MIDWEST MOTHER LOSS RETREAT
with HOPE EDELMAN
Held at The Graduate Hotel
in Iowa City, Iowa
Our first retreat in the Midwest!
August 1-4, 2024
NOTE: This retreat is for those who were children, teenagers, and young adults at time of loss…
though you can be any age now!
We have a brand-new format for our 2024 Midwestern retreats — one that we’ve thoughtfully curated with the input and experiences of more than 400 retreat alumnae.
They told us their favorite parts of our programming. They asked for more specific “age at time of loss” groupings. And they didn’t necessarily want to travel to one of the coasts.
We listened, and here we are. We’re thrilled to offer our first retreat in the Midwest for women who were between birth and 30 years old when they lost a mother to death.
In Iowa City this August, you’ll be part of a retreat featuring age-at-time-of-loss breakout groups facilitated by trained professionals, at a site within 3 - 5 hours drive time from Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City, and St. Louis.
You’ll have large group opening and closing sessions and eat all your meals together. On Friday and Saturday, you’ll break into a smaller group of up to 16 women, all who fall into your similar age-at-time-of-loss bracket.
Each small group will be led by an experienced grief and bereavement facilitator. Hope will rotate from group to group and provide support based on the needs of the group and the individual women at the retreat.
You’ll work with Hope and Victoria Mercado, Christine Meyer, and Elissa Berman, all grief and loss therapist and coaches, all of whom have extensive experience in the bereavement field.
The groups will divide as follows:
Ages 0-12 at time of loss
Ages 13-19 at time of loss
Ages 20-30 at time of loss
Our flagship three-night, four day gatherings of motherless daughters acknowledge the complexity of mother loss.
Spend the weekend sharing stories and doing customized activities with an inter-generational, international group of motherless daughters* who faced (and face) many of the same challenges you did — some of whom will have stories very similar to yours.
NOTE: All retreat participants must be 18 years or older now. At least 2 years must have passed since the death of your mother to qualify you for a retreat.
*Motherless Daughters welcomes all female-identified and daughter-identified participants.
Note: Registration is for all the retreat programming plus six catered, healthy group meals. This does NOT include your special group rate hotel room, which you can book directly with the Graduate Hotel. If you’d like to share a room, all registrants have access to a private group FB page to connect beforehand for rooming and shared rides to and from Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) in Cedar Rapids, a 25-minute drive from the hotel.
Meet Your Facilitators
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Victoria Mercado
CO-FACILITATOR
Victoria Mercado is a licensed trauma therapist and yoga instructor based in Dallas. She works with Hope Edelman as a Clinical Supervisor to help create trauma-informed support circles and trainings for both facilitators and the women they serve.
At age 15, Victoria and her mother were involved in a car accident that left her mother a quadriplegic. Then at age 23 she lost her mother to complications due to pneumonia. Finding solace and encouragement within the Motherless Daughter community through a nearby support group inspired Victoria to pursue a career as a licensed professional counselor.
Victoria is dedicated to aiding women and children who have faced the loss of their mothers, endeavoring to offer compassionate and supportive help. She lives in McKinney, TX with her husband, daughter and 2 dogs.
Head to Victoria's website for more information: bloomcounselingandwellnesstx.com
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Christine Meyer
CO-FACILITATOR
Christine Meyer is the Founder and President of She Climbs Mountains, a non-profit located in the Twin Cities, Minnesota that serves women and girls ages 8-18 (through Girls Rise Up) who have experienced mother loss through death at any age. Christine has extensive experience in program development, curriculum writing, and facilitating workshops and gatherings through She Climbs Mountains, Girls Rise Up, and Hope Edelman’s Motherless Daughters community.
Christine was 15 years old when her mother died from ovarian cancer at the age of 44. She believes that when grievers join together in community, the loneliness and isolation that often accompanies grief begins to soften, and a new path to connection and healing is revealed.
Christine lives in Roseville, Minnesota, with her 4 children and her sweetest dog, Jordan, a nod to her favorite basketball player and the City of Chicago where her mother was born and raised.
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Elissa Berman
CO-FACILITATOR
Elissa Berman is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Supervisor with close to 20 years of experience in the field of grief, bereavement, and trauma. With master’s degrees in counseling and education, she has extensive clinical and educational experience. Elissa maintains a private practice at Ellen Casper and Associates, where she works with individuals and couples from a variety of backgrounds, facing a myriad of challenges.
Elissa has been the Manager of Bereavement Services at Lifebanc in northeast Ohio for over 15 years, where she manages and provides clinical services for families following the traumatic loss of their loved ones. She provides individual counseling, support groups, one-time seminars, and creative innovative experiences for the expression of grief.
