Yes! We Rise

June has been weaving networks, helping others weave networks, and writing about networks for over 40 years. She is currently increasing her capacity to capture learning and innovations from the field and sharing what she discovers through blog posts, occasional virtual sessions and a forthcoming book. In 1981 June discovered complexity science and became intrigued with the process of transformation. How could communities change in ways that would make them good places for everyone?  The hundred or so network projects she has advised range from local networks to international ones; included networks focused on a specific sector such as food access or health access as well as cross sector initiatives such network leadership networks; reached from small rural networks with a few dozen participants to massive networks with thousands of international participants including the networkweavers network. In this episode, Christine and June discuss the importance of collaboration and how developing synergy within relationships can help any network flourish. June shares stories about her life in Ohio and explains how her roots in Appalachia have played a key role in her passion for developing, growing, and learning from networks. June explains the importance of synergy and how shifting our mindsets towards collaboration can help build stronger relationships and establish trust within a network. She provides insight into how networks can become successful,  by listening to people, figuring our their passions, and utilizing their strengths to become re-energized within our own communities.   Throughout this episode, June provides examples of how to form deep relationships using her own insight from working with multiple communities across the globe, from indigenous groups to food-based collaboratives. With every story, you will learn how to build meaningful connections, create lasting equity, and learn how to self-organize to determine what strategies will work best for your network.    Join us as June shares her experiences and ideas on how to grow lasting networks within our own communities, wherever that may be in the world. Welcome to Yes! We Rise.   “The more we build community, the less we care about consumption.”   Topics: (6:48) Why networks are personally important to June (15:25) How online connection is important to deepen global relationships (21:51) Effective ways people are networking across the globe today (34:05) The connection between building community and building networks   Links mentioned: NetworkWeaver - Weaving System Shifting Networks: https://networkweaver.com/ Impact Networks book: https://www.amazon.com/Impact-Networks-Connection-Collaboration-Catalyze/dp/1523091681 Peter Plastrik: Books: https://www.amazon.com/Books-Peter-Plastrik/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3APeter+Plastrik Our networks - VITO: https://vito.be/en/about-vito/our-networks The Yes! We Rise podcast is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates: https://www.dialogueanddesign.com Music by Drishti Beats: https://drishtibeats.com/music/ Yes! We Rise podcast on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeRisepodcast Yes! We Rise podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yeswerise/ Find our email list at the website: https://yeswerise.org   Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Thanks for listening!  

Dr. Marie-Helene Pelletier is an award-winning workplace mental health expert, psychologist, advisor and speaker. She brings a signature mix of business and clinical expertise to the groups she works with. Dr. Pelletier translates psychology research about health, resiliency, and overcoming challenges into strategies professionals, business leaders and their teams need to thrive. She's a bilingual practicing psychologist who combines clinical, counseling, and workplace psychology.  In this episode, Christine and Dr. Pelletier discuss the intersection between individual and collective resilience, and how these two can work together harmoniously. Dr. Pelletier provides step-by-step guidance on how to grow your individual resilience based on where you are in your journey, whether you're just starting out or you're looking for ways to grow. Dr. Pelletier explains the importance of identifying, providing context and prioritizing your goals in order to begin building your individual resilience. On the other side of the resilience spectrum, Dr. Pelletier shares approaches on how to improve collective resilience, especially as a leader. She provides examples of how leaders can institute small changes while still pursuing their organizational goals without sacrificing the greater collective. With each example, you will learn new ways to build your self efficacy, increase your growth mindset, and help grow your inner and collective resilience. Join us as Dr. Pelletier shares her strategies and ideas on how to build resilience in your personal and professional life. Welcome to Yes! We Rise.   “We can only influence team and organizational resilience if we have enough resilience ourselves, individually.”   Topics: (5:20) What needs to shift in systems of the workplace for people to be able to work better (11:00) Ways to increase your resilience as an individual and team (18:24) Businesses who have flourished by focusing on resilience (22:55) What resilience looks like over the long term for an organization (26:10) Ways that people can work with the edge of burnout Links mentioned: Marie-Helene Pelletier's website: https://drmarie-helene.com/ The Yes! We Rise podcast is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates: https://www.dialogueanddesign.com Music by Drishti Beats: https://drishtibeats.com/music/ Yes! We Rise podcast on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeRisepodcast Yes! We Rise podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yeswerise/ Find our email list at the website: https://yeswerise.org   Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Thanks for listening!  

Hannah is the Workforce Development Program Manager and Farmer PRIDE Coalition Coordinator at Appalachia Sustainable Development (ASD). She joined ASD as an Americorp VISTA in 2021 and has continued as part of the Groundwork staff ever since. She has a genuine love for farming, gardening, and the community-driven ethics of Appalachia and its people.   In this episode, Christine and Hannah discuss laying the groundwork for workforce development programs and paid skills training for individuals transitioning into the agricultural workforce. Hannah shares stories of her journey in Appalachia and the new initiatives at ASD focusing on building strong support networks for agricultural farmers - from home gardeners to agroforesters. Hannah explains her journey towards building one-on-one relationships with folks and helping them find the resources they need, whether its funding opportunities, mentoring programs, or support systems.    Appalachia is rooted in a long history of mutual aid, with countless stories of people helping others in times of need. In continuing this legacy, Hannah shares stories of how individuals are breaking down barriers in agriculture and transitioning to a just economy through community empowerment and self education. With each lesson, you will learn how Hannah and ASD are meeting people on their level, figuring out where they want to go, and developing lasting pathways to get there.    From building regenerative agricultural practices, to growing equity and inclusion for the LGBTQ+ community - join us as Hannah shares strategies and ideas on how to build inclusive and sustainable communities in Appalachia. Welcome to Yes! We Rise.   “For me, a bright future for Appalachia is one that's rooted in that really ingrained value of what community can be, which is centered on love, centered on joy, and centered on the abilities of the people here to support each other.”   Topics: (8:50) How the Groundwork program provides skills training in Appalachia for folks who have struggled to get a job (14:40) An effective way to imagine the future you'd like to see in your community (19:25) What Hannah sees as the future of Appalachia and what is possible (25:30) How to get over the barrier of land access for individuals who want to get involved in agriculture (36:55) What it looks like to build lasting equity for all community members through programming   Links mentioned: Appalachian Sustainable Development: https://www.asdevelop.org/ Follow ASD on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asdevelop/ Follow ASD on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/livingbetterlocally/ The Yes! We Rise podcast is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates: https://www.dialogueanddesign.com Music by Drishti Beats: https://drishtibeats.com/music/ Yes! We Rise podcast on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeRisepodcast Yes! We Rise podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yeswerise/ Find our email list at the website: https://yeswerise.org   Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Thanks for listening!  

In this new series of the Yes! We Rise podcast, Christine explores the ten part framework for building community resilience that her firm Dialogue + Design Associates uses working with communities across the nation. This series will not only include stories and ideas that you can try out and explore in your own neighborhood or region, but it will help you build collective resilience and create the change you want to see.    In this episode, Christine discusses how community members can create change from within by building a sense of belonging to create a more resilient future. Christine shares that people have the answers within themselves already – often they just need the space and place for those answers to emerge, to work together toward a common vision, and to find the tools and resources to make that vision a reality. Community members often have the ideas they need to shape their own futures, and at the end of the day, they are the most qualified people to determine the design and future of their own communities.    Christine explains several key lessons that she has learned from these communities - ranging from creating Indigenous-led regional solutions in the Arctic north to address climate change, to creating successful community gatherings in Appalachia. With each story, you will hear how community members have implemented successful initiatives themselves, from creating diverse downtown improvements, to cultural revitalization, to building artisan networks.   Join us as Christine shares strategies and ideas on how to create change and belonging in the community. Welcome to Yes! We Rise.   “Folks need to be the ones to decide what happens in their own communities. They are their own best guides and advisors for their own communities and lives.”   Topics: (1:30) Why community members are the best suited people to create resilience and transformation in their environment (9:40) Two small town examples of community transformation led by local residents in West Virginia and Tennessee (13:30) Why belief that communities can change and are changing is essential Links mentioned: Bioneers Article: https://bioneers.org/how-indigenous-leaders-are-addressing-climate-change-in-the-arctic-zmbz2301/ Economic Resilience Guide: https://www.arc.gov/report/strengthening-economic-resilience-in-appalachia/  Try This West Virginia: https://trythiswv.com/have-a-community-conversation Chattanooga Climate Action Plan: https://chattanooga.gov/images/citymedia/sustainability/CAPcompressed.pdf The Yes! We Rise podcast is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates: https://www.dialogueanddesign.com EP. 12 with Amanda Workman-Scott: https://yeswerise.org/amanda-workman-scott/ EP. 2 with Tony Skrelunas: https://yeswerise.org/podcast-2/ EP. 50 with Jacob Hannah: https://yeswerise.org/jacob-hannah/ Music by Drishti Beats: https://drishtibeats.com/music/ Yes! We Rise podcast on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeRisepodcast Yes! We Rise podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yeswerise/ Find our email list at the website: https://yeswerise.org   Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Thanks for listening!  

Jacob Hannah grew up in a coal mining family in West Virginia. He saw the slow loss of coal jobs in the area, as well as the costs associated with mining and extraction in communities and the broader region. Jacob moved through his own journey – leading with curiosity – to working with communities, creating new opportunities for projects leading with innovation and sustainability, and building resilient communities based on the vision and ideas of local leaders. Jacob talks about listening to people as they are the experts in their own community, and building relationships and trust to create life-sustaining jobs and regenerative ecosystems.   Jacob Hannah is the Chief Conservation Officer at Coalfield Development, which is based in Huntington, West Virginia. This innovative organization is working to rebuild the Appalachian economy from the ground up, and Jacob is a core part of this precedent setting work in Central Appalachia.    Jacob graduated as a first generation student in Business Management from Garrett College and holds a Bachelor degree in Management for Sustainability from Bucknell University. Jacob also studied cultural sustainability in France and Scotland, and spent 3 years testing triple-bottom line sustainability concepts for coal towns in central Pennsylvania, and social sustainability programs in Western Maryland. He enjoys spending his time writing music on his guitar and piano, getting lost in the woods, spending time with his family, and harvesting fresh dank memes from the internet.   “Scarcity creates value. The less you have of something, the more exclusive it becomes.”   Topics: (5:00) What led Jacob down the path of becoming a conservation officer from growing up in a coal mining family (12:10) How Jacob's background helps him see renewable energy solutions from a both/and perspective (16:50) The best way to let people's expertise come to the surface instead of pushing your ideas onto them (21:05) Shifts in the Appalachia community that have strengthened the bond between community members (32:20) Jacob's vision and hopes for Appalachia in the next 10 - 50 years (40:22) Quick roller questions for Jacob   Links mentioned: Coalfield Development: https://coalfield-development.org/ Jacob Hannah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-hannah-9b608642 The Yes! We Rise podcast is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates: https://www.dialogueanddesign.com Music by Drishti Beats: https://drishtibeats.com/music/ Yes! We Rise podcast on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeRisepodcast Yes! We Rise podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yeswerise/ Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org   Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Thanks for listening!  

