ANN ARBOR – As the La Comunidad Spring Retreat ended on April 23 in Ann Arbor with a group photo shoot, arms flew open as the men embraced each other and said goodbye.
"I had never experienced the kind of bonding that I observed that weekend with the couple dozen men," said Craig Covey, CEO of Midwest AIDS Prevention Project. "We had exceeded my organization's expectations and it boded well for future organizing in that emerging community."
La Comunidad, a local group created by MAPP to provide social activities, support and advocacy for Michigan's gay Latino community, held its first Latino men's retreat during the weekend of April 21 at Weber's Inn in Ann Arbor.
"As an organizer, I need that kind of event for myself to be reinvigorated," Covey said. "It was just very gratifying. I felt really good about the work that had been done and about the future."
Among the activities: a VIP kick-off party at Necto on Friday night, weekend workshops with themes related to gay Latino men and dinner on Saturday night.
MAPP board member Michael Flores highlighted the getaway as a "safe environment" to discuss issues pertaining to gay Latino men.
During the group's conversations, they discussed "The Circle of Friends," a brotherhood of people coming together to share in the spirit of unity. Racism, coming out, misconceptions of gay people, community building and STIs were also discussed, according to participant Jessie Solis. Saturday night closed with a workshop where the men told stories round robin style about how AIDS has impacted their lives.
On Sunday, small groups formed to discuss contraceptives and issues of sex and Latino history. "Some people seemed reluctant to open up this time around," Solis said.
But even though the men were strangers on Friday, they bonded, and by Sunday shared farewell tears.
"I got all 20 guys to pledge to stay in contact, to take care of each other, and they pledged to try and protect their health, each other and recruit more men for future programs," Covey said.
La Comunidad hosts first Latino retreat
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