Contributed by Robby Williams, the Northwest Youth Association
Attending the Infinite Path to Peace (IPTP) Leadership Retreat #3 was an invaluable experience for me, with the first activity standing out as the highlight. We all gathered at Mary’s Place Warehouse in Seattle’s Industrial District. Mary’s Place is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing shelter and care for women and families. There, we carefully sorted toys and clothes for donation.
I recognized many of the toys as ones from my childhood, which made me think about how much support I received and continue to receive from my parents. It can be easy for us to take things for granted when going about our daily lives. However, when we are able to have gratitude in our hearts, it can not only make us feel powerful but also can extend outward and support our communities. This sense of warmth and appreciation is what I experienced after completing this activity.
This was also my first-time volunteering at a non-profit organization, and it motivated me to continue volunteering in similar ways in my local community in Vancouver, Canada. Having attended all three iterations of the IPTP Leadership Retreats, I saw how this retreat focused on taking meaningful actions we can take to give back to the community. Seeing these principles implemented first-hand helped me better understand the importance of community engagement.
Moving forward, I plan to share my experience, as well as my knowledge of the service-learning cycle, with others in hopes that they will be able to make similar actions. I hope to continue building on what I learned through future service opportunities and leadership roles, using these experiences to create lasting, positive change.
Enjoy more photos from the IPTP Leadership Retreat #3 in Seattle here.