SANKOFA RETREAT: EXPLORING THE ROOTS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE
DATE: July 21 - August 3, 2009
ALREADY FULL!

What IS the connection between African and African American culture? The Full Circle Sankofa Retreat is based on the Akan proverb that stresses the need to "go back and fetch it." On our Sankofa Retreat, you will do just that: Go back to Ghana, West Africa, to deepen your understandings of the roots of African American heritage and culture! We'll start in the capitol city of Accra, where you'll have the chance to orient yourself to Ghana through visits to major museums and cultural sites. We'll travel to Kumasi, home of the mighty Ashanti people, and explore the connections and carryovers of African culture, particularly in styles of leadership and crafts traditions. We'll then travel and trace a part of the historic routes of enslaved African people through the country, ending at the historic cities of Cape Coast and Elmina, home of two of the largest slave dungeons along the coast of the African continent. We'll engage in lectures and discussions by African elders and craftspeople about African history and culture, both on the continent and in the diaspora. Finally we'll return to Accra and deepen our knowledge and connections through visits to cultural sites directly connected to African American culture and heritage including the W.E.B. DuBois Center and the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial.

This is an important opportunity for teachers, school administrators, social service workers, and others interested in knowing the deep and profound roots of African American culture that began in West Africa and not in the slavery experience in the United States - and the way that re-framing one's perspectives about African American culture from an African point of view can profoundly change your way of being in the world!

Don't miss your chance to be a part of our 2009 Sankofa Retreat! Space is limited and available on a first-come, first served basis! Click on the register icon on this page to print the registration form. And don't wait too long! Your registration form and a $500 deposit will guarantee that you'll be going back to fetch what YOU need in Ghana, West Africa!

The Full Circle Deadline for your non-refundable deposit is January 5, 2009.
Balance Due: April 1, 2009
Departure city: Columbus or Chicago
Retreat Cost: $4800***



ALL THE WORLD’S CHILDREN: A HISTORY, CULTURE AND EDUCATION RETREAT & STUDY TOUR
DATE: February 2 – 13, 2010

There are transformative lessons to be learned from Africa! This Full Circle Retreat & Study Tour to Ghana, West Africa is designed to provide an amazing opportunity for educators to form a vision of education that honors our commitments to sharing with, learning from and serving all of our world’s children.

Our All the World’s Children Retreat & Study Tour to Ghana will focus on understanding the condition of children in developing countries and the ways that United States citizens are responsible for and connected to all children and people throughout the world. Each day is centered in the rich arts and cultural traditions of Ghana as a way to “ground” or frame the lectures, historic sites, school visitations, and discussions while we are in Ghana. You will engage an array of exciting lectures, demonstrations, school visitations, discussions, and hands-on experiences with educationists (private, public and higher education personnel), government officials and policy makers, classroom teachers, children from preschool to high school levels), traditional leaders (chiefs, queen mothers, elders), religious leaders, and various artisans and craftspeople.

The 12-day Full Circle All the World’s Children Retreat/Study Tour is reasonably priced per person at $4700. The cost of the retreat includes all of the the following:

• Roundtrip airfare to Accra, Ghana on a major air carrier (such as NWA/KLM or Delta Airlines) from Columbus, OH
• Double person accommodations in beautiful air-conditioned rooms in Ghana*
• Full English breakfasts each day and two traditional Ghanaian dinner banquets (a welcome and a farewell banquet)
• All transportation throughout Ghana and to scheduled retreat/study tour activities
• All entrance fees to historical monuments and cultural sites
• All airport taxes and fees
• 2 experienced tour leaders (including one professor) who will accompany you throughout the retreat
• A detailed orientation packet to help you to plan and prepare for the Retreat & Study Tour
• Monthly Ghana Study Group Meetings, where you dialogue with the lead tour leader about selected texts, films, and artifacts to familiarize ourselves with the history, culture and contemporary realities in Ghana
• One formal orientation meeting (to be held in Columbus, OH)
• All retreat preparation costs for copying, mailings, and updates

Don’t miss this opportunity! A per person registration deposit of $500 will be due on or before July 1, 2009, with the balance of the retreat fees due on or before November 2, 2009. Join us!

*Single accommodations are available for an additional fee. Please check the Registration Form for details.

The Full Circle Deadline for your non-refundable deposit is July 1, 2009.
Balance Due: November 2, 2009
Retreat Cost: $4700***



SACRED CIRCLES: A BEADING RETREAT
DATE: July 20 - August 2, 2010

If you love beads and beading, then our Full Circle Sacred Circles Retreat is for you! Designed for glass and bead makers, artists, and those who love beautiful jewelry and adornments, this retreat will offer you the chance to explore the culture and bead-making traditions of Ghana, West Africa and the ways that bead traditions from throughout the world have influenced one another. Mentored by master bead artists in Ghana, you will have the hands-on opportunity to learn the art of glass bead, powdered and fused glass bead-making and enameled bead design works! You'll learn about the gold and brass bead traditions of the Ashanti people of Ghana, particularly focused on the lost-wax method of brass castings of beads and adornments! We'll engage in lectures and discussions by African elders and craftspeople about the sacred nature of the beads. Finally, we will participate in beachside beading workshops on beading techniques and design including prayer/meditation beads! Our Sacred Circles Retreat will also include visits to several major cultural and historical sites to deepen our knowledge about the roles of sacred circles in African history - and of course, lots of shopping for the exquisite beads that Ghana has to offer!

The cost per person for the 12 day Full Circle Sacred Circles Bead Retreat is $4800.* The cost of the retreat includes the following:

• Roundtrip airfare to Accra, Ghana on a major carrier (such as NWA/KLM or Delta Airlines) from Columbus, OH
• Double person accommodations in beautifully appointed air-conditioned hotels in Ghana (Single rooms are available for an additional $700.00 charge)
• Full English breakfasts each day and two traditional Ghanaian dinner banquets (a welcome and a farewell banquet)
• All transportation throughout Ghana and to scheduled retreat activities
• All class instructor fee
• All entrance fees to historical monuments and cultural site
• All airport taxes and fees
• Tour guides who will accompany the participants throughout the retreat
• A detailed orientation packet for each participant
• All retreat preparation costs for copying, mailings, and updates

A per person registration deposit of $500 will be due on or before January 5, 2010, with the balance of the retreat fees due on or before April 1, 2010.

Don’t miss your chance to be a part of our Sacred Circles Retreat! Space is limited and available on a first-come, first served basis! So don’t wait too long! Your registration form and a $500 deposit will guarantee that you’ll be creating and beading your own sacred circles in Ghana in 2010!

The Full Circle Deadline for your non-refundable deposit is January 5, 2010.
Balance Due: April 1, 2010
Departure city: Columbus
Retreat Cost: $4800***



Questions? Contact me at cbdillard@fullcircleretreats.com.

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