Elissa has co-facilitated Motherless Daughter retreats with Hope in California and Connecticut and looks forward to working with you in 2024.
WHAT CAN I HOPE TO GAIN FROM THIS RETREAT?
Most motherless daughters have never had the experience of sitting in a room of women who understand their innermost challenges, triumphs, and fears. You’ll find that here.
You’ll have the opportunity to meet others who were the same age you were when you lost your mother. Whether you were a young child, a teenager, or a young adult, you’ll have the opportunity to meet and bond with other women who lost a mom when they were a similar age.
At a Motherless Daughters Retreat, you'll be listened to and supported. Your story will be received with curiosity and compassion.
You’ll learn new ways to stay connected to your mom after her death, and to continue to honor her life and the relationship you shared moving forward.
VIEW THE SCHEDULE
Click the images to download a copy of the retreat schedule.
The schedule is subject to change.
YOUR RETREAT FEE:
$1395
NOTE: Six meals are included in the retreat fee. Room accommodations ARE NOT INCLUDED.
Transportation to and from the Graduate Hotel IS NOT included.
A payment plan with three installments is available. The total fee must be paid in full 30 days prior to the retreat.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Six catered, healthy meals, (Welcome Dinner on Thursday, Lunch every day, Breakfast on Friday and Sunday);
Coffee, Tea and afternoon snacks;
Customized activities and tips based on your group’s specific needs;
All workshop materials;
A special gift bag, including a copy of the 20th Anniversary Edition of Motherless Daughters (for you or a friend);
Access to a private Facebook group for pre- and post-retreat support;
A follow-up group conference call;
Priority access to future retreats and other offers;
A lifetime 10% discount on all future Motherless Daughters ONLINE offerings (support calls, webinars, online courses)
PLEASE NOTE: All participants must be at least 18 years of age. At least two years need to have elapsed since the time of your mother’s death to best meet your bereavement needs. Participants must have been ages 0 - 30 when they experienced the death of their mother. .
COVID-19 POLICY (AS OF 03/23):
We strongly suggest vaccination and a booster. We will not be testing or requiring tests of any participant. Each person assumes their own risk if they choose to attend this event, and everyone is encouraged to do what feels right in terms of masking. We are not able to give refunds outside of our normal cancellation policy (see below) for any sickness, so travel insurance is highly recommended.
CANCELLATION POLICY:
Up to 60 days prior to start date: refundable minus the $200 registration fee.
Up to 30 days prior the start date: 50% refundable minus the $200 registration fee.
From 30 days to the start date: non-refundable.
We suggest you purchase travel insurance when you book airline tickets to avoid flight cancellation fees.
Organizers reserve the right to cancel the retreat up to 21 days before start date if minimum enrollment has not been achieved. You would then receive a 100% refund of the registration fee.
WHERE YOU’LL BE CONNECTING, EATING & RESTING:
The Graduate Hotel in Iowa City, IA
We love partnering with this beautiful hotel in downtown Iowa City that offers a meeting space, housing,
and dining all on site! It’s an easy walk to many coffee shops and restaurants right outside the door.
The Graduate Hotel is a quaint hotel with Hawkeye traditions and Midwest charm. It is about 25 minutes from the Cedar Rapids airport and a 3-5 hour drive from Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Louis and Kansas City.
“At Hope’s retreat, I was able to find what I had been missing since my mother’s death- a sisterhood of women who understand, a sense of not being alone, and a safe place to feel my grief. That sense of community was more effective and comforting than any therapy I’ve had!”
“It’s been almost twenty five years since my mom passed away, yet I feel her presence with me and within me more strongly now than ever. I am so grateful for the gift of this retreat and new insight.”
“I didn’t really understand the impact this weekend would have on me until we were about a day and a half into it. I was nervous and unsure before walking through the front door even though I wanted to be on this retreat. I can’t really explain it, but for me, it was a magical experience. I guess a more grown up word would be transformative.”
“My experience at the retreat was truly transformative. Hope and Claire put together a weekend of deep reflection and kindness that enabled me to think through many of the feelings I’ve had for years. The opportunity to talk about mother loss with a group of women that really understand was amazing and the support that I continue to feel many weeks after the retreat is wonderful. I just wish I had done this sooner!”
Further retreat questions? Please send an email to melissa@HopeEdelman.com
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
A Motherless Daughter Retreat is a powerful and often life-changing event. We've compiled this detailed FAQ to answer common questions participants have before and after registration. If your question is not covered here, please contact us at jessica@hopeedelman.com.