Every interaction we have impacts others, and every interaction someone has with you impacts you. So how do we take this knowledge and allow it to transform the way we show up in the world? On this episode of Yes! We Rise, founder and CEO of Collaborative by Design, Cheri Torres, PhD, joins Christine to share her life's work around supporting growth and evolutionary purpose in people and organizations. She dives into the power of asking generative questions, understanding your broader purpose, and how curiosity unlocks inherent wisdom. This rich conversation is both relatable and transformative. Tune in and begin accessing inner clarity, creativity, and deeper relationships. Welcome! Cheri Torres is passionate about supporting growth and evolutionary purpose for people and organizations. As an organizational consultant and facilitator, Cheri catalyzes positive change, encouraging people to recognize they are integral parts of a whole system and that what they say and do matters significantly. She's worked with thousands of leaders and teams around the world to support high performance, engagement, strategic planning, culture transformation, and organizational success. The foundation of her work draws upon a living systems paradigm and the strength-based approach of Appreciative Inquiry, one of the most widely used approaches for systems change. LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Check out Cheri's book: Conversations Worth Having: Using Appreciative Inquiry to Fuel Productive and Meaningful Engagement, and discover more about her powerful work, including resources, through her website. You can also experience Cheri's work at the next Conscious Leadership Retreat for Women through The Sami Project. The Yes! We Rise podcast is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow the We Rise podcast on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening. The Yes! We Rise podcast features solutions-seekers, change-makers, and those creating a resilient future. We share stories and strategies to inspire action to build collective resilience and community transformation. To create change, people need to feel like they belong and that they are part of a growing movement. They need to know their voice matters and that they have the inspiration, agency and ability to transform their lives and their communities. They are the key to a resilient future.     From the Navajo Nation to the mountains of Appalachia, incredible work is being done by community members and leaders. Change is often sparked by inspiration: seeing what others have done, especially in similar situations and places. People see that when someone looks like them or lives in a place like theirs, and has created real, true and lasting change, change that will allow their granddaughters and grandsons to thrive — they begin to imagine what might be possible for them.  No longer waiting for someone else to come and save them, they realize they are the ones they have been waiting for.  But what creates that spark? What creates that inspiration?  Learning through stories and examples, feeling a sense of agency and belonging, and getting fired up to kick ass creates that spark.  We Rise helps community leaders and members learn to forge a new path toward creating resilience and true transformation. One person at a time, one community at a time, one region at a time, the quilt of transformation can grow piece by piece until resilience becomes the norm instead of the exception. Together, we rise.

Changemaking work is often called being resilient, but what does resilience mean? In this episode of the Yes! We Rise podcast, Christine talks about the intentional approach Dialogue + Design Associates takes in working with collaboratives, cultivating long-term networks, and how to honor and incorporate the value each member has to offer. Learn about the important models and approaches collaboratives can take when faced with a crossroad, and best practices to help a network function well. Woven throughout this episode you will also hear empowering stories of collaboratives already succeeding in the pursuit of their vision through working with others.  This episode is inspiring, informative, and waiting to be listened to! Welcome. LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Learn more about Clinch River Valley Initiative (CRVI) and “How CRVI Works”. Learn more about the three case studies discussed in this episode: Delaware River Watershed Initiative (DRWI), The Upper Susquehanna Coalition (USC), and The RE-AMP Network. If you want to learn more about Mayor Debra Horne, listen to Episode 9: Letting Love Lead For more on how to welcome new members into your collaborative, check out Episode 44: Maintaining Energy and Momentum Explore these excellent resources from Michelle Shumate and Katherine Cooper - the 2022 book Networks for Social Impact and article “How to Build More Resilient Networks.” Check out the Network Weaver Handbook by June Holley to learn more about fostering network leadership. Learn more about the Partnership Impact Model created by Amy Mickel and Leigh Goldberg based on the work and impact of the One Tam partnership and findings from a four-year partnership study. A presentation about Movement Cycles and the different phases of networks, Network strengths and challenges document, and this Decision making chart from Movement Netlab. Check out this video from the Ford Foundation and Solidaire, From Protest to Power: Why Movements Matter & How They Work. The Yes! We Rise podcast is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow the We Rise podcast on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening. The Yes! We Rise podcast features solutions-seekers, change-makers, and those creating a resilient future. We share stories and strategies to inspire action to build collective resilience and community transformation. To create change, people need to feel like they belong and that they are part of a growing movement. They need to know their voice matters and that they have the inspiration, agency and ability to transform their lives and their communities. They are the key to a resilient future.     From the Navajo Nation to the mountains of Appalachia, incredible work is being done by community members and leaders. Change is often sparked by inspiration: seeing what others have done, especially in similar situations and places. People see that when someone looks like them or lives in a place like theirs, and has created real, true and lasting change, change that will allow their granddaughters and grandsons to thrive — they begin to imagine what might be possible for them.  No longer waiting for someone else to come and save them, they realize they are the ones they have been waiting for.  But what creates that spark? What creates that inspiration?  Learning through stories and examples, feeling a sense of agency and belonging, and getting fired up to kick ass creates that spark.  We Rise helps community leaders and members learn to forge a new path toward creating resilience and true transformation. One person at a time, one community at a time, one region at a time, the quilt of transformation can grow piece by piece until resilience becomes the norm instead of the exception. Together, we rise.

Welcome back to part two of our incredible conversation with Paul Hawken. Paul has been influential in Christine's own work, both personally and professionally, for over two decades. In part two, we dive into a beautiful dialogue with Paul around restoration and regeneration, discover what it means to be an ally to our planet and one another, where we can start to make change, and the gift of building a relationship with nature. If you haven't yet, take a listen to Episode 46 to hear part one, where Paul explains the importance of work at the collective level, listening, and connecting with ourselves, as well as nature.  Paul Hawken is an environmentalist, entrepreneur, author and activist who has dedicated his life to environmental sustainability and changing the relationship between business and the environment. He is one of the environmental movement's leading voices, and a pioneering architect of corporate reform with respect to ecological practices. Paul has started several ecological businesses, writes about nature and commerce, and consults with heads of state and CEOs on climatic, economic, and ecological regeneration. He has appeared on numerous media including the Today Show, Talk of the Nation, CBS This Morning and others, and his work has been profiled or featured in hundreds of articles including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, and Forbes. He has written nine books including six national and New York Times bestsellers: Growing a Business, The Next Economy, The Ecology of Commerce, Blessed Unrest, Drawdown, and Regeneration.  He is published in 30 languages and his books are available in over 90 countries. His latest book, Regeneration, Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation, was published in 2021, which is his sequel to Drawdown. He is the founder of both Project Drawdown and Project Regeneration (regeneration.org). Project Regeneration is the world's largest, most complete listing and network of solutions to the climate crisis. True lasting change begins with self awareness and understanding of the systems and choices that have brought our world to the place it is now. But this is only the beginning. Christine's conversation with Paul moves into what action looks like, and how nature is actually a “laboratory of curiosity” from which we have much to learn. Paul's shares the heart wisdom of moving forward with compassion and understanding, saying “Don't be too hard on yourself.” Instead of guilt or self-punishment, we can accept what has already happened and choose differently. Be inspired to love and restore this beautiful earth and all of its inhabitants. Welcome. LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED If you missed it, you can still hear part one of this two part series in Episode 46, where Paul explains the importance of work at the collective level, listening, and connecting with ourselves, as well as nature.  To stay informed and learn more about what's happening to combat the climate crisis and how you can take part, sign up for Waggle, a weekly newsletter put out by Project Regeneration. Learn more about the incredible work of Project Drawdown and Regeneration, both founded by Paul Hawken, aiming to restore the climate in powerful ways. Discover how YOU can take action now with Nexus, a comprehensive plan outlining the challenges and solutions to end climate change in one generation. You can also reach out directly at info@regeneration.org.  Get your copy of Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming and Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation for more powerful wisdom and insight from Paul! The Yes! We Rise podcast is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow the We Rise podcast on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening. The Yes! We Rise podcast features solutions-seekers, change-makers, and those creating a resilient future. We share stories and strategies to inspire action to build collective resilience and community transformation. To create change, people need to feel like they belong and that they are part of a growing movement. They need to know their voice matters and that they have the inspiration, agency and ability to transform their lives and their communities. They are the key to a resilient future.     From the Navajo Nation to the mountains of Appalachia, incredible work is being done by community members and leaders. Change is often sparked by inspiration: seeing what others have done, especially in similar situations and places. People see that when someone looks like them or lives in a place like theirs, and has created real, true and lasting change, change that will allow their granddaughters and grandsons to thrive — they begin to imagine what might be possible for them.  No longer waiting for someone else to come and save them, they realize they are the ones they have been waiting for.  But what creates that spark? What creates that inspiration?  Learning through stories and examples, feeling a sense of agency and belonging, and getting fired up to kick ass creates that spark.  We Rise helps community leaders and members learn to forge a new path toward creating resilience and true transformation. One person at a time, one community at a time, one region at a time, the quilt of transformation can grow piece by piece until resilience becomes the norm instead of the exception. Together, we rise.

