Muslim Storytellers Retreat: Fall*

This 4-day/3-night immersive experience offers a supportive space for Muslim writers and illustrators (published or unpublished) to craft and share their stories, with limited after dinner programming to connect with fellow retreaters and find ways to amplify Muslim voices and stories at our retreat and beyond. 

This program is funded by a grant from the Doris Duke Foundation through its Building Bridges Program. The Building Bridges Program supports national efforts, working with U.S. Muslims, to increase mutual understanding and well-being among diverse populations for the benefit of building stronger, inclusive communities.

The program aims to further that bridge-building mission by creating space for more diverse, authentic Muslim narratives for children and young adults, and by addressing common misperceptions of those narratives in the children’s publishing industry.

Tuition and Travel Stipend

At registration enter the discount code: MSF-RETREAT24 to accept this invitation.

This retreat provides full tuition, lodging, meals, and a $400 travel stipend. Shuttle fees will be covered from Newark Airport or Scranton/Avoca Airport.

Once you accept this invitation, we ask that you fill out the registration field. Upon completing the registration form, you will receive details about submitting mileage or travel stipend invoice to the Highlights Foundation for reimbursement.

With any questions or concerns, please reach out to support@highlightsfoundation.zendesk.com.

Muslim Storyteller Retreat Structure

This is a lightly scheduled program with optional/informal group activities (like discussions, writing sprints, drawing activities, and goal setting) and evening fireside chats (weather permitting).  There will be an abundance of time to work on your stories.

Tentative Schedule

PRE-WORKSHOP

• You will receive a link to our virtual classroom where you can introduce yourself to fellow creatives and engage in Highlights Foundation related resources (including our Community Standards).  There will not be coordinated critique groups or feedback at the retreat, if you are interested in exchanging work with others, please start a discussion in the classroom and find other writers who would like to meet.
• We encourage you to bring projects with you to the retreat at various stages in-progress, as you will have time to draft, revise, research, and polish your work during independent time.
• Prayer times will be added as we get closer to the event.

DAY ONE: Thursday, September 5, 2024

• 3pm – 5pm Eastern: Arrival and check in
• 5:30pm Eastern: Appetizers & Dinner
• Following dinner: Introductions and Welcome

DAY TWO: Friday, September 6, 2024

Morning:

• Breakfast
• Working Retreat time: read, write, connect
• Optional writing sprint in the loft

Afternoon

• Lunch
• Working Retreat time: read, write, connect

Evening

• Appetizers & Dinner
• Fireside discussion led by our hosts (weather permitting)

DAY THREE: Saturday, September 7, 2024

Morning:

• Breakfast
• Working Retreat time: read, write, connect
• Optional writing sprint in the loft

Afternoon

• Lunch
• Working Retreat time: read, write, connect
• Optional art activity on the patio

Evening

• Appetizers & Dinner
• Fireside sharing (up to 500 words from a work in progress) (weather permitting)

DAY FOUR: Sunday, September 8, 2024

Morning:

• Breakfast
• Working Retreat time: read, write, connect
• Q & A in the Barn with Fellows and fellow storytellers!

Afternoon

• Lunch & Farewells

About the Highlights Foundation Retreat Center

Halal meals for this program will be served by our kitchen team with input from our program manager, Zaynah Qutubuddin. The kitchen requests your dietary needs, including allergies and sensitivities, upon registration.

All in-person Highlights Foundation workshops and retreats (including this one) are held at our Retreat Center: The Barn at Boyds Mills.  This site was the home of the original founders of Highlights for Children Garry and Caroline Myers, and is located in the Poconos Mountains of Pennsylvania on the traditional lands of the Lenape Nation.

The Highlights Foundation strives for a safe and inclusive environment. You will have access to our Community Standards prior to the retreat where we ask for your respectful engagement with fellow creatives, including our faculty and staff.