The charming town of Mercatello sul Metauro, with a population of 1500, is located in the Marche region in east-central Italy. Learning Together in a Special Place: Perspectives on Leadership is organized through International Study Tours, LLC, which was founded by Angela Ferrario, who works in collaboration with retreat facilitators.
Each retreat within the series offers small group professional development complemented by sightseeing excursions and encounters with local artisans and townspeople, taking you inside village life.
Session 2
May 31-June 5, 2025
Leadership for Change: Identity, Social Justice and the Right to be Visible
How can we build a fair and just world with our children?
Our time this week will focus on creating a vision for social justice in your professional and personal life. We will draw inspiration from our recent work including our book (with Louise Derman-Sparks), Leading Anti-bias Early Childhood Programs: A Guide to Change, for Change (2023), and our two films (with Filiz Efe McKinney), Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years (2021) and Families Embracing Anti-bias Values (2024). We envision a highly interactive and reflective time together with a focus on exploring identity, thinking strategically as leaders, affirming rights, and embracing the possibility of growth through conflict.
Together we will explore:
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How do our social identities influence our roles as leaders, educators and parents?
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How do we create an inclusive community where all voices are visible, valued and heard?
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How do we integrate an anti-bias perspective into the daily life of an organization?
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How do we find the “third space” in resolving cultural conflicts?
Expect daily provocations from us, with relaxed time to engage for journaling, discussion and activities, often inspired by the Italian cultural surroundings. As a cross-cultural team (John an Australian and Debbie, Chinese-American), we look forward to sharing our adventures in professional collaboration as writers, educators, and thinkers.
John Nimmo
Debbie LeeKeenan
Co-Directors
Professor Emeritus, Early Childhood Inclusive Education, Portland State University, Oregon.
Early Childhood Lecturer, Author, Filmmaker,
Seattle, WA
May 24-29, 2025
Reignite Your Leadership Journey!
Session 1
Susan MacDonald
Early Childhood Author, Speaker, and Coach
Inspiring New Perspectives, Waltham, MA
Are you ready to step into the next chapter of your leadership journey with fresh energy, renewed purpose, and a deep sense of joy - while experiencing life in a small Italian village and its beautiful surroundings?
Through dynamic presentations, proven frameworks, and interactive activities, this retreat will reignite your focus, confidence, and passion as an educational leader.
Together, we will explore ways in which raising your own personal energy levels can positively impact your professional life and the teachers, children, and families with whom you interact.
Opportunities to engage in vibrant discussions, small and whole group work along with time for self-reflection, will support the development of a plan for the next phase of your work.
During our time together, you will be guided through a process of creating a leadership portfolio that includes:
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A clear vision statement and actionable roadmap for achieving your professional aspirations
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Streamlined time-management practices to stay focused on what truly matters
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A range of resources to guide your professional growth
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Practical ideas to implement what you are learning into your own context during professional development sessions, team and staff meetings, and parent events
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A yearlong personal professional development plan.
Inspired by Susan’s books and up-to-date leadership research, this retreat is designed to empower you to create lasting, meaningful change in your leadership work and in the early childhood programs you support.
Learning becomes a travel journey where:
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Sharing ideas, challenges and experience is encouraged.
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Educational exchange is balanced with time to pursue moments of solo discovery.
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A comfortable retreat setting and outdoor environment bring energy to the dialogue.
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Engaging with other participants and the local community engenders new friendships and relationships.
Educational travel designed for:
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Emerging to seasoned leaders, who work or have worked in the field of education.
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Those seeking an authentic and transformative program.
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Travellers who appreciate the slower rhythm of small Italian towns.
Accommodations
This year we invite you to experience the innovative concept of "albergo diffuso", or scattered hotel accommodations. Redefining the traditional lodging experience, this model provides the opportunity to explore Italy’s charming smaller destinations, known as borghi or villages, offering a truly immersive cultural experience.
Our thoughtfully selected properties are conveniently located around the town's vibrant main piazza, enabling participants to fully engage with the local culture and charm of Mercatello.
The unique setup of the “albergo diffuso” approach not only enhances the experience by fostering a sense of community but also allows for greater flexibility in accommodations whether you are on your own or with colleagues.
Each property is strategically located to ensure that you can easily access the historic center of Mercatello while enjoying the privacy and uniqueness of your own space.