Welcome back to the We Rise podcast! We are delighted to share this conversation with Paul Hawken with you. Paul has been influential in Christine's own work, both personally and professionally, for over two decades. In this inspiring and encouraging episode–the first in a two part series–Christine and Paul talk about the importance of work at the collective level, listening, and connecting with ourselves, as well as nature.  Paul Hawken is an environmentalist, entrepreneur, author and activist who has dedicated his life to environmental sustainability and changing the relationship between business and the environment. He is one of the environmental movement's leading voices, and a pioneering architect of corporate reform with respect to ecological practices. Paul has started several ecological businesses, writes about nature and commerce, and consults with heads of state and CEOs on climatic, economic, and ecological regeneration. He has appeared on numerous media including the Today Show, Talk of the Nation, CBS This Morning and others, and his work has been profiled or featured in hundreds of articles including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, and Forbes. He has written nine books including six national and New York Times bestsellers: Growing a Business, The Next Economy, The Ecology of Commerce, Blessed Unrest, Drawdown, and Regeneration.  He is published in 30 languages and his books are available in over 90 countries. His latest book, Regeneration, Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation, was published in 2021, which is his sequel to Drawdown. He is the founder of both Project Drawdown and Project Regeneration (regeneration.org). Project Regeneration is the world's largest, most complete listing and network of solutions to the climate crisis. Join us as they dive into regeneration, collectively reimagining the future we want to see, and working to make it happen, together.  Paul says, “The heart of regeneration is to make life the center of every action and decision.”  He sees this as a key to bringing us back to the beauty of life, and helping transform and regenerate the world we live in. As our world struggles with the climate crisis, Paul offers insight, wisdom, and leadership paired with resources for deep, meaningful change. In part one of our conversation, Paul shares the challenges that we face in making real change happen, including not othering or blaming people. He is not here to “change people's minds”, but to offer information and create space for them to draw their own conclusions. His words are fueled with compassion and understanding for humankind and the earth. LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Learn more about the incredible work of Project Drawdown and Regeneration, both founded by Paul Hawken, aiming to restore the climate in powerful ways. Discover how YOU can take action now with Nexus, a comprehensive plan outlining the challenges and solutions to end climate change in one generation. You can also reach out directly at info@regeneration.org.  Get your copy of Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming and Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation for more powerful wisdom and insight from Paul! The Yes! We Rise podcast is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow the We Rise podcast on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening. The Yes! We Rise podcast features solutions-seekers, change-makers, and those creating a resilient future. We share stories and strategies to inspire action to build collective resilience and community transformation. To create change, people need to feel like they belong and that they are part of a growing movement. They need to know their voice matters and that they have the inspiration, agency and ability to transform their lives and their communities. They are the key to a resilient future.     From the Navajo Nation to the mountains of Appalachia, incredible work is being done by community members and leaders. Change is often sparked by inspiration: seeing what others have done, especially in similar situations and places. People see that when someone looks like them or lives in a place like theirs, and has created real, true and lasting change, change that will allow their granddaughters and grandsons to thrive — they begin to imagine what might be possible for them.  No longer waiting for someone else to come and save them, they realize they are the ones they have been waiting for.  But what creates that spark? What creates that inspiration?  Learning through stories and examples, feeling a sense of agency and belonging, and getting fired up to kick ass creates that spark.  We Rise helps community leaders and members learn to forge a new path toward creating resilience and true transformation. One person at a time, one community at a time, one region at a time, the quilt of transformation can grow piece by piece until resilience becomes the norm instead of the exception. Together, we rise.

There is something truly unique and complex about coal mining communities in Appalachia, and Atlas Charles has experienced this firsthand. Growing up queer, nonbinary, and autistic in the Cumberland mountains of Southwest Virginia and southwestern West Virginia, Atlas understands the coexistence of hardship and beauty. Today, Atlas uses their systems leadership skills to lead the complex work of co-creating thriving communities that balance economy and collective well-being. Their work centers equity, anti-oppression, and regeneration, while believing in and harnessing the existent wisdom a community already has. Creating new Appalachian economies means honoring other people's experiences, showing up hand in hand, and building together a web of local anti-oppressive economies. This is the work Atlas does. Their heart for the oppressed and for creating safe space for all people to be seen, heard, and thrive is palpable. This is our first Yes! We Rise Episode of 2023. Welcome! LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Be sure to check out more information on Atlas Charles along with the work they do at Rural Support Partners and with Economic Development Greater East. Additionally they were the Board President of Partners for Stronger Communities through 2022. Read some books that were influential to Atlas' work including: We Make The Road By Walking By Myles Horton and Paulo Freire and The Pedagogy Of The Oppressed by Paulo Freire. Some other highly recommended books from Atlas include: Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds by Adrienne Maree Brown, and Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey. The Yes! We Rise podcast is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow the We Rise podcast on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening. The Yes! We Rise podcast features solutions-seekers, change-makers, and those creating a resilient future. We share stories and strategies to inspire action to build collective resilience and community transformation. To create change, people need to feel like they belong and that they are part of a growing movement. They need to know their voice matters and that they have the inspiration, agency and ability to transform their lives and their communities. They are the key to a resilient future.     From the Navajo Nation to the mountains of Appalachia, incredible work is being done by community members and leaders. Change is often sparked by inspiration: seeing what others have done, especially in similar situations and places. People see that when someone looks like them or lives in a place like theirs, and has created real, true and lasting change, change that will allow their granddaughters and grandsons to thrive — they begin to imagine what might be possible for them.  No longer waiting for someone else to come and save them, they realize they are the ones they have been waiting for.  But what creates that spark? What creates that inspiration?  Learning through stories and examples, feeling a sense of agency and belonging, and getting fired up to kick ass creates that spark.  We Rise helps community leaders and members learn to forge a new path toward creating resilience and true transformation. One person at a time, one community at a time, one region at a time, the quilt of transformation can grow piece by piece until resilience becomes the norm instead of the exception. Together, we rise.

Welcome to the Yes! We Rise Podcast. Today, Christine shares the top 10 strategies Dialogue + Design uses to support the different communities they work with, from establishing a thoughtful action plan, to balancing different personalities in a room, and acknowledging and honoring your wins. In an effort to create a safe space for diverse groups of people, certain approaches are absolutely essential. As a community strives toward a vision, it is vital that the door stays open for new members to join, and you'll hear our best practices to bring you encouragement and new momentum in your community. Enjoy! LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED To learn more about growing community resilience, sign up for the Yes! We Rise email list and download our free guide: Three Simple Strategies To Grow A More Sustainable Future.  The Yes! We Rise podcast is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow the We Rise podcast on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening. The Yes! We Rise podcast features solutions-seekers, change-makers, and those creating a resilient future. We share stories and strategies to inspire action to build collective resilience and community transformation. To create change, people need to feel like they belong and that they are part of a growing movement. They need to know their voice matters and that they have the inspiration, agency and ability to transform their lives and their communities. They are the key to a resilient future.     From the Navajo Nation to the mountains of Appalachia, incredible work is being done by community members and leaders. Change is often sparked by inspiration: seeing what others have done, especially in similar situations and places. People see that when someone looks like them or lives in a place like theirs, and has created real, true and lasting change, change that will allow their granddaughters and grandsons to thrive — they begin to imagine what might be possible for them.  No longer waiting for someone else to come and save them, they realize they are the ones they have been waiting for.  But what creates that spark? What creates that inspiration?  Learning through stories and examples, feeling a sense of agency and belonging, and getting fired up to kick ass creates that spark.  We Rise helps community leaders and members learn to forge a new path toward creating resilience and true transformation. One person at a time, one community at a time, one region at a time, the quilt of transformation can grow piece by piece until resilience becomes the norm instead of the exception. Together, we rise.

Dialogue + Design Associates is the sister company to the Yes! We Rise Podcast. They provide facilitation, community engagement, and help everyday community members and leaders come together, envision their future, and find tools and resources to make that vision a reality.  In 2016, a few groups approached Dialogue + Design in the hopes of creating a community-based effort to grow the solar energy economy in Southwest Virginia. In today's episode, Christine shares the history behind this initial vision and the incredible progress that has been made. From a recording from a recent gathering and celebration of a new solar system at Wise Primary school, you will also hear from folks with a direct role in the growth and progress that has been made since the Solar Workgroup's inception in 2016.  Job opportunities have been created, resources and education are being provided, and policies in Southwest Virginia are changing. As coal dwindles as a resource and solar becomes a more prominent source of energy, Southwest Virginia continues to be an energy hub with prospects for a growing and thriving economic future. Welcome! LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED To find out more about the Solar Workgroup, you can check out their website and sign up for their newsletter. Learn more about the amazing partners that have made this group possible, including Appalachian Voices, UVA Wise, and People Incorporated. Find out more about the organizations that provided funding and support to the Solar Workgroup: Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority, Appalachian Solar Finance Fund, and Secure Futures. The Yes! We Rise podcast is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow the We Rise podcast on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening. The Yes! We Rise podcast features solutions-seekers, change-makers, and those creating a resilient future. We share stories and strategies to inspire action to build collective resilience and community transformation. To create change, people need to feel like they belong and that they are part of a growing movement. They need to know their voice matters and that they have the inspiration, agency and ability to transform their lives and their communities. They are the key to a resilient future.     From the Navajo Nation to the mountains of Appalachia, incredible work is being done by community members and leaders. Change is often sparked by inspiration: seeing what others have done, especially in similar situations and places. People see that when someone looks like them or lives in a place like theirs, and has created real, true and lasting change, change that will allow their granddaughters and grandsons to thrive — they begin to imagine what might be possible for them.  No longer waiting for someone else to come and save them, they realize they are the ones they have been waiting for.  But what creates that spark? What creates that inspiration?  Learning through stories and examples, feeling a sense of agency and belonging, and getting fired up to kick ass creates that spark.  We Rise helps community leaders and members learn to forge a new path toward creating resilience and true transformation. One person at a time, one community at a time, one region at a time, the quilt of transformation can grow piece by piece until resilience becomes the norm instead of the exception. Together, we rise.

Dialogue and Design is the sister company behind the Yes! We Rise Podcast, and in this space, we have a beautiful opportunity to listen to incredible changemakers working to build a brighter future with their communities. We love sharing stories and strategies that help build a sense of belonging, collective resilience, and community transformation. In this episode, Christine looks at the different types of resilience, focusing primarily on inner and community resilience and how they weave together in a powerful and supportive way. Hear about mindfulness and stories of resilience around communities we have the privilege of supporting, and discover how loss led to innovation, future economic development, and ecological preservation through the Clinch River Valley Initiative. Welcome to Yes! We Rise. LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Learn more about Dialogue + Design Associates and The Clinch River Valley Initiative! Check out Yes! We Rise, Episode 37 for a beautiful example of home scale resilience, and hear more about Christine's work with Frank Dukes on the Clinch River Valley Initiative in Episode 20 of Yes! We Rise. Go to the Yes! We Rise Website and sign up for the newsletter to get your free downloadable guide to the three skills of building resilience. The Yes! We Rise podcast is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow the We Rise podcast on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening. The Yes! We Rise podcast features solutions-seekers, change-makers, and those creating a resilient future. We share stories and strategies to inspire action to build collective resilience and community transformation. To create change, people need to feel like they belong and that they are part of a growing movement. They need to know their voice matters and that they have the inspiration, agency and ability to transform their lives and their communities. They are the key to a resilient future.     From the Navajo Nation to the mountains of Appalachia, incredible work is being done by community members and leaders. Change is often sparked by inspiration: seeing what others have done, especially in similar situations and places. People see that when someone looks like them or lives in a place like theirs, and has created real, true and lasting change, change that will allow their granddaughters and grandsons to thrive — they begin to imagine what might be possible for them.  No longer waiting for someone else to come and save them, they realize they are the ones they have been waiting for.  But what creates that spark? What creates that inspiration?  Learning through stories and examples, feeling a sense of agency and belonging, and getting fired up to kick ass creates that spark.  We Rise helps community leaders and members learn to forge a new path toward creating resilience and true transformation. One person at a time, one community at a time, one region at a time, the quilt of transformation can grow piece by piece until resilience becomes the norm instead of the exception. Together, we rise.

