POL II - Deep Currents, Brave Shores, Resilience Rising

With Debra R. Baker and Phyllis Shulman

February 27 - March 1, 2026

Date and Time Details:

With Debra Baker and Phyllis Shulman

Program begins with appetizers late Friday afternoon, February 27 and ends mid-afternoon on Sunday, March 1, 2026.

Location: The Whidbey Institute

Address: 6449 Old Pietila Road, Clinton WA 98236

Contact: registration@whidbeyinstitute.org

  • Cabin - Single – $552.00
  • Cabin - Shared – $444.00
  • Cabin - Shared w/ Queen Bed – $552.00
  • Farmhouse Single – $510.00
  • Farmhouse Shared – $403.00
  • Farmhouse Shared w/ Queen – $510.00
  • Commuter - Day Use – $242.00
    • (All prices include $242.00 base amount for meals and facility fees)
Register Today!
Register Today!

POL II 2026

Powers of Leadership Alumni Gathering

Deep Currents, Brave Shores,
Resilience Rising
What’s Love Got to Do with It?

Facilitated by Debra R. Baker and Phyllis Shulman

February 27 – March 1, 2026: Friday through Sunday

Register soon to ease our planning and yours!

POL II 2026 invites us to explore leading from within and together in uncharted times. Step into a journey of diverse expressions of leadership.

“Relationships are all there is. Everything in the universe only exists
because it is in relationship to everything else.” — Margaret Wheatley

POL II 2026 calls us into a season of reflection, sharing, and renewal. In this time of profound change, we gather to draw strength from the enduring value of our community and to practice deep listening. We will explore the relationships we hold with ourselves, with one another, and with the wider world.

Together, we will discover the strength that emerges when we:

  • Practice renewal — cultivating fresh energy and spirit for the journey ahead.

  • Balance heart and strategy — integrating compassion with purposeful action in leadership.

  • Explore courage — discovering personal expressions of bravery that shape our callings.

  • Deepen connection — engaging with the “other” and embracing care and presence as pathways to authentic connection across differences.

This retreat invites us to lean into resilience, compassion, and courage — qualities that sustain leadership and open new possibilities for how we live and serve in community.

This program is open to all Powers of Leadership (POL I) graduates. If you haven’t been to POL II before and are considering attending, we welcome you.

We look forward to being with you at POL II 2026!

We are dedicated to making POL II accessible, diverse and welcoming to all who are drawn to attend.  We will accommodate, whenever possible, requests for scholarship assistance so you can attend.

To donate in any amount to support POL II scholarships (even if you aren’t attending) please complete the Donate – Program Support portion of the registration page. To request scholarship assistance please contact Cathy Buller at cathy@whidbeyinstitute.org

About the Faculty

Debra R. Baker

Live, Love, Lead, Liberate! Debra offers a successful history of serving and leading at various organizational levels. As a sage with a deep interest in human development and organizational health, Debra has become known for creative human-centered program development along with her zesty inclusive social learning and facilitation skills. Her areas of focus include equity, […]

Learn more about Debra R. Baker

Phyllis Shulman

Phyllis Shulman is a skilled facilitator, organizational developer, and policy advisor with over 35 years of experience. She is a regional and national thought leader on issues concerning sustainability, food systems, climate change, economic development, and emergency preparedness. She has led and implemented transformative programs in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. As an organizational […]

Learn more about Phyllis Shulman

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