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June 4 – 11, 2009

Unleashing all that we have, and all that we are, on behalf of all that we love

“I want to thank you for one of the most profound experiences of my life. I left the Jam with knowledge about the origins of my workaholism and commitment to change it; conviction that collaboration and work must grow organically out of trust; more awareness of and acceptance of my privilege; and trust in humanity and the ability for human connection to heal even the worst hurts… I know that the Jam community is where I can continue to confront myself, have true dialogue with others, love across historical divisions, and ultimately help each other change the world. In this process, my soul evolves.”

— Jidan Koon, 32, Organizational
Development Consultant, Oakland, CA

“The more time that gathers between me and the Jam the more I realize the breadth of what I learned. These days I borderline incessantly mention ‘when I was in West Virginia…’ The uniqueness of the Jam is that I did not learn from experts, panels or keynotes but rather through myself, as part of a community. It is a rare experience in our frenetic world and one that will continue to shape me. Thank you for providing me with such an amazing experience that has translated into real results in my personal and professional life.”

— Dev Aujla, 23, Founder & Director,
DreamNow.org, Partner, aujCollections, Toronto, Canada

The Leveraging Privilege Jam is a week-long event that connects, supports and collaborates with 30 diverse and committed young people with wealth, fame and/or social impact whose lives are dedicated to building a thriving, just and sustainable world for all. The Leveraging Privilege Jam provides a safe and transformative context within which to honestly explore issues of significance to privileged young people committed to social change. View the brochure here.

Who is This Event For?

We're looking for participants who sincerely desire to make a difference with their lives, who feel that they have some significant (to them) privilege (whether through earning, luck, inheritance, skills to share, public attention, or professional position), and who are willing to share honestly about some of the crucial issues in their lives and our world. We set no specific monetary or social impact yardstick for what privileged means. We recognize that people with certain privileges often feel anything but privileged, that money and public attention carry unique challenges as well as opportunities, and that real wealth is about far more than monetary access. This Jam is a place for learning, growing, and deepening our capacity to use the resources in our lives to make a difference in the world.

Leveraging Privilege Jam participants come from a range of backgrounds. Past participants have included young inheritors, philanthropy professionals, donors, organizers, musical artists, athletes, actors and entrepreneurs. Jam participants share a common intention to explore vital issues and to grow and learn together. We come together for a week to build bonds of community, understanding and trust between people and movements, to see the powerful connections between the diverse issues in the world today, and to gain support and skills for the work to which our lives are committed.

Leveraging Privilege Jam Objectives

• Create a safe environment in which to explore our relationships to privilege, the burdens, concerns, fears, and dreams we carry, and how we can step into new levels of intentionality and possibility?
  
  
• Gain a sense of the power and mutual value of synergy and collaboration, and a deepened understanding of how to build, connect to and participate in community with others
  
  
• Deepen our understanding of who we are, where we are held back, and how we can live in greater integrity with our highest commitments in life
  
  
• Create space to take down the walls and the masks that don't serve us and be open to real growth, engagement and learning, and for vulnerability to be held in a context of profound love and wisdom
  
  
• Build relationships, partnerships and friendships that are supportive and empowering to our lives and work
  
  
• Share and listen to life experiences and stories
  
  
• Be present, step into the unknown, take risks and grow in unexpected ways
  
  
• Co-create a space where commonalities and differences are celebrated, and where we can learn from and grow through interaction with the diverse people at the Jam
  
  
• Expand our sense of what wealth is and can be - sharing different spiritual, cultural, family or religious traditions that can broaden our perspectives
  
  
• Deepen our understanding of what philanthropy is and can be
  
  
• Help participants find concrete ideas for action following the Jam, including possible organizations or movements to join/support
  
  

What Do We Do at the Jam?

The program incorporates facilitated dialogue, sharing circles, inspiring guest speakers, organized networking, ceremony, live music, artistic expression, games, yoga, participant-led workshops, and free time for participants to enjoy each other and the beautiful environment surrounding them.

How to Participate

This event is by application only. You can apply online, or download a Word document version of the application to complete and send back via email.

If you have any questions, please contact Shilpa Jain at shilpaminajain@yahoo.com, or at (630) 962-4579