther King Dr. Milwaukee, WI 53212

www.TheRetreatMKE.com5

WORKSHOPS @ The Retreat

Podcast Class

This Retreat studio resource is designed with the novice in mind. The podcast class

includes instruction on everything from format and marketing to equipment lists and

uploading tips. At the end participants will be clear about the purpose and platform for

their digital stories, and ready to record. Second Sunday – Level I

2pm – 5pm

Register here: https://podcastclass1.eventbrite.com

Fourth Sunday – Level II

2pm – 5pm

Register here: https://podcastclass2.eventbrite.com

X/M: Explicit Conversations on Implicit Bias

The human experience is biased, all of us with points of view and a story. Implicit biases are

the conclusions and tendencies we don’t actively think about. Still, our interactions can

broadcast unspoken expectations and reveal unexamined terrain.

The X/M Course guides colleagues and teams through an authentic conversation about the

nature of bias, tools for collaboration, and benchmarks to align culture forward.

Ideal for team leaders, new hires and human service professionals.

Open Course

Second Thursdays

9am – Noon

Register here: https://theretreat-xmconversations.eventbrite.com

Closed Courses Available for groups of 15 or more

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Literary Consultations

Get Your Literary Work Reviewed By An Expert!

Dasha Kelly Hamilton is a writer, performance artist and creative change

agent. Through responsive and respectful intentionality, she leverages the

creative process to facilitate critical dialogues around human and social

wellness.

Dasha has written for national, regional and local magazines; produced three

collections of poetry; recorded four spoken word CDs; and published two

novels. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University and has

taught writing courses at Mount Mary University, Alverno College and UW-

Milwaukee. She has served as an Arts Envoy for the U.S. Embassy to teach,

perform and facilitate community building initiatives in Botswana and the island

of Mauritius. A former Artist of the Year for the City of Milwaukee, Dasha was

recently named the city’s 11th Poet Laureate.

Two-hour Session $160.00 • Review and Edits – 1hr

• Discussion – 1hr

To request a literary consultation, please email

events@theretreatmke.com.

WORKSHOPS @ The Retreat

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Retreats @ The Retreat

Wonder+Land

While imagination and possibility may be boundless, your time and resources are

not. Whether it’s harvesting new ideas or aligning existing initiatives, building can be

exhilarating and daunting. The Wonder+Land Retreat helps expand “possible.”

ground wild imaginings and add texture to outline plans.

2020 Schedule

Feb. 14, Mar. 7, May 16, June 27, Aug. 7, Sept. 11, Nov. 20, Dec. 5

To Register, visit our website, Programs page.

O2: Obstacles and Opportunities

Hard line realities can feel stifling or even insurmountable: budgets, time, bosses, facilities,

staff. The everyday challenges that confront your endeavors can tower into barriers. The O2

Retreat creates space for affirmation, shared wisdom and cooperative solution-building.

2020 Schedule

Feb. 29, April 10, June 12, Aug. 28, Oct. 3, Dec. 19

To Register, visit our website, Programs page.

Play Pens

Your fingers push pens and keyboards with joy and ease. When you have time. When you

have an urgent idea. When you grant your mind room to create. Through guided

scribbling, conversation, media and imagination challenges, The Play Pens Retreat will

sharpen your writing, lead you to fresh language, and escape you to refreshed creativity,

familiar joy.

2020 Schedule

April 4, July 25, Oct. 30

To Register, visit our website, Programs page.

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PROGRAMS @ The Retreat

Monday Pop Café

Creatives. Creators. Brokers. Builders. Neighbors. Newbies. Start your week with a

jolt of energy! The Monday Pop Café is a weekly “pop up shop” for solo-preneurs

and change agents to meet, fellowship and enjoy a cup of coffee (or three).

MONDAYS

8am – 8pm

Bottomless cup of coffee or tea for only $5

Catered lunch tickets for $15 (*Advanced purchase required)

https://popupcafecateredlunch.eventbrite.com

Just Write Wednesdays

For work or play. For publication or peace. For no reason at all. Just write. All pens are

welcome.

WEDNESDAYS

9am – 9pm

9am – 6pm The Open Write

6pm – 9pm Live Lit Event Series:

• May I Have a Word

• Dynamic Page

• PENtastic Open Mic

• Harambee Poetry Slam

• Wednesday Night WordShop

• FoxTales

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PROGRAMS @ The Retreat

Harambee Poetry Slam

Pentastic Presents Harambee Poetry Slam!

Every 4th Wednesday

6:30pm | Eat & Signup

7:30pm | Slam

$5 Admission, Must be 18+

$100 Cash 1st Prize

Dates

Jan. 22, Feb. 26, Mar. 25, Apr. 22, May 27, Jul. 22, Aug. 26 Sept. 23

About That

About That is a conversation series inspired by new and local works of art. From film

to fiction, animation to visual art, About That frames the relevant discussions

intersecting our lives! Aging. Gentrification. Consent. Sensuality. Respectability

politics. Masculinity. And more.

Moderated by Dasha Kelly Hamilton, the About That events serves as conversation

kick starters, with each discussion including 3-5 minutes of anecdote, analysis or

attitude! From there, the conversations are based on whatever the room has to say

ABOUT THAT.

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FOLK SCHOOL @ The Retreat

Overview The Retreat Folk School is a life and learning series inspired by the philosophy of

Paulo Freire and popular education, the history of Freedom Schools organized for

and by liberated Black Americans during the civil rights movement, and the

Scandinavian folkehøjskolers tradition of peer education.

The mission of The Retreat Folk School is to support local content experts and

thought leaders and to extend public access to quality instruction and information.

Folk School courses are delivered by collegiate professors, content experts and

seasoned instructors. Courses and content are shaped entirely by Folk School

faculty.

Faculty We partner with content providers with field expertise, training and teaching

experience and an entrepreneurial spirit. Our Folk School is a platform for

speakers, facilitators, trainers and educators to supplement and cross promote

their professional endeavors.

Courses Courses and content are shaped entirely by Our Folk School faculty. Courses are

offered by season, in accordance to the instructors’ schedule. Content will range

from group exercise to estate planning. Each course should be at least six (6)

hours of instruction: one 6-hour class, two 3-hour classes or three 2-hour classes.

Courses should not extend more than 18 hours per season.

Spring Courses March 1 - May 24

Summer Courses June 1 - Aug 23

Fall Courses Sept 1 - Nov 22

Winter Courses Dec 1 - Feb 28

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OUR LEADERSHIP

Kima is a facilitator, DJ and social justice

engineer. From Pennsylvania to Georgia

to Alaska to Wisconsin, he has shaped

his engineering skills and artistic talents

into a signature work as a convener,

counselor and ARTivist. Kima has

traveled as an Arts Envoy for the U.S.

Embassy in Colombia, Nepal and

Mexico. He has led writing workshops

and wellness dialogues with school

systems, social agencies, and

correctional facilities. Kima leads

discussion and healing circles for men

with the Alma Center and is an on air

personality with Radio Milwaukee.

Dasha is a facilitator, writer and creative

change agent. She is a widely-respected

educator, culture producer, and founder of

Still Waters Collective, an arts outreach

organization committed to building

community, capacity and

confidences. Dasha has, since, gone on

to serve as an Arts Envoy for the U.S.

Embassy to teach, perform and facilitate

community building initiatives in

Botswana, Canada, Lebanon and the

island of Mauritius. A former Artist of the

Year for the City of Milwaukee, she was

recently named the city’s 11th Poet

Laureate.

ABOUT LEADERSHIP

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