April 2025

In Tennessee, we are living on land that used to be completely under water. Ancient oceans gave rise to sedimentary rock. Where I live, there are caves below our footsteps because groundwater found a crack and created them. The slow drip drip of erosion carves whole new landscapes. Landscapes are also forged by eruption. In quick, violent spurts, new landscapes are created.

This polarity in change paces is a striking metaphor to how change can happen in human systems. Erosion or eruption happens and new landscapes form, but at markedly varying rates. People change in their own time. Systems shift as a result of internal and external pressures or opportunities.

I've been playing around with a change polarity model for how change can happen. In polarities, there is no good/bad, either/or binary. Rather, we recognize the tension between the poles and consider what each might add to the way we are working. Wanna play/have some feedback on this model draft? Connect with me here.

How are you, really??

​

I have survived the first 100 days of the Trump administration. As we survey the outcomes of prioritizing profit over human life and entrenching white supremacy as the status quo. As we witness the neglect and abuse of individuals and democratic institutions. As some of our neighbors or members of our families either celebrate, mourn, or remain indifferent to what can only be defined as our collective horror, I need to ask- how are you, really?

​Help is available. You are not alone. We are building better worlds, brick by brick. We need you.

And if you are getting burnt out because of the political sphere especially, check out this resource- Finding Steady Ground- that came from Working Families Party as part of their "Worth Fighting For" facilitation guide, which I ran with a couple groups locally after the election last year.

What's new with us

Welcome to the world, Confluence website!

Jess is happy to report that with zero tears and a previously untapped ability to intuit WordPress's backend capabilities, Confluence is now living on the internet.

If you are into the work I do, this is a great tool for sharing me, my vibe and my work with folks in your circles.

Check out the Confluence website

Collabs and connections

Confluence stands out because of how we do the work- collaboratively, intentionally, and aligning values with action.

Transformative Leadership for Systems Change

Do you live in Tennessee or a southern state and want to participate in a small body of research? Jess seeks connection with folks working in formal or informal leadership roles and who want to talk about the attributes of leadership that are required in our current context- to build movements, to shift mindsets and recover whole systems.

To date, Jess has talked with a handful of changemakers. It's exciting to see themes emerging, some of which are detailed in this LinkedIn post.

Learn more about the project here. Connect folks with Jess here.

What's on the calendar:

April 30: The Othering & Belonging Institute will present the North American Equity Data Convening, a day-long virtual gathering to explore how data can advance social equity and belonging.

May 1: Tennessee Nonprofit Network is hosting a Special Free Member Session: A Nonprofit Action Plan for Changes Coming from Washington DC. This workshop will explore seven elements of an action plan that nonprofits should consider implementing, considering the significant changes happening as a result of the current administration.

July 9: Radically Rural is hosting a virtual roundtable on Innovative Rural Business Models. Rural businesses are exploring new shapes, locations and ways of doing business. This virtual roundtable will give examples of small towns already using new models.