Rethink Community: The Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

The divisions in our country are not just caused by disagreements; they’re fueled by misunderstanding and even contempt, and they can be healed with dignity.  Join us in a conversation with Paul Hemminger, a dignity builder and storyteller, and learn how each of us can be changemakers right where we are.

https://www.dignityindex.us/resources

Have you ever encountered a moment when a member of your team shared a personal experience or an insight that facilitated connection or unlocked a solution to a challenge you were facing?  Inside our teams and communities lies a wealth of knowledge and experiences. Yet, fear of judgment and misunderstanding creates barriers, hindering open communication. This month, join us for a session with Shandell Jamal, a consultant, catalyst and bridge builder, who shares valuable insights on honoring and valuing everyone's experiences and wisdom within your organization.

Poverty is much more than an issue, and more than a statistic. It’s a condition experienced by real human beings, each with their own unique story. Guest Kristin Hicks first shared her experience of poverty with Think Tank over a decade ago, to help shape the Cost of Poverty Experience. Today she reflects on that experience, the wisdom she has gained, and the relational and emotional support that helped her make the journey out of poverty.

Time. Honor. Authenticity. Relationship. These are key ingredients for organizations that want to Build Together with those with lived experience - but sometimes they feel difficult to manage within the pressures of outcomes, deadlines, and budgets. Dr. Jimeka Holloway has spent years as a guide to organizations and communities seeking change. In this episode she shares her personal experience and insight about how organizations can persevere through these tensions, and the practices and beliefs that need to guide those who truly want to Build Together to see their communities thrive. 

Learn more about Dr. Jimeka Holloway

Karin VanZant is a leader who’s not afraid to challenge the status quo, especially when it comes to the systems intended to help those at the margins of poverty. Karin’s own proximity to the realities of poverty and to people who have navigated it have shaped her views on what it means to lead and what it looks like to build together to create systems that work for everyone.

Sharon Gilmore has spent the past several decades transforming pain into purpose. Using her story and her voice to inspire others today, she is just as committed to helping organizations understand the human resources and assets they may be missing: those with lived experience. Sharon is a passionate advocate for communities to believe in the powerful potential of those who have walked the hardest paths.

Learn More about Sharon

What if we looked at a person who needs help not just as a “need” - but as someone who has the greatest potential to help others in that same situation? The field of addiction and recovery has been using this approach for years to bring healing and change. On this episode, we hear the stories of two men who first were helped by and then became part of an organization that values their lived experience and builds together with them for greater impact.

Shepherd’s House

This season we’re exploring the vital but difficult practice of how we Build Together to bring change. Sean Walton, Sr. has lived on both sides of Build Together: As someone who knows what it’s like to live at the margins economically, and who’s also advised and been part of organizations working to revitalize marginalized communities. Sean shares from his life experience what kind of investment it takes to build trust, communicate respect, and ultimately lead real change by building together. 

Perhaps the greatest act of resisting the divides that exist in our communities and in our nation is the simple but radical act of building a genuine friendship with another person across that divide.

Today two women join us to share the story of how they met nine years ago - one of them a single mom working to get out of poverty, the other finding herself isolated in a middle-class bubble. You'll hear about what it took to push through their initial fears and discomfort, how they've grown in those nine years, and how their friendship has helped them gain a new perspective.

When was the last time you had a conversation with someone about an issue you both strongly disagreed on - and walked away feeling like you really got somewhere? Many of us have found ourselves so deeply divided from friends or family members on controversial issues - ones we may care greatly about - that we've simply given up trying to talk about it.

And what happens when it's not just individuals, but whole communities who can't seem to talk to one another? Two outstanding and unique organizations, Essential Partners and The Colossian Forum have made it their mission to do what seems impossible: Foster healthy dialogue in deeply divided spaces. Katie Hyten and Tanner Smith share powerful insights about where our divisions come from - and how we can begin to find common ground.

Resources:

Essential Partners

The Colossian Forum