In 2013, the global Black Lives Matter movement emerged as a response to the murder of Trayvon Martin in the United States. The movement not only brought attention to the continued inequities in our communities but also brought to the forefront how ill-equipped we are for talking about difference and handling the tension that arises at the intersections of our identities and lived experiences. During the 2016 election, we saw this tension amplified. Post 45 and since, we continue to see the evidence of conflict at the intersection of differences and the amplification of the loud voices fomenting the divisions. The intensity and intractability of these conflicts have served to give us ample evidence of the continued ineffectiveness of the “zero-sum” paradigm. The Swell Collective was conceived in 2013 as a way to amplify positive sum practice in response. We received our 501 c3 tax exempt status January 20, 2017.
Our crew hails from all over the country. Since our inception, The Swell Collective has been a hybrid organization with both IRL and virtual workspaces allowing us the opportunity to connect with value-aligned change agents across geographic barriers. Whether we are a waystation or a long-term destination for crew members, we take seriously the responsibility for each crew member’s wellbeing and professional growth and evolution during their time here.
We ground our workplace culture in wellness, equity and inclusion that nurtures a generative environment for innovation and discovery. #goodgrows
TSC is run by women of color who believe in creating spaces to foster the growth of others. I am all about women of color in leadership and in collective spaces for healing, growth, training, and action.
I really enjoyed the tone of this training. It was inspirational, informative and transformational. The responsiveness of the trainers to our needs (sometimes on the fly) was top-notch. The humor that was interwoven allowed for a space of genuineness and growth. "Growth edges" is new vocabulary that I have integrated into my life. Thank you, thank you!
Working with the Swell crew was a tremendous experience, both as a participant and as a fellow facilitator period. [They] took the time to understand our context and what we were hoping to achieve at the end of our time together. [Their] facilitation brought in new methods that were truly appreciated by our attendees.
The Facilitator's Academy was a very invigorating experience and helped reorient my life when I needed it. I appreciate the manner that Emily as well as the team for facilitating such a wonderful space. It encouraged me to come out of my shell and roar as a lion
I learned so much form the Facilitators Academy - it wasn't only about facilitation tools (although we learned a lot about those!) - it was really about holding a gentle space for people to bring forward their most authentic selves (even in these awkward zoom spaces). In these days when the world gives us so much reason to feel rage, despair, and grief, holding gentle space is a critical skill. People can feel all those challenging feelings *and* get in touch with sources of joy and hope. Being in the "room" with the main facilitator, Emily Gonzales was a revelation. I felt as if a more communitarian future were being manifested before my eyes.
I can't thank Swell enough for the support! They helped us do what we needed to do, but often with small organizations it is hard to find the capacity to fill the need. Swell made that a lot easier. Having an outside organization to help facilitate our conversations was amazingly beneficial, as my company is organized into various tired groups with different levels of hierarchy. I found that having the 2 facilitators from Swell was particularly efficient in staying on track and keeping us all organized, as one could lead the conversation in an organic way and the other could focus on note-taking so we could all reference those pieces of information later.
I really enjoyed the tone of this training. It was inspirational, informative and transformational. The responsiveness of the trainers to our needs (sometimes on the fly) was top-notch. The humor that was interwoven allowed for a space of genuineness and growth. “Growth edges” is new vocabulary that I have integrated into my life. Thank you, thank you!
Working with the Swell crew was a tremendous experience, both as a participant and as a fellow facilitator period. [They] took the time to understand our context and what we were hoping to achieve at the end of our time together. [Their] facilitation brought in new methods that were truly appreciated by our attendees.
The Facilitator’s Academy was a very invigorating experience and helped reorient my life when I needed it. I appreciate the manner that Emily as well as the team for facilitating such a wonderful space. It encouraged me to come out of my shell and roar as a lion
I learned so much form the Facilitators Academy – it wasn’t only about facilitation tools (although we learned a lot about those!) – it was really about holding a gentle space for people to bring forward their most authentic selves (even in these awkward zoom spaces). In these days when the world gives us so much reason to feel rage, despair, and grief, holding gentle space is a critical skill. People can feel all those challenging feelings *and* get in touch with sources of joy and hope. Being in the “room” with the main facilitator, Emily Gonzales was a revelation. I felt as if a more communitarian future were being manifested before my eyes.
I can’t thank Swell enough for the support! They helped us do what we needed to do, but often with small organizations it is hard to find the capacity to fill the need. Swell made that a lot easier. Having an outside organization to help facilitate our conversations was amazingly beneficial, as my company is organized into various tired groups with different levels of hierarchy. I found that having the 2 facilitators from Swell was particularly efficient in staying on track and keeping us all organized, as one could lead the conversation in an organic way and the other could focus on note-taking so we could all reference those pieces of information later.