Please Note: While we have a variety of accommodations surrounding Mercatello’s main piazza, sleeping arrangements are limited to a maximum of 15. Group transportation, group meals and local excursions are also limited to this number. Therefore, if you plan to travel with family or friends, we kindly encourage you to meet up prior to or upon completion of the retreat.
What’s Included
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Session One accommodations for 5 nights from check-in on Saturday, May 24, 2025 to check-out on Thursday, May 29, 2025
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Session Two accommodations for 5 nights from check-in on Saturday, May 31, 2025 to check-out on Thursday, June 5, 2025
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All meals beginning with lunch enroute from Florence to Mercatello on Saturday, May 24 for Session One and Saturday, May 31 for Session Two
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Round trip ground transportation to Mercatello from Florence and return
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All local excursions
EARLY BIRD RATE: $2,800 USD per person
After January 31, 2025: $2,950 USD per person
Register soon to secure your space. We intentionally limit the group size to 15 per session.
Registration closes on April 1, 2025 or when group is filled.
Daily meetings will be held in one of the large common areas at Palazzo Ducale
Our setting
Daily Itinerary
Access to local sites, artisans and regional cuisine is possible through a partnership with Nicoletta Amicizia, resident and tour guide along with Italy travel expert Luisa Donati, https://www.luisadonati.com/home. Together with Angela Ferrario, series organizer, they will introduce you to everyday life in Mercatello and the surrounding area.
Itinerary may be subject to slight changes.
Saturday
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Transportation by bus from Florence to Mercatello on Saturday, May 24 for Session One and Saturday, May 31 for Session Two
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Walking tour of the town
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Welcome dinner
Sunday
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8:00-9:30: Breakfast
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Guided hike and late afternoon lunch at local agriturismo. Those who do not wish to hike will be driven
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Evening: Opening session
Mon, Tue, Wed
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8:00-9:30: Breakfast
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Daily group lunch and dinner
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Blocks of time for professional development sessions, excursions and meetings with local artisans
Thursday
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Morning Departure after Breakfast
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Transportation by bus from Mercatello to Florence is provided on Thursday, May 29 for Session One and Thursday, June 5 for Session Two
All U.S. Citizens require a passport that is valid a minimum of 6 months after their return date to the U.S. (For example, if you are departing from Italy on May 1, 2025 your passport must be valid through November 1, 2025.) If you are applying for or renewing a passport, plan accordingly and apply well in advance. Non-U.S. citizens should check entry and visa requirements.
Required Documents
Ground Transportation between Florence and Mercatello is included in the Program Fee:
Transportation by bus from Florence to Mercatello is provided on Saturday, May 24 for Session One and Saturday, May 31 for Session Two.
Departure time is: 12 noon
Pick up point is: Sanctuary B&B Firenze, Convent Guest House, Borgo Pinti, 15, Florence. For those wishing to arrive in Florence earlier, Sanctuary B&B Firenze https://www.sanctuaryfirenze.com/ offers affordable accommodations in a central location.
It is approx. a 2.5 hour drive. We will stop for lunch enroute.
Transportation by bus from Mercatello to Florence Airport is provided on Thursday, May 29 for Session One and Thursday, June 5 for Session Two.
Please plan your flight/train departure times carefully, allowing enough time before your flight or train + 2.5 hour drive.
Other Ground Transfers:
Any other ground transportation between Mercatello and airports or train stations is not included in the Program Fee. Arrangements can be made independently and we will provide price quotes according to individual requests.
Please Note: Mercatello does not have a train station. The train stations closest to Mercatello are Arezzo and Pesaro.
Getting to Mercatello
Participants are responsible for booking their own flights. Assistance will be provided.
From the U.S., Italy’s main international airports are Rome (3.5 hours from Mercatello) and Milan Malpensa (5 hours from Mercatello).
From inside Europe, airports with suitable connections to Mercatello are: Florence (2.5 hours) and Bologna (2.5 hours)
All have car rental services.
Flight Arrangements
I wouldn’t be the educator/administrator/human I am today without the serendipitous life lessons you facilitated during our time together in Mercatello. I am forever grateful and am confident our paths will cross again soon.”
It was the most applicable, life-altering, engaging and beneficial professional development I've ever attended and would highly recommend it to anyone in the field of Early Childhood Leadership!
We have reached full capacity for the 2024 Mercatello Leadership Retreats and appreciate the excitement about travelling to Mercatello sul Metauro for the Leadership Retreats.
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