Allera Dawn is a life and business coach, business expert, and podcaster who works with clients who are seeking deep healing and transformation. Allera is also a change maker and an activist. Today, she sits down with Christine and opens up about her own spiritual journey, the importance of claiming your worth, and how to truly heal through deep inner work and discovering the hidden power of “diamonds” in your life. Allera openly offers her experience and wisdom in this episode of Yes! We Rise. Welcome! LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Discover more about Allera and her powerful work through her website, LinkedIn, and on Facebook. Learn about her Twin Flame Online Healing Program. You can also schedule a Discovery Call to take part in one of her other programs! You can also check out Allera's Overwhelm To Empowered Program, a four day energy upgrade! The Yes! We Rise podcast is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow the We Rise podcast on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening. The Yes! We Rise podcast features solutions-seekers, change-makers, and those creating a resilient future. We share stories and strategies to inspire action to build collective resilience and community transformation. To create change, people need to feel like they belong and that they are part of a growing movement. They need to know their voice matters and that they have the inspiration, agency and ability to transform their lives and their communities. They are the key to a resilient future.     From the Navajo Nation to the mountains of Appalachia, incredible work is being done by community members and leaders. Change is often sparked by inspiration: seeing what others have done, especially in similar situations and places. People see that when someone looks like them or lives in a place like theirs, and has created real, true and lasting change, change that will allow their granddaughters and grandsons to thrive — they begin to imagine what might be possible for them.  No longer waiting for someone else to come and save them, they realize they are the ones they have been waiting for.  But what creates that spark? What creates that inspiration?  Learning through stories and examples, feeling a sense of agency and belonging, and getting fired up to kick ass creates that spark.  We Rise helps community leaders and members learn to forge a new path toward creating resilience and true transformation. One person at a time, one community at a time, one region at a time, the quilt of transformation can grow piece by piece until resilience becomes the norm instead of the exception. Together, we rise.

Laura Hartley is an activist, a life coach, and founder of Public Love Education, an online school for changemakers. She has a deep passion for seeing individuals and communities break free from toxic systems and works to foster social healing and community thriving. Today on Yes! We Rise, Laura and Christine explore what true resilience looks like, healing from burnout, and the discovery of your inner compass. In this episode, Laura gifts us all with endless wisdom, encouragement, and possibility. Welcome! LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Discover more of the important work Laura is doing through her school, Public LovED. Also be sure to look at her group program Internal Revolution. Laura is also on Instagram and LinkedIn. Hear more of Laura's powerful wisdom on her podcast: The Public Love Project! The Yes! We Rise podcast is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow the We Rise podcast on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening. The Yes! We Rise podcast features solutions-seekers, change-makers, and those creating a resilient future. We share stories and strategies to inspire action to build collective resilience and community transformation. To create change, people need to feel like they belong and that they are part of a growing movement. They need to know their voice matters and that they have the inspiration, agency and ability to transform their lives and their communities. They are the key to a resilient future.     From the Navajo Nation to the mountains of Appalachia, incredible work is being done by community members and leaders. Change is often sparked by inspiration: seeing what others have done, especially in similar situations and places. People see that when someone looks like them or lives in a place like theirs, and has created real, true and lasting change, change that will allow their granddaughters and grandsons to thrive — they begin to imagine what might be possible for them.  No longer waiting for someone else to come and save them, they realize they are the ones they have been waiting for.  But what creates that spark? What creates that inspiration?  Learning through stories and examples, feeling a sense of agency and belonging, and getting fired up to kick ass creates that spark.   We Rise helps community leaders and members learn to forge a new path toward creating resilience and true transformation. One person at a time, one community at a time, one region at a time, the quilt of transformation can grow piece by piece until resilience becomes the norm instead of the exception. Together, we rise.

Real systems-level change takes community, safety, and trust. Today, Christine is joined by Beth Tener, founder of New Directions and Kinship. Beth shares that creating change does not happen through one person or organization, but through collaborative networks working together toward building systemic change. She believes strongly that the answers can already be found within a community - the challenge is in providing the necessary support to bring it forward. Beth's work helps people remember they're part of a beautiful ecosystem. Communities have a shared history that informs what exists in the present. Allowing those stories to be shared and held is vital. Beth offers her wisdom, experience, and perspective on cultivating lasting transformation, creating spaces of care, and building social justice with community. Realize the power of collaboration, acknowledging the past, and building a brighter future with others to create new possibilities. Welcome to the Yes! We Rise Podcast! LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Learn more about Beth and her new initiative, Kinship. Kinship is part of New Directions Collaborative. Take part in some of Beth's upcoming events and sign up for the Kinship Newsletter! BETH'S RECOMMENDED RESOURCES Art of Hosting will inspire you to harness the collective wisdom of groups System Thinking, System, Tools, and Chaos Theory Strategic Questioning Creative Approaches To Problem Solving has lots of great ideas! Relational Neuroscience by Sarah Peyton Additional Resources from New Directions Collaborative The Yes! We Rise podcast is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow the We Rise podcast on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening. The Yes! We Rise podcast features solutions-seekers, change-makers, and those creating a resilient future. We share stories and strategies to inspire action to build collective resilience and community transformation. To create change, people need to feel like they belong and that they are part of a growing movement. They need to know their voice matters and that they have the inspiration, agency and ability to transform their lives and their communities. They are the key to a resilient future.     From the Navajo Nation to the mountains of Appalachia, incredible work is being done by community members and leaders. Change is often sparked by inspiration: seeing what others have done, especially in similar situations and places. People see that when someone looks like them or lives in a place like theirs, and has created real, true and lasting change, change that will allow their granddaughters and grandsons to thrive — they begin to imagine what might be possible for them.  No longer waiting for someone else to come and save them, they realize they are the ones they have been waiting for.  But what creates that spark? What creates that inspiration?  Learning through stories and examples, feeling a sense of agency and belonging, and getting fired up to kick ass creates that spark.  We Rise helps community leaders and members learn to forge a new path toward creating resilience and true transformation. One person at a time, one community at a time, one region at a time, the quilt of transformation can grow piece by piece until resilience becomes the norm instead of the exception. Together, we rise.

Percy Deal is a member of the Diné (or Navajo) Nation. He's a rancher and a community advocate from Black Mesa, Arizona, and deeply involved in local community and government issues for the last 45 years. He continues to use his expertise in educating and advocating for community transition on Black Mesa. Christine had the opportunity to sit down with Percy and learn about the very real challenges many Diné community members face, and why creating an equitable transition in Black Mesa is a core issue and need. Lean in as Percy shares words of wisdom and offers a glimpse of the future that many additional communities will face if the current circumstances are not addressed. Thank you for tuning into the Yes! We Rise Podcast. You are part of this collective resilience! A Call To Action For lasting change to occur, we must all do our part. Make your voice heard. Contact elected leaders, the Navajo Government, the Department of the Interior, and Congress. Write letters demanding that they visit the Navajo Nation, to experience the current circumstances Percy and his greater community are facing everyday. Implore that they see firsthand their homes, their land, their transportation. And vote! We must elect officials that are for the people, not the industry. We need advocates for restoration, fighting climate change, and providing resources to the Navajo Nation and all communities. You have the power and the ability to create much needed change! Thank you for your support. LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Learn more about Percy Deal and Tó Nizhóni Ání. If you missed it, tune in to Christine's interview with Nicole Horseherder on Episode 19. You can also discover more about the work of the Office of Surface Mining, Navajo Nation Minerals Department, and the Hopi Office of Surface Mining. The Yes! We Rise podcast is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow the We Rise podcast on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening. The Yes! We Rise podcast features solutions-seekers, change-makers, and those creating a resilient future. We share stories and strategies to inspire action to build collective resilience and community transformation. To create change, people need to feel like they belong and that they are part of a growing movement. They need to know their voice matters and that they have the inspiration, agency and ability to transform their lives and their communities. They are the key to a resilient future.     From the Navajo Nation to the mountains of Appalachia, incredible work is being done by community members and leaders. Change is often sparked by inspiration: seeing what others have done, especially in similar situations and places. People see that when someone looks like them or lives in a place like theirs, and has created real, true and lasting change, change that will allow their granddaughters and grandsons to thrive — they begin to imagine what might be possible for them.  No longer waiting for someone else to come and save them, they realize they are the ones they have been waiting for.  But what creates that spark? What creates that inspiration?  Learning through stories and examples, feeling a sense of agency and belonging, and getting fired up to kick ass creates that spark.  We Rise helps community leaders and members learn to forge a new path toward creating resilience and true transformation. One person at a time, one community at a time, one region at a time, the quilt of transformation can grow piece by piece until resilience becomes the norm instead of the exception. Together, we rise.

There is endless wisdom to be learned from the forests. As we listen, observe, and experiment, we can support and create thriving ecosystems that also happen to be delicious! In this episode of The Yes! We Rise Podcast, we're focusing on plants, gardening like a forest, and planting for pollinators. We're going to do a deep dive and share how edible forest gardens work and what you can do to create a simple forest garden that builds soil and increases the health of the ecosystems around us. We can grow delicious food while sustaining and replenishing the incredible land that has given us so much. Welcome! LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Check out Xerces Society and learn more about helpful plants for pollinator conservation. Learn more about the importance of pollinators through Pollinator Pathway. Discover the best pollinator plants where you live in the United States. For an incredible read on what you can do at home, be sure to check out: Bringing Nature Home by Dr. Douglas W. Tallamy The Yes! We Rise podcast is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow the We Rise podcast on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening. The Yes! We Rise podcast features solutions-seekers, change-makers, and those creating a resilient future. We share stories and strategies to inspire action to build collective resilience and community transformation. To create change, people need to feel like they belong and that they are part of a growing movement. They need to know their voice matters and that they have the inspiration, agency and ability to transform their lives and their communities. They are the key to a resilient future.     From the Navajo Nation to the mountains of Appalachia, incredible work is being done by community members and leaders. Change is often sparked by inspiration: seeing what others have done, especially in similar situations and places. People see that when someone looks like them or lives in a place like theirs, and has created real, true and lasting change, change that will allow their granddaughters and grandsons to thrive — they begin to imagine what might be possible for them.  No longer waiting for someone else to come and save them, they realize they are the ones they have been waiting for.  But what creates that spark? What creates that inspiration?  Learning through stories and examples, feeling a sense of agency and belonging, and getting fired up to kick ass creates that spark.  We Rise helps community leaders and members learn to forge a new path toward creating resilience and true transformation. One person at a time, one community at a time, one region at a time, the quilt of transformation can grow piece by piece until resilience becomes the norm instead of the exception. Together, we rise.

