Gatorship

🤎 Retreat 1 🤎

Though not everyone is pictured here, we’d like to thank our beautiful staff for all the love and labor they’ve put into retreats this year. We appreciate you and your dedication to Gatorship and it’s participants. This program continues to be as impactful as it is because of you all. To our ADs, our directors and our support staff, thank you for all that you do. 🤍

Remember that apps have been extended until this Friday so be sure to apply! Today’s feature is one of our amazing AD’s Jeremy!!
Love is universal. It is ethereal. Love is what allows us to witness the exchange of humanness within and around us. And when we allow ourselves to see each other in that light, will we understand and propel the need for justice and equity. That fuels me. Awakening the conscious to the systems of oppression that exists, so that we can reach liberation collectively. So that we can reach a standing of love, justice, and equity.

Gatorship is an experience like no other, the rawness, the vulnerability, the education, the collectivism, the space in which you can simply exist as yourself. That is what gatorship creates a medium for. Deconstructing my own assumptions and sharing my embodied experiences has allowed me to become aware of myself, the privileges I hold, the intersections of my identity, and how they’ve all created everything I am. And with this awareness, I give back to the world.
[Alt text: A beige background with a circle in the middle. In the circle, there are blue, green, and purple multicolors and a picture of me. There is a flame on the left hand side of the circle. I am wearing a brown shirt and brown plaid pullover. The text at the bottom reads “justice, love, and equity fuels me”. Above the image of me is the word “Gatorship”.]

Due to the large amount of interest in this years retreat season, Gatorship application will be extended until this Friday November 5 at 11:59 PM. The link to the application can be found in our bio! Image description: Black background with a light blue box in the center. In the blue box are the words “Gatorship Apps Extended Through Friday!” In the the upper left hand corner of the blue box is a flame.

🚨 Gatorship Retreat Applications close tonight at 11:59 pm! Get those apps in!

1 Day left until Gatorship Apps close! If you’re interested in social justice, apply for our spring retreats. You have until tomorrow, Sunday October 30th at 11:59 pm! DM us if you have any questions.

Our very last feature is none other than our incredible Assistant Director, Day! 💙

“What ignites me is q***r liberation. Q***r liberation isn’t just a movement, but a fundamental part as to who I am. The way that I interact with people, the way I dress, and the way I love. Seeing my people care for each other unconditionally and constantly motivates me each and every day. Having safe spaces where individuals can uniquely be themselves is so vital to me and is something that Gatorship cultivates.

Gatorship has allowed for me to have deep and intentional conversations with other q***r individuals, validated me throughout the retreat, and has prompted me to think deeper about who I am. Through this retreat I was equipped with the understanding to understand both my marginalized and privileged identities. Check out the link in my bio to sign up for retreat, the application is open now and closes on October 31st.”

[alt text: beige background with an orange surrounding a burning circle. inside the circle is a picture of Dayanna smiling with her left hand above her head. They are wearing a black button up shirt. Behind Dayanna is a colorful gradient of blue, purple, and green and fire sparks throughout. The text at the bottom reads “q***r liberation ignites me.” The Gatorship logo, an alligator with the text “Gatorship” below it, is at the top of the graphic.]

Just a few more days till applications are due! Featured today is our beautiful Gatorship Director, Saja 🦋

“I’ve always found that navigating the world when carrying marginalized identities can be an incredibly lonely experience. Our experiences and struggles are unique in a way that feels impossible to articulate.

But they’re not.

Finding community helps me label the feelings I have, validates the experiences I hold, and makes me feel seen. In a world that values individualism above all else, I return to my roots with community. Building community in all aspects of my life has singlehandedly been one of the most healing experiences for me when navigating all my lived experiences. Thus, collective care is liberating to me. In a world which can feel so heavy with the endless injustices around me, I have found that that which liberates me fuels me. And so, collective care fuels me. I would’ve never come to that point of understanding without Gatorship.

Applications are now open! Apply to Gatorship and experience an environment where we center healing justice in our fight for social justice.”

