January 2025 Partner Convening: What We are Becoming

Bridging and belonging, especially in times of conflict and division, are important frameworks for us to understand, practice, and embody in our shared work. At our January Partner Convening, we heard from john a. powell, Becky Payne, Michael Greer, and many more partners and community members about the foundations of belonging, Vital Conditions, tribal learning, and the collaborative work in the North Sound. We recognize the critical role that relationship building and equity play in exploring strategies to align belonging and civic muscle with bridging.

Recordings will be added soon.

Thank you to Tulalip Tribes’ Lushootseed Langauge Department and Quil Ceda Tulalip Elementary song and dance groups “Rez Dogs” and “Salish Sister” for welcoming our guests to this year’s Convening!

Photo by Stacy Wegley.

We also shared from the Rest Deck, a practice from the Nap Ministry – click on this link to learn more, and if you purchase your own Rest Deck or Tricia Hersey’s books, please consider your local bookstore!

john a. powell (who spells his name in lowercase in the belief that we should be “part of the universe, not over it, as capitals signify”) is an internationally recognized expert in the areas of civil rights, civil liberties, structural racism, housing, poverty, and democracy. He is the Director of the Othering & Belonging Institute at the University of California, Berkeley, a research institute that brings together scholars, community advocates, communicators, and policymakers to identify and eliminate the barriers to an inclusive, just, and sustainable society and to create transformative change toward a more equitable world.

john spoke to our Convening audience about the importance of bridging to belonging, in times of crisis and in times of collaboration.

Recordings will be added soon.

Michael Greer is the President & CEO of ArtsFund. His leadership experience spans both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors, including executive and management roles in the U.S., India, and Mainland China. With a B.A. in economics from Hampshire College, an M.Ed. from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and an M.B.A. from The Wharton School, Michael brings a diverse set of skills and experiences to ArtsFund. He is a Trustee of Downtown Seattle Association, Inspire WA, Puget Sound Regional Council Economic Development District, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, and United Way of King County. His most recent position was as the Executive Director of Oregon Ballet Theater in Portland, OR. Prior to his leadership career, Michael spent six seasons as a professional ballet dancer with Ballet West in Salt Lake City.

Michael shared about the often unseen impact arts have on our communities, and how the arts play an important part in economic, physical, and community resilience.

Recordings will be added soon.

We heard from staff of SNO911, a Nurse Navigation program Snohomish 911, which provides customized response and individualized follow up to community members calling SNO911. The Nurse Navigation program embodies our collective goal of advancing equity, well-being, and a sense of belonging in our communities.

We also heard from a panel including Terry Peterson of SNO911, Joe Hughes with South County Fire, and ACH Care Coordination staff. Check out our Community Hub webpage here!

Recordings will be added soon.

We heard from many of our partners about their work, at the January 2025 Partner Convening, and its only a small percentage of the amazing work being done in our communities!

Including: Targeted Universalism community of practice, Oral Health community of practice, Northwest Agricultural Business Center, Paths to Understanding, House of Wisdom, Trans-WA, Housing Hope, Reintegration community of practice, Setting Sun Institute, Triumph Teen Life Center, Well-being Survey and community of practice, Youth Leadership Institute, EPA Thriving Communities Technical Assistance, Glacier Peak Institute, Clinician Focused community of practice: Equity, Diversity, Inclusion; The Way Station, BRE Innovative Solutions, Unbridled Spirit, and O.U.R. Journey.

Recordings will be added soon.

We heard from Barbara Juarez, Charene Alexander, and Bella James about the Native Transformation Project, and watched a powerful documentary about this project.

Recordings will be added soon.

As Rippel’s President and CEO, Becky Payne leads the foundation’s efforts to shape a future in which all people and communities can thrive—no exceptions. Over the last 20 years, Becky has served in a variety of leadership roles within the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where she was responsible for designing and launching new, large-scale initiatives. Prior to joining Rippel she led the development of an all-of-government plan for the equitable recovery and resilience of U.S. communities following the Covid-19 pandemic, based on the Vital Conditions framework originated by Rippel in partnership with other changemaking organizations.

We heard from Becky Payne about how turning towards each other can help us get to belonging, at the January 2025 Partner Convening.

Recordings will be added soon.

Thank you all for joining us!

Recordings will be added soon.