It is such a joy to welcome Dr. Fanike-Kiara Young back to the Yes! We Rise Podcast. Dr. Fanike-Kiara Young is a master healing alchemist, a corporate wellness quality improvement expert, and a corporate trainer. She is a licensed trauma therapist and focuses on healing the whole person.  Dr. Fanike has transformed her own trauma, and now helps women entrepreneurs overcome their negative thought patterns and limiting beliefs so they can step into who they want to be. Today she opens up about her healing journey, the importance of creating safe spaces in the work environment, and the impact of running a business with a human-centered focus. If you missed Dr. Fanike's previous appearance on the Yes! We Rise Podcast, Episode 26, be sure to take a listen! LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Learn more about Dr. Fanike-Kiara Young and her work through her website. You can also follow Dr. Fanike on LinkedIn,  Instagram and Facebook. Listen to Dr. Fanike's first appearance on the Yes! We Rise Podcast, Episode 26! The Yes! We Rise podcast is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow the We Rise podcast on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening. The Yes! We Rise podcast features solutions-seekers, change-makers, and those creating a resilient future. We share stories and strategies to inspire action to build collective resilience and community transformation. To create change, people need to feel like they belong and that they are part of a growing movement. They need to know their voice matters and that they have the inspiration, agency and ability to transform their lives and their communities. They are the key to a resilient future.     From the Navajo Nation to the mountains of Appalachia, incredible work is being done by community members and leaders. Change is often sparked by inspiration: seeing what others have done, especially in similar situations and places. People see that when someone looks like them or lives in a place like theirs, and has created real, true and lasting change, change that will allow their granddaughters and grandsons to thrive — they begin to imagine what might be possible for them.  No longer waiting for someone else to come and save them, they realize they are the ones they have been waiting for.  But what creates that spark? What creates that inspiration?  Learning through stories and examples, feeling a sense of agency and belonging, and getting fired up to kick ass creates that spark.  We Rise helps community leaders and members learn to forge a new path toward creating resilience and true transformation. One person at a time, one community at a time, one region at a time, the quilt of transformation can grow piece by piece until resilience becomes the norm instead of the exception. Together, we rise.

At the beginning of every episode of the Yes! We Rise Podcast, you'll notice some incredible music, which is all thanks to Lori and Jeremy Lowell of Drishti Beats. Together, they join Christine to share about their journey and personal upleveling, which led to the creation of Drishti Beats, where their offerings include yoga workshops, yoga teacher trainings, and retreats incorporating their very own music. In fact, Lori and Jeremy met Christine when she took their yoga teacher training certification (which is one of her greatest sources of joy)!  This power couple of over 35 years have a heart for paying it forward, and they dive into the importance of taking baby steps toward the life you want and the role of our ego. Lean into this episode fueled with reflection, inspiration, and encouragement. Enjoy! LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Learn more about Lori and Jeremy Lowell through their website and by following them on Instagram and Facebook. Discover incredible Yoga Workshops, Trainings, and Retreats along with their own music: Drishti Beats. The Yes! We Rise podcast is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow the We Rise podcast on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening. The Yes! We Rise podcast features solutions-seekers, change-makers, and those creating a resilient future. We share stories and strategies to inspire action to build collective resilience and community transformation. To create change, people need to feel like they belong and that they are part of a growing movement. They need to know their voice matters and that they have the inspiration, agency and ability to transform their lives and their communities. They are the key to a resilient future.     From the Navajo Nation to the mountains of Appalachia, incredible work is being done by community members and leaders. Change is often sparked by inspiration: seeing what others have done, especially in similar situations and places. People see that when someone looks like them or lives in a place like theirs, and has created real, true and lasting change, change that will allow their granddaughters and grandsons to thrive — they begin to imagine what might be possible for them.  No longer waiting for someone else to come and save them, they realize they are the ones they have been waiting for.  But what creates that spark? What creates that inspiration?  Learning through stories and examples, feeling a sense of agency and belonging, and getting fired up to kick ass creates that spark.  We Rise helps community leaders and members learn to forge a new path toward creating resilience and true transformation. One person at a time, one community at a time, one region at a time, the quilt of transformation can grow piece by piece until resilience becomes the norm instead of the exception. Together, we rise.

Education can change lives, and while college is often seen as the onramp to success, so often we forget about the financial burden that comes with earning a degree. Dr. Faith Okpotor is changing the lives of students through her powerful project, College Fully Funded. Faith is a college professor of international relations, researching political violence and international security, with a special emphasis on Africa. Today, she joins Christine on the Yes! We Rise podcast, sharing her educational journey from Nigeria to the U.S. and earning her PhD. Find inspiration and hope as you learn more about Faith and the incredible work she is doing. Welcome. LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Learn more about Faith Okpotor and her new program: College Fully Funded! You can also email her at collegefullyfunded@gmail.com.  The Yes! We Rise podcast is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow the We Rise podcast on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening. The Yes! We Rise podcast features solutions-seekers, change-makers, and those creating a resilient future. We share stories and strategies to inspire action to build collective resilience and community transformation. To create change, people need to feel like they belong and that they are part of a growing movement. They need to know their voice matters and that they have the inspiration, agency and ability to transform their lives and their communities. They are the key to a resilient future.     From the Navajo Nation to the mountains of Appalachia, incredible work is being done by community members and leaders. Change is often sparked by inspiration: seeing what others have done, especially in similar situations and places. People see that when someone looks like them or lives in a place like theirs, and has created real, true and lasting change, change that will allow their granddaughters and grandsons to thrive — they begin to imagine what might be possible for them.  No longer waiting for someone else to come and save them, they realize they are the ones they have been waiting for.  But what creates that spark? What creates that inspiration?  Learning through stories and examples, feeling a sense of agency and belonging, and getting fired up to kick ass creates that spark.  We Rise helps community leaders and members learn to forge a new path toward creating resilience and true transformation. One person at a time, one community at a time, one region at a time, the quilt of transformation can grow piece by piece until resilience becomes the norm instead of the exception. Together, we rise.

Creativity is an exchange of energy, passion, and trust. Today, mural artist Chicho Lorenzo joins Christine sharing his joy, wisdom, and light. Chicho is living out his calling as a creative in a way that brings people together. He believes that art is best created when it is mutually inspired. Chicho's personality is magnetic. He believes in the power of sharing all emotions and that happiness is a shared asset. Today he dives into the process of co-creating with his environment, the importance of relinquishing control, and how to trust the process of creativity knowing that what is meant to be will come to fruition. Feel inspired as Chicho and Christine create together in today's episode of Yes! We Rise. Welcome. LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Learn more about Chicho and experience his incredible art through his website, www.chicho.org, and through Facebook and Instagram. The Yes! We Rise podcast is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats.   Follow the We Rise podcast on Facebook and Instagram.   Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening. The Yes! We Rise podcast features solutions-seekers, change-makers, and those creating a resilient future. We share stories and strategies to inspire action to build collective resilience and community transformation. To create change, people need to feel like they belong and that they are part of a growing movement. They need to know their voice matters and that they have the inspiration, agency and ability to transform their lives and their communities. They are the key to a resilient future.     From the Navajo Nation to the mountains of Appalachia, incredible work is being done by community members and leaders. Change is often sparked by inspiration: seeing what others have done, especially in similar situations and places. People see that when someone looks like them or lives in a place like theirs, and has created real, true and lasting change, change that will allow their granddaughters and grandsons to thrive — they begin to imagine what might be possible for them.  No longer waiting for someone else to come and save them, they realize they are the ones they have been waiting for.  But what creates that spark? What creates that inspiration?  Learning through stories and examples, feeling a sense of agency and belonging, and getting fired up to kick ass creates that spark.  We Rise helps community leaders and members learn to forge a new path toward creating resilience and true transformation. One person at a time, one community at a time, one region at a time, the quilt of transformation can grow piece by piece until resilience becomes the norm instead of the exception. Together, we rise.

There is wisdom and power in plants, beyond what we often allow ourselves to see! Kat Maier knows this firsthand, and in today's episode of the We Rise Podcast, she invites us all to dive deep into ourselves and the lessons of the plants. Learn about the power of herbalism, wide angle vision, dropping into the consciousness of the heart, and the transformational beauty of sitting in hard spaces. Kat's heart and passion are palpable as she dives into the art of embodying and practicing the lessons of herbalism. Enjoy! Kat Maier has been a practicing herbalist for over fifty years. She is the director of Sacred Plant Traditions in Charlottesville, Virginia, where she offers a Three Year Clinical/Community Herbalist training program. Kat is also a founding member of the Botanica Mobile Clinic and president of the Board of United Plant Savers. LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Learn more about Kat Maier and her new book, Energetic Herbalism. You can also discover more about herbalism and Kat's work at the Sacred Plant Traditions: A Center For Herbal Studies, Botanica Mobile Clinic, and United Plant Savers. Additional Resources Mentioned: Wide Angle Vision Sarah Blondin: Storyteller, Author, and Meditation Guide Inflamed by Raj Patel and Rupa Marya When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chöndrön Susan Cain, author of Quiet and Bittersweet How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole Part 1 from Unlocking Us with Brené Brown How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole Part 2 from Unlocking Us with Brené Brown The Yes! We Rise podcast is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow the We Rise podcast on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening. The Yes! We Rise podcast features solutions-seekers, change-makers, and those creating a resilient future. We share stories and strategies to inspire action to build collective resilience and community transformation. To create change, people need to feel like they belong and that they are part of a growing movement. They need to know their voice matters and that they have the inspiration, agency and ability to transform their lives and their communities. They are the key to a resilient future.      From the Navajo Nation to the mountains of Appalachia, incredible work is being done by community members and leaders. Change is often sparked by inspiration: seeing what others have done, especially in similar situations and places. People see that when someone looks like them or lives in a place like theirs, and has created real, true and lasting change, change that will allow their granddaughters and grandsons to thrive — they begin to imagine what might be possible for them.  No longer waiting for someone else to come and save them, they realize they are the ones they have been waiting for.  But what creates that spark? What creates that inspiration?  Learning through stories and examples, feeling a sense of agency and belonging, and getting fired up to kick ass creates that spark.  We Rise helps community leaders and members learn to forge a new path toward creating resilience and true transformation. One person at a time, one community at a time, one region at a time, the quilt of transformation can grow piece by piece until resilience becomes the norm instead of the exception. Together, we rise.

