Last week, I had the pleasure of attending “Audacious Work in a Timeplace of Collapse” in Seattle with my fantastic colleagues Kristi, Jonathan, Kristen, and Kim. This inspiring gathering, hosted by Collective Acceleration and led by the wonderful Norma Wong, invited us to think about how we can engage in meaningful work, even when times feel uncertain
What Was “Audacious Work in a Timeplace of Collapse”?
At this event, changemakers, advocates, and community leaders came together to explore how to do bold, impactful work amidst the challenges we in the movement to end sexual and domestic violence are facing. The sessions, facilitated by Norma, were infused with wisdom from Zen and Indigenous traditions, focusing on resilience, thriving, collaboration, and the power of taking action.
We’re living in a moment where many of our systems are failing. Yet, embracing audacity allows us to turn what might feel reckless into a meaningful commitment to work together for a brighter, more sustainable future. Collective Acceleration is all about creating spaces where we can move from conflict and scarcity to practices that foster healing, hope, and interdependence, which are all especially important in our efforts against violence.
Thriving Together Is the Way Forward
An incredible insight we came away with was the idea that thriving is not something we do alone. In our roles as advocates, we often think of resilience as a personal quality to be developed. We push through the hard times, striving to hold it all together. However, this can be an overwhelming burden, particularly for those we work with and serve.
What we learned in Seattle was refreshing: the journey from just surviving to truly thriving is all around us and rooted in relationships and in taking action together. It’s about connecting deeply with our communities rather than pulling away from them. When things get tough—with shrinking funding or faltering systems—the trust and care we build within our community are what really lift us.
This isn’t just an inspiring thought; it’s a smart strategy. Organizations that prioritize genuine connections and relationships alongside their goals are often the most resilient and adaptable during challenging times.
Joy, Abundance, and Imagination Are Key
It’s also worth mentioning that many of us working to end sexual and domestic violence tend to treat joy, abundance, and imagination as things to enjoy once we’ve finished the “real work.” But the truth is, crises don’t disappear, and our to-do lists never shrink down to nothing. If we keep waiting for permission to embrace joy or imagine a better world, we might wait forever.
Collective Acceleration reminds us that joy fuels our work, rather than simply rewarding us for it. Embracing abundance should be a daily practice, and imagination is what inspires our strategies and helps us envision change. For those of us dedicated to ending violence and building safer communities, this shift in perspective is essential. The movements that can carry the weight of current struggles while holding onto a vision for a better future are the ones that truly flourish.
Looking Ahead with Hope
As we wrapped up our time in Seattle, we walked away feeling energized. And not because the road ahead has gotten any easier, but because we were reminded that community, joy, abundance, and deep connections are what help us to look forward, even in tough times.
Collective Acceleration nurtures these ideals, reminding us that even when faced with challenges, there’s always hope for a better future together, and the time to act is now. That’s a message we’re excited to share as we continue our work advocating for those affected by sexual and domestic violence.
Resources Worth Your Time
If any of this resonates with you, we encourage you to explore these:
Collective Acceleration is a learning community exploring how individuals and organizations can move from collapse toward collective thriving. Visit collective-acceleration.org to learn more, access resources, and find out how to engage with the community.
The Horizon Story Podcast, hosted by Norma Wong, explores how we navigate rapid change while staying rooted in humanity, healing, and possibility. It is thoughtful, grounding listening for anyone doing work toward a more just world. Find it at thehorizonstory.com.
Norma Wong’s books, including When No Thing Works: A Zen and Indigenous Perspective on Resilience, Shared Purpose, and Leadership in the Timeplace of Collapse and her newest, Who We Are Becoming Matters, offer deep frameworks for this moment. Both are available at normawong.com.
The horizon is still out there. We are still walking toward it. And we are not walking alone.
Corney Calixte is the Prevention and Coalition Wellbeing Director at the Action Alliance.
Read more news