Winter Wellness Retreat Recap - The Weekend That Rewired How We Lead

January 15-17, 2026 | Edith Macy Conference Center | Briarcliff, NY.

This year’s Winter Wellness Retreat—grounded in our commitment to develop leaders who can manage self, others, and the work—brought fellows together for an immersive, three-day journey of intentional leadership, deep connection, and real-world growth. Through powerful frameworks, honest dialogue, hands-on intensives, and unforgettable fellowship moments, fellows sharpened purpose, strengthened brotherhood, and built momentum for the year ahead.

Nearly 40 brothers came together to grow personally and professionally. The impact was immediate and undeniable. 98% of fellows rated the retreat as “Very Valuable” or “Valuable,” with 80% naming it “Very Valuable.” When asked how likely they were to recommend the retreat to a prospective fellow (on a scale of 1–10), 30 of 40 fellows gave a perfect 10, and 7 gave a 9. Beyond the numbers, fellows consistently named the retreat as transformative—professionally, personally, and emotionally.

🌹“Worth every second and penny. You will not leave the same person you came in as.”

🌹“Beyond amazing. One of the best experiences I have had—almost like therapy, in the best way.”

🌹“Because of NFBLME, I am a better man.” 

🌹“Deeply grateful and humbled by the chance I have to belong to a group that embraces radical change, love, and passion for the future of children.”

Day 1 - Maximizing Rest & Results

 The retreat opened strong with The Together Leader by Maia Heyck-Merlin, centering on intentional planning, time management, and organizational systems. Participants explored how the absence of clear systems fuels overwhelm, bottlenecks, and burnout, while strong routines drive both personal and professional effectiveness. The session introduced practical tools—including a comprehensive calendar, later lists, weekly planning worksheets, and reflective checklists—and challenged leaders to align systems with their habits, energy, and work styles to keep everything “Together.” The night closed with great food, nonstop laughs, and an electric fellowship game night, highlighted by a high-energy spades tournament that deepened connections and gave fellows the perfect chance to recharge and maximize both rest and results.

Day 2 - Deeper Connections. Shared Experiences.

Momentum surged with Rose and Concrete and Diversity Rounds, pushing fellows beyond surface-level identity and into deeper, shared lived experiences as Black and Brown men. The energy flowed into high-impact breakouts, including Tom Kaiser’s immersive C-Level Cohort Authentic Leader Intensive, where live actors challenged fellows to lead with courage. Senior Leaders dove into The CEO of You with Dumar Paden and Monetizing Your Expertise with Keith Brooks, while Rising Leaders sharpened their edge in Building Trust and Accountability 101 with Freddie Gonzalez and Raymie Fernandez. The day closed with continued C-Level leadership work and Leading Effective Professional Development 101 for Rising Leaders. The day closed with great food, fellowship, and an adrenaline-filled go-kart finale that perfectly capped a day of growth, connection, and power.

Final Day - The Summit

Our final day ignited with a Mountaintop session from Dumar Paden, calling fellows to dream bigger, lead bolder, and step fully into what’s possible. Keith Brooks followed with a dynamic State of the Fellowship, aligning vision and igniting momentum for the year ahead. The C-Level Cohort went deep in Managing Yourself: Authentic Leader with Tom Kaiser, while Senior Leaders engaged in alumni-led sessions—Income & Impact: Turning Your Expertise Into a Profitable Coaching Practice with Dr. Danny Herrera, Are You Solving the Right Problem? with Martin Palamore, Leading With Purpose Across Gender Lines with Dumar Paden, and A Self-Publishing Journey with Tim Garcia. Rising Leaders strengthened their foundation in Effective Feedback 101 with Raymie Fernandez and Freddy Gonzalez, closing the retreat energized, equipped, and ready to lead forward.