What does it take to overcome and heal through trauma? In today's episode of Yes! We Rise, Christine is joined by professor Jerrod Brown. Jerrod offers his wisdom and expertise on trauma and cultivating resilience and healing. He explains the importance of leaning into emotions, self-care, and gratitude. Learn about trauma at the individual level and as a community, and discover simple, yet powerful ways to support yourself and your family in building resilience and a strong, stable foundation! There are endless nuggets of gold in this episode you don't want to miss out on. Enjoy! Jerrod Brown is a professor, trainer, consultant and researcher who works in the area of resilience and trauma informed care. His main areas of expertise are in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, autism, and traumatic brain injuries confabulation. Over the past few years, Jerrod has been digging into trauma, resilience, and trauma-informed care, and shares much of what he's learned in this episode. LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED If you have questions or would like to know more, feel free to reach out to Jerrod at: Jerrod01234Brown@live.com. Discover more about self-compassion from Kristen Neff's work and vulnerability through Brené Brown. Learn more about delayed gratification through the Marshmallow Test. The Yes! We Rise podcast is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow the We Rise podcast on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening. The Yes! We Rise podcast features solutions-seekers, change-makers, and those creating a resilient future. We share stories and strategies to inspire action to build collective resilience and community transformation. To create change, people need to feel like they belong and that they are part of a growing movement. They need to know their voice matters and that they have the inspiration, agency and ability to transform their lives and their communities. They are the key to a resilient future.     From the Navajo Nation to the mountains of Appalachia, incredible work is being done by community members and leaders. Change is often sparked by inspiration: seeing what others have done, especially in similar situations and places. People see that when someone looks like them or lives in a place like theirs, and has created real, true and lasting change, change that will allow their granddaughters and grandsons to thrive — they begin to imagine what might be possible for them.  No longer waiting for someone else to come and save them, they realize they are the ones they have been waiting for.  But what creates that spark? What creates that inspiration?  Learning through stories and examples, feeling a sense of agency and belonging, and getting fired up to kick ass creates that spark.  We Rise helps community leaders and members learn to forge a new path toward creating resilience and true transformation. One person at a time, one community at a time, one region at a time, the quilt of transformation can grow piece by piece until resilience becomes the norm instead of the exception. Together, we rise.

Do you believe your voice matters? Do you believe that the way you communicate with others can directly impact how they show up in the world? Roxanne Derhodge joins Christine to share her empowering knowledge around authentic leadership. Discover what it means to own your voice and empower others to do the same. Roxanne digs into what it means to be a leader for the collective, and how CEOs and business owners can leverage their authenticity in leadership. In today's episode of the We Rise podcast, step into a transformative space and cultivate change!  Roxanne Derhodge, M.Sc.ED. is a registered psychotherapist specializing in individual, couples and family therapy. She has over 20 years of experience, and is a graduate of the University of Toronto and the University of Guelph specializing in cognitive behavioral and family systems therapy. As a BIPOC leader, Roxanne has written an Amazon bestselling book, A Therapist Insider's Guide on Relationships: Healing the Past, and is a professional member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS) as well as a contributing member to the Forbes Executive Council.  LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Discover more about Roxanne Derhodge and her powerful leadership work through her website, and her podcast: Authentic Living with Roxanne.  Purchase her book, A Therapist Insider's Guide on Relationships: Healing the Past, and be on the lookout for her new book on relationships, coming soon! Collective Resilience: We Rise is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow Collective Resilience: We Rise on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening. The Yes! We Rise podcast features solutions-seekers, change-makers, and those creating a resilient future. We share stories and strategies to inspire action to build resilience and community transformation. To create change, people need to feel like they belong and that they are part of a growing movement. They need to know their voice matters and that they have the inspiration, agency and ability to transform their lives and their communities. They are the key to a resilient future.     From the Navajo Nation to the mountains of Appalachia, incredible work is being done by community members and leaders. Change is often sparked by inspiration: seeing what others have done, especially in similar situations and places. People see that when someone looks like them or lives in a place like theirs, and has created real, true and lasting change, change that will allow their granddaughters and grandsons to thrive — they begin to imagine what might be possible for them.  No longer waiting for someone else to come and save them, they realize they are the ones they have been waiting for.  But what creates that spark? What creates that inspiration?  Learning through stories and examples, feeling a sense of agency and belonging, and getting fired up to kick ass creates that spark.   We Rise helps community leaders and members learn to forge a new path toward creating resilience and true transformation. One person at a time, one community at a time, one region at a time, the quilt of transformation can grow piece by piece until resilience becomes the norm instead of the exception. Together, we rise.

What if loving yourself and deepening your relationship to self could lead to transforming the world? This is exactly what Susan McCulley believes. Susan is a mindful movement teacher based in Charlottesville, Virginia, with a passion for helping people use movement to connect with themselves and as a result, change the world. In today's episode of the We Rise Podcast, Susan shares how tuning into sensation helps us to broaden our tolerance of discomfort and grow as a human. She explains the importance of being an ally to our body and the power of curiosity. Feel inspired and emboldened to be present with yourself and how this is a guide for others. You are a gift to the world, and we're so glad you're here today. Welcome! LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Learn more about Susan and her work as a mindful movement coach at her Website. You can also enjoy Susan's teachings, meditations, and new 30 day course on the Insight Timer app, called Building Balance In Your Body & Life! If you are over the age of 50 and identify as a woman, check out Susan's online community, The Age of Becoming. Book Recommendation From Susan: My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem The Yes! We Rise is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow Yes! We Rise on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening. The We Rise podcast features solutions-seekers, change-makers, and those creating a resilient future. We share stories and strategies to inspire action to build resilience and community transformation. To create change, people need to feel like they belong and that they are part of a growing movement. They need to know their voice matters and that they have the inspiration, agency and ability to transform their lives and their communities. They are the key to a resilient future.     From the Navajo Nation to the mountains of Appalachia, incredible work is being done by community members and leaders. Change is often sparked by inspiration: seeing what others have done, especially in similar situations and places. People see that when someone looks like them or lives in a place like theirs, and has created real, true and lasting change, change that will allow their granddaughters and grandsons to thrive — they begin to imagine what might be possible for them.  No longer waiting for someone else to come and save them, they realize they are the ones they have been waiting for.  But what creates that spark? What creates that inspiration?  Learning through stories and examples, feeling a sense of agency and belonging, and getting fired up to kick ass creates that spark.  We Rise helps community leaders and members learn to forge a new path toward creating resilience and true transformation. One person at a time, one community at a time, one region at a time, the quilt of transformation can grow piece by piece until resilience becomes the norm instead of the exception. Together, we rise.

Change is often sparked by inspiration: seeing what others have done, especially in peer communities. People see that when someone looks like them or lives in a place like theirs, and has created real, true and lasting change, they begin to imagine what might be possible in their own communities. But what creates that spark? What creates that inspiration? Tune in as Christine shares stories from 3 inspiring community leaders who have all been featured on the We Rise Podcast. LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Learn more about some of the towns and opportunities inspiring this episode: Dante, Cleveland, St. Paul, Dungannon, Spearhead Trails, Clinch River  Check out the collaborative project 100 Days in Appalachia Read the article “When Data Met Art: Redefining Narratives of Poverty Through Research-Driven Storytelling” Collective Resilience: We Rise is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow Collective Resilience: We Rise on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening. The Collective Resilience: We Rise podcast features solutions-seekers, change-makers, and those creating a resilient future. We share stories and strategies to inspire action to build resilience and community transformation. To create change, people need to feel like they belong and that they are part of a growing movement. They need to know their voice matters and that they have the inspiration, agency and ability to transform their lives and their communities. They are the key to a resilient future.     From the Navajo Nation to the mountains of Appalachia, incredible work is being done by community members and leaders. Change is often sparked by inspiration: seeing what others have done, especially in similar situations and places. People see that when someone looks like them or lives in a place like theirs, and has created real, true and lasting change, change that will allow their granddaughters and grandsons to thrive — they begin to imagine what might be possible for them.  No longer waiting for someone else to come and save them, they realize they are the ones they have been waiting for.  But what creates that spark? What creates that inspiration?  Learning through stories and examples, feeling a sense of agency and belonging, and getting fired up to kick ass creates that spark.  We Rise helps community leaders and members learn to forge a new path toward creating resilience and true transformation. One person at a time, one community at a time, one region at a time, the quilt of transformation can grow piece by piece until resilience becomes the norm instead of the exception. Together, we rise.

Natalie Bullen is a full-time entrepreneur who helps women have confidence in their value, rewrite money narratives, and demand the compensation they are actually worth. Her coaching and consulting firm, Unapologetic Wealth, supports women, especially women of color, to capture the wealth they deserve and desire. In this passionate episode of the We Rise Podcast, Natalie empowers each of us to claim our wealth unapologetically! LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Learn more from Natalie's business at her webpage Unapologetic Wealth, and by following her on Instagram, Facebook, and tuning into her daily talks on Clubhouse at Natalie Bullen! You can also join her free Facebook Group! Collective Resilience: We Rise is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow Collective Resilience: We Rise on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening. The Collective Resilience: We Rise podcast features solutions-seekers, change-makers, and those creating a resilient future. We share stories and strategies to inspire action to build resilience and community transformation. To create change, people need to feel like they belong and that they are part of a growing movement. They need to know their voice matters and that they have the inspiration, agency and ability to transform their lives and their communities. They are the key to a resilient future.     From the Navajo Nation to the mountains of Appalachia, incredible work is being done by community members and leaders. Change is often sparked by inspiration: seeing what others have done, especially in similar situations and places. People see that when someone looks like them or lives in a place like theirs, and has created real, true and lasting change, change that will allow their granddaughters and grandsons to thrive — they begin to imagine what might be possible for them.  No longer waiting for someone else to come and save them, they realize they are the ones they have been waiting for.  But what creates that spark? What creates that inspiration?  Learning through stories and examples, feeling a sense of agency and belonging, and getting fired up to kick ass creates that spark.  We Rise helps community leaders and members learn to forge a new path toward creating resilience and true transformation. One person at a time, one community at a time, one region at a time, the quilt of transformation can grow piece by piece until resilience becomes the norm instead of the exception. Together, we rise.

