Healing,listening, and joy were front and center at Youth on Board's 2019 National ListeningWorks Convening this month, where 60 movement builders and social justice leaders from across the country came together in Massachusetts to address our country's moment of crisis.
Here is what Tony and Vanessa, two participants had to say about their experience.
At the 3 day convening, Opportunity Youth United, Sunrise Movement, United We Dream, Michigan State Voices and many other organizations experienced radical vulnerability, deep listening and learned how to infuse those skills into key community outreach tactics. Participants also discussed the intersectionality of movement issues like racism and the climate crisis and developed an understanding on how attacks and our personal triggers and patterns can hijack our movements.
Snapshots from the Convening
Esteniolla Harbor (left), Project Manager of ListeningWorks, and Makayla Wright (right) from SOAR and Opportunity Youth United, using paint, crayon and marker to illustrate and share their life stories.
Are all people good? Do all people get hurt? Can all people heal? Varshini Prakash, Co-Founder & Executive Director of Sunrise Movement, sharing her thoughts during a whole-group discussion about healing justice:
A "home-base" group meeting, one of the many times participants got to meet with their groups led by ListeningWorks staff, YOB alumni and former ListeningWorks trainees, for check-in and support.
Relationship-building was at the center of the convening. Here, Tameka Ramsey of Michigan State Voices and Anika Whitfield of Grassroots Arkansas and the Arkansas Poor People's Campaign, snap a selfie at the end of the convening.
Missed the convening but curious about what we do?
Check out some of our quick videos on appreciations, and our introductory series to the power of listening and listening partnerships, deep canvassing, the Affirm, Bridge, Connect (ABC) skill, and more. Make sure to subscribe to our
Finally, we want to give a special thank you to the funders who made the convening possible and who continue to advocate for healing justice in philanthropy:
