How a Powerful Staff Retreat to the Holocaust and African American History Museums Transformed Our Team’s Perspective

I’ve been on many retreats in my career; however, this past staff retreat was unique and impactful.

In September, the Art with a Heart team visited the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History and Culture (NMAAHC) as part of our staff retreat. Initially, the thought was to take students to the African-American History Museum, but we couldn’t make it work. Randi Pupkin the Founder and Executive Director of Art with a Heart figured, “why don’t we go as a team and add the Holocaust museum as well.” She wanted us to all learn about and understand our history in different cultures. The experience was filled with a lot of learning, laughter, and honest conversations.

After a train ride to Washington D.C. from Baltimore, we dropped off our luggage at the hotel and headed to The Holocaust Museum. We started the visit hearing from a survivor, who was only 14 years old when she was taken from her home in Hungary to Auschwitz. After her talk, all of us carried her gut-wrenching and yet, inspirational story with us as we made our way through the museum. We left understanding how vital it is not to be a bystander and to speak up to injustices.

The next day we visited the African-American Museum still processing the previous day. As we made our way through the Museum, there was a constant theme of resilience, community, and a continued fight for freedom and justice. We left the experience realizing if allowed, history could repeat itself. Needless to say, we had another impactful day.

After the museum, we headed back to the hotel for a late lunch and a debrief. We reflected on the overall experience and how it might impact our work at Art with a Heart. Each of us had an opportunity to share our thoughts about the museums and the current racial climate in our country. The conversation was one of the most vulnerable times I think we had as a team.

For the Black staff members, we talked honestly about our experiences. We acknowledged that we couldn’t take off our skin color and the fears and hopes we have for our kids. One of the Black women talked about how she is always aware of both her race and gender every time she walks into a room, especially if there are few people of color present.

For some of the White staff, it was a reminder of their privilege and provided an opportunity to think about their own racial identity. They said they could empathize, but recognized they could never fully understand the Black experience. One colleague mentioned the Emmett Till exhibit at the NMAAHC was extremely moving because it made the experience of African-Americans personal in a way she hadn’t thought about it before.

Collectively, we all saw the parallels between the African-American and Jewish story. Both groups created their own communities of strength, stayed community-minded, and supported one another through their experiences. The warmth of the Hall of Remembrance after the cold journey through the Holocaust Museum, and the soothing waterfall in the NMAAHC Contemplation Court, were reminders of the importance of reflecting on the past while working towards a better future for all.

I think each of us felt grateful for the opportunity to listen and share with one another. Personally, I appreciated the experience because in a way it was an acknowledgment and in some respects an affirmation of my identity as a Black man. In previous positions, there was little to no recognition of my story or cultural history and how it might impact my work and contributions to the organization. In my opinion, this is where many companies need improvement. Organizations underestimate the importance of recognizing and valuing various aspects of their staff’s identity.

If more organizations would take the time to explore, understand different cultural experiences and have meaningful dialogue with staff members they would, in turn, build understanding, collaborative and productive teams. Randi noted, “It’s about equality and checking into that place of silence, and breaking it!” and I couldn’t agree more. With all that is happening in our country and world, individuals and companies who want to live in an equitable society need to have the courage to break that silence.

I’m thankful for the Art with a Heart team being open to the idea of going to the museums for our staff retreat. I know this staff retreat will undoubtedly enhance the work we do in the Baltimore community.

Cory J. Anderson writes about practical ways to think about and implement equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace. He has always lived in a multicultural environment which he credits as his inspiration to bring diverse groups of people together. Cory is passionate about using facilitated conversations as a tool to increase understanding and personal development. He has held various leadership positions with several nonprofit organizations and universities facilitating multicultural education. He is the founder of Diverse Dialogues, an organization focused on breaking down barriers one conversation at a time.  Follow him on Twitter @mrca12.