Photo credits: Victor Ospina

[image description: A burning image sits on top of a white background. Within the burning shape with a pink, purple, green, and yellow background stands Saja. The caption reads “collective care fuels me.” Atop the image is the Gatorship logo.]

Next is our magnificent Assistant Director Amandine! ⚡️
Strength in our communities, families, socio-political institutions, convictions, ethics, values. Strength to remain rooted, while constantly challenging the status-quo and operating necessary change.
Ultimately, a constant pursuit to strengthen oneself, both physically and mentally is what keeps me rooted and fuels me.

Apply to Gatorship to experience a retreat centered on social justice and identity, honest, raw conversations, build connections and better understand your UF community and yourself. (Link in our bio.)

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Alt text: White background with a burning circle. The circle has an image of Amandine smiling, hands in her pockets, wearing grey pants, a white top, a dark blue shirt, and her natural hair out. Behind Amandine, within the circle, there is a blend of orange, green, red and yellow in the background. Text on the bottom of the graphic reads "strength fuels me

To start of this week is our lovely Assistant Director, Dani! ✨

The first time I heard about the Gatorship retreat was in the Spring semester of my sophomore year. I had no idea what it was besides the fact that it concerned social justice. Still, I wanted to be more involved at UF and explore new experiences. I decided to apply for it and it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve made here while at my time at UF! Retreats are so much more than just social justice, they’re a safe space where you can both learn and educate others at the time. It’s a place where you’re met with compassion and love and feel a sense of community. At Gatorship, marginalized voices are heard and given a platform to share their experiences. At retreat, I was able to learn so much about radical healing and social justice while at the same time meeting some of the coolest people. I’m so grateful for my experience at the Gatorship retreat which is why I’m currently one of the assistant directors for this amazing organization! I recommend everyone applies to the retreat to experience Gatorship for themselves 💗

[alt text: white paper like background with a circle burnt into the center. There are small flames around the edges of the circle. In the center, Dani is smiling and wearing a white cardigans with a brown top. Behind her, inside the circle, there are sparks above the background which is mainly blue with some splotches of green and purple. Below the circle it’s says “New experiences fuel me” in a black bold font.]

Next up, we have our shining Assistant Director, Caterina!

Empathy is the precursor for compassionate action. Although empathy can be described in many different ways, the focus on 'feeling with' and not 'feeling for' is essential to create a society where all identities are celebrated and valued, where individuals care about issues that do not directly affect them, where collectivism is valued over individualism. The ability to empathize is at the core of human connection and it creates a united front to fight against issues of injustice around the world. Empathy fuels me because it promotes collective care and well-being.

Gatorship provided me with a space to dream of an empathetic society while surrounded by individuals ready to take compassionate action. Gatorship applications open today and are due on October 31st. Apply to Gatorship and experience an empathetic community united towards collective well-being. Apply through the MCDA website or the link in my bio.

[Image description: White background representing a paper and a hole burnt in the middle creating a circle. The edges of the circle are burnt and on fire. Inside of this circle, Caterina is standing with her arms on her side, smiling. Caterina is wearing a teal off-the-shoulders top, black jeans, and long gold earrings. There is a glowing effect where she stands. In the background of this circle, there is a blend of three colors: pink, red, and green. Above the circle, there is a logo that reads 'Gatorship' and below the circle, the text reads "empathy fuels me"]

Graphic creds: Victor Ospina

Up next is our lovely Assistant Director, Manouchca!

It takes heart to stand for what you believe in and be effortlessly you.

Gatorship offers a space for you to wear your heart on your sleeve and be validated in your experiences. In a world that often does whatever it can to break us, there are places and communities breaking the tide. I am so grateful I applied to gatorship because they became that community of love, acceptance, and understanding for me.

Our community is always growing so be sure to apply to gatorship through the link in our bio and join the family!

Alt Text: White background with a burning circle. The circle has an image of Manouchca smiling at the camera. Behind Manouchca within the circle there is a blend of orange, green and pink in the background. Inside of the circle, Manouchca is wearing a short sleeve white shirt and smiling. The text at the bottom of the image reads “heart fuels me”. The Gatorship logo, an alligator with the text “Gatorship” below it, is at the top of the graphic.