Sustainable Leadership in Demanding Conditions: A Look Back at NBA’s Joint Peer Learning & Wellness Group Gathering

How can a cactus plant offer insights on sustainable leadership and wellness? This was the central question surrounding NBA’s combined joint Peer Learning & Wellness Group gathering that took place this past April at the Franciscan Retreat Center in Arizona.

“I find myself once again celebrating the deep commitment and welcoming spirit of the Peer Group Convener teams and NBA staff who made this gathering possible,” reflected Rev. Héctor Josué Hernández Marcial, NBA’s Director of Community Engagement. “Together, we created a sacred and meaningful space for the four peer groups in this cycle, groups that have been walking together since the fall of 2024. In that space, rest was gently invited, connection deepened, both with one another and within ourselves, and honest, meaningful conversations were given room to take root.”

The event’s theme was “Rhythm of the Cactus: Seasons of the Desert/Wilderness.” Framed by a metaphorical image of the cactus as a model for sustainable life in demanding conditions, the gathering encouraged participants to rethink the pressure to remain constantly productive, and instead honor a similar process of conserving, blooming, storing, and resting in their lives.

This gathering balanced thoughtful teaching with embodied wellness practices and meaningful peer connection. Participants engaged in daily centering exercises, quiet reflection, and guided questions designed to help them notice what was emerging in their lives without force or shame.

“Participating in the Peer Groups in-person gathering was a deeply grounding and expansive experience,” remarks Rev. Angel Luis Rivera-Agosto, co-convener of the Prison & Jail Ministries Peer Group. “What made the event transformative was its ability to honor both affirming the process of a living community where we could dream boldly while also tending honestly to the resilience and boundaries that sustain us in our respective work, ministry, and life.”

Working Through the “Seasons” of Wellness

Across the event, each major session explored a different “season” of leadership and wellness. “The Rhythm of the Cactus gave language and space to reflect on the seasons that shape our leadership,” said Lauren Jones, co-convener of the Executive Leaders Peer Group. “Walking through each season together grounded us in purpose. As we imagined the future of peer groups in our sessions, I leave feeling energized and hopeful for the cycles ahead.”

In the spring-themed session, “When Growth is Possible,” participants reflected on the idea that slowing down is not failure, but an intelligent adaptation that makes growth possible. Featured speaker Sarah Serrano, a certified mental health professional running her own private practice Bienstar Counseling & Education, led a wellness deep dive conversation where participants created “energy maps” to identify what drains their energy and what stabilizes it.

“Survival is Still Faithful,” the summer session, emphasized that survival itself can be faithful, helping participants name where genuine energy is emerging and how support systems make growth sustainable. Trace Konerko, founder of HeartMind T’ai Chi, led cohort members through sessions of QiGong and T’ai Chi. Through these Chinese energy arts that cultivate the flow of “vital qi” in the body, participants gained practical somatic tools for support and restoration.

For the fall session, “Storing What Sustains Us”, the focus shifted to wisdom, gratitude, and identifying what is worth carrying forward. NBA President & CEO Mark Anderson and Vice President of Organizational & Leadership Development Rev. Monica Wedlock Kilpatrick joined the group for a conversation that zoomed out to examine not just each individual’s “cactus patch,” but the ecosystem as a whole. They also challenged participants to find where they belong in the ecosystem, as well as asking what the group could grow together in the future.

Finally, the winter session “Stillness Without Guilt” featured a closing service and communion affirming that stillness, grief, waiting, and rest are not signs of weakness, but essential parts of a healthy and faithful life.

Cactus Patch Show-And-Tell Sessions

The gathering also included four “Cactus Patch Show-and-Tell” presentations. Each peer group had the opportunity to share about the story of their journey together so far, insights about what they have learned, and why their group mattered. The information shared made it clear that the peer groups had been incredibly impactful to those who participated.

“This joint PLWG gathering felt full circle,” said Cindy Kim-Hengst, co-convener of the Asian/Pacific Islander (A/PI) Young Adults Peer Group. “The event was an opportunity for the four Peer Groups to gather in a safe and welcoming space to further engage with both NBA and one another, and to learn more about what the other cohorts were experiencing in their own PLWG journey. The show-and-tell time showcased each group’s dynamics and the nuanced journeys of each cohort – different and yet at the same time showing threads of similarity.”

Sustainable Leadership: Not Endless Striving, but Attentiveness to Season, Community, and Rest

From the opening welcome through the closing service, the gathering created space for participants to reconnect with themselves, their vocation, and one another in a supportive community. Meals, breaks, and cohort time reinforced the event’s emphasis on relationship, honesty, and mutual care. By the end of the gathering, participants had been invited not only to learn about wellness, but to practice it together.

“Drawing on the wisdom of peer group members and participating in the creation of opportunities for each group to share their stories and name what they are learning, this experience is continuing to shape my understanding of leadership as something rooted in listening, shared responsibility, and a sustainable pace- one that trusts the Spirit’s movement within the community rather than carrying it alone,” says Rev. Hernández Marcial.

The gathering also affirmed that leadership rooted in care does not require endless striving; it requires attentiveness to season, community, and the wisdom of rest. Through worship, conversation, embodied practice, and joyful time together, the event offered a compelling reminder that sustainable leadership grows when people are given room to breathe, reflect, and be renewed.

Added Rev. Hernández Marcial, “This is a rhythm worth carrying forward as we continue shaping future gatherings and welcoming new peer groups into this shared journey, trusting it will nurture communities grounded in rest, connection, and care.”