ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO • 3 MIN READ

Flying and faltering: Confluence's learn cycles in March

profile

Shift happens.

Confluence supports people and organizations who want to build for change frame their first steps by sharing practical tools and innovative processes. We work with professionals who want to level up their leadership and increase their impact, often in community with other changemakers.

March 2025

March has been a time of visibility and resonance for me and the work I do with Confluence. Regenerative relationship is the intervention, and I've been soaking up good conversations and time spent tending to my literal and figurative gardens as I prepare for the summer to unleash its sun rays and growth power.

I have been experiencing failure as data collection to help me bring my best to bear for those in all my constituent communities. Keep reading for an opportunity to help me fail forward!

Some sweet successes worth celebrating: I'm participating in the Dirtroad Organizing candidate cohort this spring, readying me for a run for city council next year. I was featured on the incredible Maryam Abolfazli's pod, Betray Your Algorithm, where we talk about how the dominant narrative and local experience are not always the same - and we can leverage that dissonance for change!

Oh, and the article I wrote on systems change was re-shared by CoCreative. I'm flying, faltering, learning, and trying again. I am equal parts undeterred and engaged in deep listening.

Leadership for Systems Change: Building Inclusive Spaces

We need new leaders - folks who are invested in the communities they are serving, are heart-centered and focused on relationships and trust, accountability and sustainable change for the planet and our people. We can build the world(s) we desire and deserve.

Confluence will be hosting a six-week cohort geared toward coalition and network leaders where we'll weave together story, frameworks, and practices so you can excel in your role as a changemaker.

Want to purchase spots for folks in your organization or network? Want to have Confluence host a training just for your organization or network? Let's make it happen! Reach out to Jess to talk about what's possible.

Help me fail forward

Have you considered this course but something about it is a barrier? When in conversation with folks about Building Inclusive Spaces, we recognize the need for this offering. But that isn't translating to number of people who are signing up. Help me understand the barriers! Is it some aspect of it's marketing (you don't like the title, the content, or don't understand what you're supposed to get out of it), the timing (poor timing, too much time, weekly is too much), the cost? Believing in this work means I'm willing to adjust as needed to make it accessible.

What is on offer

Confluence Consulting helps people and organizations build for change by framing their first steps and by sharing practical tools and innovative processes. We work with professionals who want to level up their leadership and increase their impact, often in community with other changemakers.

Nonprofit Support

Jess brings a wealth of experience to the smaller nonprofit that needs general ops, strategic planning, facilitation or coordination support. You can think of Confluence as your outsourced project manager.

Strategic Solutioning

Jess can deliver wisdom partnership rooted in regeneration and cooperation, systems thinking and network design. Let Confluence support facilitation and planning, team development, governance and organizational design.

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.

Exciting update! Jess has just joined up with Fito Network and their network researchers group to incorporate this work into a larger body of research on the value and impact of system-shifting networks.

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


Resist & Build

May 2-5, 2025 | Atlanta, GA

Join Resist & Build for the "Solidarity at Scale: Converging our Movements for System Change" summit to explore post-capitalist futures and forge connections between resistance movements and alternate institutions.

Partners in Prevention May 19-20, 2025 | Franklin, TN

Partners in Prevention reflects a commitment by preventionists across Tennessee to consistently expand their knowledge, skills, and abilities to prevent and reduce substance use while promoting mental health and well-being.

Radically Rural Annual Conference

October 7-9, 2025 | Keene, NH

Jess attended Radically Rural last fall. It was a fantastic experience- inspiring and reinvigorating. Jess now sits on their national advisory group.

Registration for this year's conference is now OPEN. If you live or work in rural and are a catalyst for change in rural communities, you'll be in fantastic company with all us rural renegades in Keene this fall. See y'all there!

As I prepare for facilitating some conversations this summer in my home community, I was looking through various racial healing, truth, and reconciliation toolkits. This policy and practice brief was a refreshingly short read with concrete examples of how various policy measures and practices are being utilized in communities across the US.

Confluence Consulting is located in Lewisburg, Tennessee on the ancestral lands of the ᏣᎳᎫᏪᏘᏱ (Tsalaguwetiyi), Chikashsha I̠yaakni’ (Chickasaw), S’atsoyaha (Yuchi), and Shawandasse Tula (Shawanwaki/Shawnee) people.

We'd love to have you stick around and continue to be part of the Confluence community. If you need to lighten your newsletter load, you can do that by clicking below.
Unsubscribe

Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here to stay in the know.

Shift happens.

Confluence supports people and organizations who want to build for change frame their first steps by sharing practical tools and innovative processes. We work with professionals who want to level up their leadership and increase their impact, often in community with other changemakers.