When Membership Transforms Leaders: 2026 Leadership Retreat in Detroit

There’s No Place Like Home

Membership remains the heartbeat of NAASC, and the 2026 Leadership Retreat in Detroit reminded us why: There’s No Place Like Home and NAASC is home. This intergenerational retreat brought together sisters across decades of Spelman womanhood, blending wisdom, fresh perspective, and shared purpose in a way that felt both grounding and energizing.

Building Chapters That Thrive

Throughout the weekend, we explored themes essential to thriving chapters.

These conversations centered leaders in what it truly means to show up for the organization we call home — with our enduring motto, Lift As We Climb, woven through every session as a reminder that leadership in NAASC is always about elevating one another.

These conversations centered us in what it means to lead with intention and to show up for the organization we call home. And woven through every moment was our enduring motto: “Lift as We Climb”, reminding us that leadership in NAASC is always about elevating one another.

Even though Canadian wildfire smoke kept us indoors, the fun never stopped. Thursday’s welcome gathering set the tone: lively Bingo and intentional icebreakers helped us connect in meaningful and unexpected ways. By Friday night, we had taken over the hotel bar, turned the lobby into a dance floor, and discovered just how competitive our sisters can be during card games and Urban Trivia. The laughter, the friendly rivalry, and the pure joy of being together reminded us that home is not just a place. It’s a feeling we create.

Intentional seating, role-based breakouts, random-draw groups, and chapter-size pairings ensured sisters met new people and built relationships across regions. By Sunday, leaders were aligned and ready to carry new commitments into FY26–27.

What's Next

As we move forward, sisters are encouraged to watch our social media channels for an upcoming membership meeting announcement. Membership matters because we matter, and because There’s No Place Like Home. NAASC is home.