Building community is an important part of the Blackburn Institute’s work. Several of these opportunities are required events as part of the new student curriculum. However, there are additional opportunities for students to deepen relationships with their peers, including students from other Blackburn classes.
Create Community
New Student Orientation
Upon selection their selection to the Blackburn Institute, new students spend time meeting each other with introductions, learning about the history of the Blackburn Institute, and a brief overview of the semester’s events.
D. Ray Pate New Student Retreat
The retreat, held off campus each March, establishes a sense of community and trust within the group based in the shared values of the Institute and a mutual desire to improve the state of Alabama.
The D. Ray Pate New Student Retreat serves as the foundation for the work of each year’s new student class. This retreat, held approximately one month after the selection of the new class each spring, includes content that immerses new students in the mission of the Blackburn Institute. In addition to providing skill-based learning, the retreat establishes a sense of community and trust within the group that is based in the shared values of the institute and a mutual desire to improve the state of Alabama.
Dialogue over Meals
Small Group Values Discussions
Blackburn students meet monthly with Institute staff and 10-12 of their peers for dinner and dialogue. These discussions focus on each of the four Blackburn values in the months of September, October, November, and February.
As the Blackburn Institute has grown over the years, one of the changes to the curriculum that has been implemented is the addition of monthly small group discussions with the new student class.
The purposes of these meetings are:
- To build smaller communities within the larger class as we grew to a class size of 50 students in 2019;
- To practice skills necessary for constructive dialogue;
- To establish trust in a more intimate setting than allowed by full-group meetings; and
- To learn more about the Blackburn values through invited guests’ experiences.
Student Led Discussions
New and returning students are encouraged to coordinate with student officers to host discussions in the Blackburn office. These lunch and learns may feature student presenters or an invited guest speaker.
Social Events
Student Socials
Student officers host social events each at the beginning and conclusion of each semester to allow students from various Blackburn classes to connect with one another over food and games.
Returning Student Reunion
Each Fall, returning students gather off campus for a fellowship dinner to celebrate their commitment to the Institute and reconnect with members from previous classes.