Dr. Fanike-Kiara Young has an incredible background as a licensed therapist, master healing alchemist, reiki practitioner, certified clinical hypnotherapist, and has a deep background in behavioral health, childhood, and financial trauma. She helps women entrepreneurs overcome their negative thought patterns and limiting beliefs so they can step into who they want to be, both personally and professionally. Check out the episode links to learn more about Dr. Fanike's new book as well. This conversation is full of wisdom and Dr. Fanike so thoughtfully shares so many pieces of her story. Welcome to the We Rise Podcast! LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Learn more about Dr. Fanike's work at her website https://drfanike.com, and her new book, What the F*ck is Your Problem and check out her companion Active Worker's Journal. Follow Dr. Fanike on Instagram and Facebook. Collective Resilience: We Rise is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow Collective Resilience: We Rise on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening.

Ruma Mazumdar is a real estate attorney and entrepreneur supporting home buyers and sellers as they enter into an exciting new chapter of their lives. As a South Asian-American, she made the decision to leave her six-figure corporate law firm job to begin her own practice, Key Esquire, and now works largely with the South Asian immigrant community. Breaking away from traditional values and finding success, she hopes to inspire other women and younger generations to pursue their dreams. Hear all this and more on today's empowering episode of the We Rise Podcast. Learn more about Ruma and her work with Key Esquire on Instagram and Facebook! LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED To learn more about Ruma and her work check out Key Esquire, and be sure to give her a follow on Instagram and Facebook!  Collective Resilience: We Rise is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow Collective Resilience: We Rise on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening.

Rorri Geller-Mohamed is the founder of U Power Change, an organization focused on anti-racism and diversity, equity, and inclusion coaching and consulting. Through her program Changemakers, she helps women that identify as white to feel empowered and ready to engage in racial equity and justice work. Rorri also has a blog and podcast, Racially Responsible, focused on growing equity. Today, Rorri sits down with Christine to share her journey into the powerful work she does. Rorri breaks down what doing this work looks like and where to start. Learn how you too can become a catalyst for change in this episode of the We Rise Podcast. Welcome! LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Stay connected to Rorri through her website: U Power Change or through email at Rorri@UPowerChange.com Also be sure to tune into Rorri's podcast: Racially Responsible. Check out Embrace Race for some valuable youth resources! For some reading take a look at: My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies. Collective Resilience: We Rise is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow Collective Resilience: We Rise on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening.

Elizabeth Hope Derby is a business and mindset coach based in Charlottesville, Virginia who partners with women entrepreneurs to help them create more sustainable, profitable and enjoyable businesses. Christine and Elizabeth explore the power of shifting from scarcity to possibility, the power of having a community to support you, and how to create movement by taking it one step at a time. Today on the We Rise Podcast, learn how your passion is your gift to the world. Enjoy! LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED To learn more about Elizabeth Hope Derby or her Business and Mindset Coaching, check out her website! Follow Elizabeth Hope Derby on Facebook and Instagram! Collective Resilience: We Rise is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow Collective Resilience: We Rise on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening.

Happy New Year! As we begin 2022, Christine is thrilled to bring author and alcohol-free life coach, Karolina Rzadkowolska to share her expertise and passion for creating an alcohol-free life! Hear Karolina's journey of becoming the best version of herself, learn the mental and physical benefits of taking a break from alcohol, and feel empowered to transform your life. In the face of a society that normalizes drinking, it is an act of resilience and rebellion to choose differently, to choose you! Imagine what you could unlock in your own life! Welcome to the We Rise Podcast. Karolina's new book Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You, made bestseller status on Amazon and is now available for purchase! LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Discover more on the powerful work that Karolina does by checking out her website: Euphoric Alcohol-Free. You can also follow and subscribe to her Facebook and Instagram. Karolina has just released her first book, Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You, available for purchase now.  Learn more about the alcohol-free lifestyle from Karolina on Euphoric The Podcast. Collective Resilience: We Rise is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow Collective Resilience: We Rise on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening.

Elizabeth Wright lives in Knoxville, Tennessee working as a Communication Strategist at the The Highlander Research and Education Center in Tennessee. A fierce advocate for justice, involved in youth organizing in Knoxville, and passionate about justice, Elizabeth shares some of the incredible work taking place in the South and Appalachian communities to bring about transformation, movement building and equity. Her passion for justice is palpable and inspiring. Enjoy! LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Learn more about The Highlander Research and Education Center, including their solidarity economy work, and find them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Find out more about the Knoxville Girls Rock Camp Alliance and check out their Facebook and Instagram. Check out these valuable resources Elizabeth recommends: Media Justice, Press On, and Scalawag Magazine. Discover the incredible work being done with youth in the South and Appalachian communities through Knox Know How, Seeds of Fire, and The STAY Together Youth Project. Learn about the local work being done in the Knoxville community through organizations such as First Aid Collective Knox and the Knoxville City Council Movement. Discover more about the work of Equal Health and their Campaign Against Racism program. Collective Resilience: We Rise is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow Collective Resilience: We Rise on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening.

In today's episode of the We Rise Podcast, Christine welcomes friend and mentor Frank Dukes to share about his work as a mediator and community leader. Facilitating conversations for communities on a wide range of issues, Frank shares the importance of conflict resolution and building trust. Hear about embracing uncomfortable conversations, creating brave space, and cultivating community. Enjoy! Frank Dukes received his PhD from George Mason University, and has worked at the University of Virginia for over thirty years. His current role is lecturer and distinguished Institute Fellow of the Institute of Engagement and Negotiation. Frank is a changemaker in helping communities navigate their differences and come together to create movement toward a better future. LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Learn more about Frank Dukes and his work at the Institute of Engagement and Negotiation. Discover more about the work of the Clinch River Valley Initiative. Find out more about the Bainbridge Memorial. Learn more about UCARE: The University and Community Action for Racial Equity and the Memorial to Enslaved Laborers. Collective Resilience: We Rise is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow Collective Resilience: We Rise on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening.

On today's episode of the We Rise Podcast, Christine shares a beautiful conversation with Nicole Horseherder about her work to protect the water sources of Black Mesa, Arizona as well as the Navajo Nation. A Black Mesa native, Nicole is the director of Tó Nizhóni Ání, which translates to “sacred water speaks”. She explains the power of reconnecting with her culture and traditions as a way to empower her community. Learn about the profound impact of integrating science and spirit, the restoration of Black Mesa, and the empowerment of young activists. LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Learn more about Nicole Horseherder and the important work of Tó Nizhóni Ání. Discover more about the work of the Office of Surface Mining, Navajo Nation Minerals Department, and the Hopi Office of Surface Mining. Collective Resilience: We Rise is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow Collective Resilience: We Rise on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening.

Welcome back to the We Rise Podcast. Today, Christine explores resilience in the Chesapeake Bay with a focus on St. Michaels, Maryland. Sharing from personal experience, Christine talks about the high level view of the gorgeous Chesapeake Bay, focusing specifically on the Bay health. Discover the beautiful Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, and hear how St. Michaels, Maryland is creating economic and coastal resilience. Enjoy! LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Discover more about The Chesapeake Bay. Learn more about the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint, as well as Maryland's Community Resilience Program. Discover more about the town of St. Michaels, Maryland and The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. Learn about the Living Shoreline Collaborative facilitated by Dialogue and Design Associates in Virginia.  Collective Resilience: We Rise is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow Collective Resilience: We Rise on Facebook and Instagram.

In this powerful interview, Christine speaks to the North America Director of Resilient Cities Network, Laurian Farrell. Join as she shares about her upbringing, passion for engineering, and drive to center equity and resilience in cities and communities. Laurian talks about the incredible power of bringing all voices to the table and the importance of equity and planning for a resilient future. Hear firsthand about her beautiful work toward transforming communities on today's episode of the We Rise Podcast! LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Find out more about Laurian Farrell, as well as the Black Environmentalist Alliance. Discover more about the incredible work of the Resilient Cities Network and the Community of Practice on Racial Equity. Learn more about Janvieve Williams Comrie and AfroResistance.  Learn more about urban equity and resilience by reading No Equity, No Resilience: Minneapolis is All of Us by Ron Harris and Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy. Collective Resilience: We Rise is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow Collective Resilience: We Rise on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening.

In this episode of the We Rise Podcast, Christine is joined by leadership coach Heidi Metro for a powerful conversation about the importance of identifying your core values, leading from within and the freedom of setting boundaries. Learn about the power of looking inward before pouring out. Heidi also shares the beautiful work of the Keystone Collective, a group committed to social justice and equity work in the Midwest. Christine's conversation with Heidi is rich and filled with wisdom! Enjoy! LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Learn more about Heidi Metro and connect with her on Facebook and Instagram. You can also send her an email at Heidi@TheNewNextLevel.com. Be sure to check out Heidi's YouTube Channel: Strategies with Soul as well as her series with husband Mike: Continued Conversations. Learn more about taking the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) and deepSee Consulting. Discover more about Trudi Lebron and her Equity Centered Coaching. Collective Resilience: We Rise is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow Collective Resilience: We Rise on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening.

In today's episode of the We Rise Podcast, learn about rising up and resilience in central Appalachia. Christine looks at some of the historic mining wars and the lasting impacts from the Battle of Blair Mountain in West Virginia, how the coal mining industry is shifting, and how communities are creating lasting change. Wrapping up the episode, hear about growing solar projects in Southwest Virginia, which are providing new avenues for local economic development and meaningful federal investment, through the Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia. May this episode inform, encourage, and inspire you! LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Learn more about The United Mine Workers of America. Learn more about the National Association of Counties and their reports on interconnected systemic challenges facing coal communities. Read more about the Just transition Fund and the Political Economy Research Institute at UMass Amherst. Find out more about renewable energy at the US Energy Association. Discover more about the work of The Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia and its three co-converners: Appalachian Voices, University of Virginia College at Wise, and People Incorporated. Collective Resilience: We Rise is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow Collective Resilience: We Rise on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening.

Welcome back to the We Rise Podcast! In today's episode, Christine focuses on women leading and centering women's voices, both a key component to building community and creating transformation. Be inspired by the progress of women, including trans and non binary folks, occupying more places of power. Hear stories of Wahleah Johns and Nicole Horseherder, leaders in the transition around coal and renewables in the Navajo Nation. From the power of story to connecting women to one another's stories, this episode is about empowerment and hope. LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Rachael Rogers of Hello Seven and author of We Should All Be Millionaires Find out more about Wahleah Johns and the work of Native Renewables. Learn more about Nicole Horseherder and incredible work of her and her husband's non-profit, Tó Nizhóní Ání. Read more from “‘The End of Men' and Rise of Women In The High Skilled Labor Market”, as reported by The National Bureau of Economic Research. Tune in to Episode 4 of the Collective Resilience: We Rise Podcast with Lou Ann Wallace. Tune in to Episode Episode 9 of the Collective Resilience: We Rise Podcast with Mayor Horne. Collective Resilience: We Rise is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow Collective Resilience: We Rise on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening.

Joined with two incredible women of Dante, Virginia, Christine shares a lively conversation with Pat Gibson and Catherine Pratt. Sharing about their upbringing in Dante and reminiscing about the past, Pat and Cat share their passion for revitalizing the community-oriented town of Dante, Virginia. Learn about the optimism it takes to rekindle the past for the youth of tomorrow, finding hope in others' success, and the value of community. Welcome to another episode of the Collective Resilience: We Rise Podcast!  Catherine Pratt was born and raised in Dante, Virginia, coming from a family of coal miners. In 2004, she helped create the nonprofit, Dante Lives On, which led to the creation of the Dante Coal Mining and Railroad Museum. She is now the Treasurer of the Dante Community Association. Pat Gibson was born in Dante, but grew up in the town of Castlewood. Moving back to Dante in 1975, she is now the Chair of the Dante Community Association. With a passion to see Dante revitalized, she has her own vision of turning her home into a bed and breakfast for travelers. LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Learn more about the town of Dante and the work being done by the Dante Community Association. Learn more about the Dante Coal and Railroad Museum created by Dante Lives On. Learn about the towns and opportunities inspiring Dante: St. Paul, Cleveland, Clinch River, Spearhead Trails. Collective Resilience: We Rise is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow Collective Resilience: We Rise on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening.

Welcome back to the We Rise Podcast. In today's episode, Christine has a lively conversation with Amanda Workman-Scott, the Director of Community Engagement at the West Virginia Community Development Hub. Amanda shares the importance of building trust, empowering communities, and overcoming fear of change. She also dives into the importance of work-life balance and preventing burnout. Join in as they talk communication, trust, and networking, which are key components to helping communities create the change they want to see. Amanda is married with three children and originally from West Virginia. Moving away after college, she lived in St. Louis, Chicago, and Richmond. But after returning to West Virginia to help her parents with their farmers market, she was instantly reminded of the incredible community and sense of home she felt in her home state. Wanting that same experience for her children, her family made the decision to stay. This was an incredibly rich conversation with so many tangible takeaways. We can't wait to hear your feedback. LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Learn more about the work Amanda Workman-Scott is doing at the West Virginia Community Development Hub Learn more about the Bridgeport Farmers Market. Collective Resilience: We Rise is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow Collective Resilience: We Rise on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening.

What is deep listening? Why is it so important? In this episode of the We Rise Podcast, Christine Gyovai dives into the power of listening and the impact of being heard. Learn helpful tips to be an active listener and its role in fostering deep connections, honoring a person's worth, and creating possibility. LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Find out more about the Crossroads Youth Summit hosted by the International Storytelling Center taking place September 12th, 2021. “How Important is Listening Really?” by Christina Holbrook McEntee “Tell Me More: On The Fine Art of Listening”, an essay by Brenda Ueland The Power of Deep Listening, a talk by Tara Brach Collective Resilience: We Rise is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow Collective Resilience: We Rise on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening.

In today's episode of the We Rise Podcast, Christine is joined by Fritz Boettner of Turnrow Appalachian Farm Collective. Fritz is the director of Food Systems Development at West Virginia University Center for Resilient Communities, a learning laboratory for community transformation. Learn about the value of failure as feedback, the importance of building a firm foundation to turn an idea into reality, and the need for cooperation over competition. What does it take to change the food industry paradigm so it works in favor of all?  Passionate about farming and agriculture, Fritz approaches his work from an economic, nutritional, and community perspective. His current work includes the development of Sprouting Farms, a farm training center in Talcott, WV and the Turnrow Appalachian Farm Collective, a regional cooperative food hub designed to grow wholesale agricultural markets. LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Learn more about Fritz Boettner and his work at West Virginia University Center for Resilient Communities Learn more about Sprouting Farms and Turnrow Appalachian Farm Collective Check out some of the farms and cooperatives partnering with Turnrow Appalachian Farm Collective: Grow Ohio Valley, Garret Growers, and New Roots Community Farm Some of the programs partnering with West Virginia University Center for Resilient Communities include: The Food Justice Lab and SNAP Stretch Collective Resilience: We Rise is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow Collective Resilience: We Rise on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening.

In this episode of the Collective Resilience: We Rise Podcast, Christine connects with Mayor Horne of Dungannon, VA. Mayor Horne talks about letting love lead in creating change, and is a strong point of inspiration for the We Rise Podcast and for Christine. Mayor Horne shares how community members have joined to revitalize the town -- often through working regionally, creating safe and enjoyable spaces for youth, and pursuing growth through networking. Coming up against struggles and hardships, Dungannon has shown resilience and perseverance in creating new opportunities and generating the support they need to transform their town. LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Learn more about the Town of Dungannon. Learn more about the organizations that have helped fund and support the revitalization of Dungannon: LENOWISCO, High Knob Enhancement Corporation, CDBG funding. Learn more about some of the towns inspiring Mayor Horne: Dante, Cleveland, St. Paul Collective Resilience: We Rise is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow Collective Resilience: We Rise on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening.

In Episode 8 of the We Rise Podcast, Christine connects with Christopher Rashad Green for a deeply inspiring conversation fueled by resilience, empowerment, and a story of transformation and connection. Christopher spent sixteen years incarcerated. Since his release in August of 2013, he has transformed his life as a motivational speaker, mentor, and advocate for change in communities in Virginia. He shares the power of keeping hope alive in cultivating change, the importance of healing from past trauma, and the role of trust, empathy, and passion as a catalyst for change. Christopher is the founder of Free*Dome Unlimited and an organizer for New Virginia Majority where he leads the Court Watch of Central Virginia. He works in the Richmond region and also works as Community Organizer at the Legal Aid Justice Center of Virginia in Petersburg. His work addresses systemic issues affecting families and community members, from incarceration to youth justice. LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Learn more about Christopher Rashad Green, founder of Free*Dome Unlimited and employee at the Legal Aid Justice Center of Virginia Learn more about New Virginia Majority and the Court Watch of Central Virginia Learn more about Bryan Stevenson, author of Just Mercy Learn more about trauma in the body through the documentary: Resilience Collective Resilience: We Rise is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow Collective Resilience: We Rise on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening.

In this episode of the We Rise Podcast, Christine interviews Peter Hille, President of The Mountain Association.  Peter shares what it takes to create a new economy and the empowerment of seeing progress. Learn about a “just transition” and the importance of starting at the local level to create lasting and sustainable change for a community. The Mountain Association Some organizations collaborating with The Mountain Association include: The Brushy Fork Institute, Appalshop, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth. Learn more about Gwen Christon and her store, Isom IGA. Collective Resilience: We Rise is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow Collective Resilience: We Rise on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening.

In Episode 6 of the We Rise Podcast, Christine Gyovai speaks with Theresa Burriss about the resilience of coal mining communities, building momentum, and the creative way artists are leading change around the globe. Learn about the incredible transformations happening locally and internationally, and what it takes to create something new. Theresa is the Director of Appalachian Studies at Radford University, the Director of the  Appalachian Regional and Rural Study Center, and the Director of Academic Outreach at the Higher Ed Center in Abington for Radford. She is a teacher, a wife, a mother, and a runner. Growing up in Bristol, Tennessee, Theresa attended Emory University in Atlanta for her undergraduate studies, followed by time in DC working on Capitol Hill and a year in law school. After a stroke in 2012, Theresa and her family made the decision to move back to her roots. They live near Bristol and Abingdon, TN on 123 wooded acres preserving the land, fauna, and flora. Links and Resources: Theresa Burriss, Director of:-Appalachian Studies at Radford University -Appalachian Regional and Rural Study Center -Academic Outreach at the Higher Ed Center in Abington Learn more about:-The Harm Reduction Program in the LENOWISCO district of VA-The Southwest Virginia Workforce Development and their R.O.P.E.S. program-Appalachian Sustainable Development and their Groundwork program-Robert Gipe and the Higher Ground Community Theatre -Opportunity Southwest Virginia -Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy -Appalachian Voices Book and Media Resources:-Women in the Mines: Stories of Life and Work by Marat Moore-Rising: Dispatches from the New American Shore by Elizabeth Rush -Planeta Petrila (Official Trailer) Collective Resilience: We Rise is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow Collective Resilience: We Rise on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening.

In this episode of the We Rise Podcast, Christine is joined by Adam Wells, sharing the resilience of many Appalachian communities. Adam dives into the importance of reckoning with pain to create a new future and the importance of listening and sharing all voices and experiences when creating a new vision. Adam shares what it takes for a community to truly succeed. Adam is the Regional Director of Community and Economic Development for Appalachian Voices, and his career has included environmental justice, activism, new economy, and solutions-based work. He and his wife Emily live in Southwest Virginia, raising their two young children, Ruby and Sawyer. Links and Resources: Appalachian Voices Learn about the New Economy Program, Impacts of the Coal Industry, and Appalachian Voices commitment to Racial Justice and Equity. Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards Wise County, Virginia St. Paul, Virginia Norton, Virginia Dante, Virginia Community Association MountainRose Vineyard in Wise, Virginia Collective Resilience: We Rise is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow Collective Resilience: We Rise on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening.

In this episode of the We Rise Podcast, Christine sits down with Lou Ann Wallace. From Southwest Virginia, Lou Ann has spent twenty years focused on the empowerment of counties and towns to thrive environmentally, as a community, and economically. Lou Ann started her work with a non-profit called St. Paul Tomorrow and also as a member of the St. Paul town council. She then moved into a board position with Virginia's Soil and Water Conservation Districts. She now works with the Russell County Board of Supervisors in Virginia, overseeing District 2, and helping towns including St. Paul, Dante, Castlewood, and more. Learn what it takes for a community to create change for itself as Lou Ann shares her methods for success and seeing individuals and towns thrive. Links and Resources: Heart of Appalachia Tourism Authority Clinch River Valley Initiative Russell County Virginia Town of St. Paul Virginia Virginia's Soil and Water Conservation District The Nature Conservancy in Virginia Spearhead Trails Western Front Hotel in Saint Paul Virginia Virginia Main Street Department of Housing and Community Development Collective Resilience: We Rise is produced by Dialogue + Design Associates, Podcasting For Creatives, with music by Drishti Beats. Follow Collective Resilience: We Rise on Facebook and Instagram. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast so we can continue spreading our message far and wide. Find our email list at the website: www.yeswerise.org. Thanks for listening.