Recap: Building Community Power

October 11, 2024
A picture of mountains with dark purple hues with bright orange sunset in the background

Earlier this year, after brainstorming alongside a number of community partners during initial Building Community Power meetings, the vision for the "Building Community Power" Community of Practice event was formed. The event took place on Friday, September 20, at Normandy Farms in Blue Bell. In these initial meetings, input was intentionally gathered on aspirations for the community, with discussions covering a range of topics, including capacity building and organizing around specific needs. 

Nearly one hundred and fifty attendees primarily representing Montgomery County’s nonprofit and community network came together for a day filled with connection, affirmation, and inspiration. 

We aimed to create a forward-thinking experience that honored the thoughts shared at the Building Community Power meetings. The goal was to celebrate our community’s existing power, its ongoing journey to harness and tap into that power, and to look ahead to the future opportunities rooted in it. 

We hope to continuously foster this engagement knowing that our community's desire is to see more focus on building power, and on creating the space, connections, and learning for that to happen. 

The various moments and experiences that inspired the theme of “Building Community Power” also laid the groundwork for our new Strategic Plan for 2025-2029. The plan was inspired by from roughly 200 individuals that participated in surveys, focus groups, partner convenings, and interviews and represented a broad range of perspectives, geographies, issue and strategy expertise, experiences, connections in communities, and relationships with HealthSpark.

Here’s a look at our event highlights:

 

  • Emi Maeda, the 2024-2025 Montgomery County Youth Poet Laureate, set the event tone with two beautiful poems that provided a multi-lens of passion, frustration, and a call to action on behalf of younger generations. Check out Emi’s work here and here. 

 

  • HealthSpark’s President and CEO, Emma Hertz moderated a session that provided a compelling insight into the vision of our local leadership right here in Montgomery County: Dr. Darlyne Bailey (Founder & Executive Director of the Social Justice Initiative at Bryn Mawr College), Dr. Rev. Gregory Edwards (Interim Executive Director at POWER Interfaith), and Anjali Verma (Youth Mental Health Advocate) delivered -insightful words of wisdom that had our attendees affirming and applauding throughout the entire session. They collectively shared why community should be proud of and acknowledge their power. Our highlights from the session: 
    • Resources are needed to excavate power. 
    • In a racial justice and equity lens, let’s think about how communities of color have been minoritized. They are not a minority. 
    • Fear can be contagious, but so can love, joy, and hope. 
    • Building power is messy and an invitation to discomfort. 
    • “Power concedes nothing without a demand.” – Frederick Douglass 
    • And Anjali shared the resonating thought “It is cool to care.” 

After the opening plenary, attendees transitioned into four different breakout session spaces:

Gen Z’s Rising Power

 

Evan Wang (the first Youth Poet Laureate of Montgomery County), Destiny Williams (Howard University 2024 Grad and Board Member at BeReZilient, Healing Through the Arts), and Anjali explored how to harness the rising influence of Gen Z as voters, advocates, innovators, and colleagues. Attendees heard and learned:

  • That the Gen Z generation is tired of hearing they are entitled and lazy. To the other generations, recognize the nuance of growing up in today’s world. 
  • They may be the future, but they are also the right now. 
  • Facilitate spaces for them where other generations are present, to cross collaborate and intentionally infuse the youth voice. 
  • The need for growing mental health resources is a necessity. 
  • Find power in Gen Z’s words.

Mobilizing Voter Power

 

David Heayn-Menendez (Chief Strategy and Organizing Officer at New Pennsylvania Project) and Mary Felley (President of the Board of the League of Women Voters Abington-Cheltenham-Jenkintown Area) shared their experience and expertise on why educating, energizing, and turning out voters is a crucial part of shaping the future of our future at the local, state, and national levels. Moderated by Megan Briggs (Psychology Professor at Eastern University) Attendees learned:

  • Every resident and community organization has a role to play in mobilizing voter power. 
  • It is appropriate for nonprofits to engage in advocacy – if you are a watershed association, if you’re an arts group, maybe it’s not core – but you can tie whatever your issue is back to the government. Government money comes into the process and your supporters should be engaged.
  • Year-round activism is important. Not just around election cycles. 
  • If someone expresses disinterest in voting, engage them by discussing the issues they care about—like clean water, reproductive rights, or infrastructure. Encourage them to identify a specific issue that resonates with them and highlight the important role government plays in it. Show them that they don’t have to remain passive; they can take an active role in shaping the future.

Building Collective Power

 

Dr. Rev. Edwards and Adam Garber (Executive Director at CeaseFire PA) who lead organizations backed by incredible teams and volunteers with connection, heart, and power in advocacy inspired attendees on how people and organizations working together have the power to build each other up, influence systems, and create conditions to achieve healthy, equitable, and hopeful communities. Moderated by Akshara Vivekananthan (Program Officer for HealthSpark Foundation). Attendees learned:

  • That courageous conversations are constantly needed in the wake of disappointing advocacy “fails.” 
  • It’s crucial to continue to affirm groups and celebrate victories along the way. Every action is a win.
  • Justice is what love looks like. 
  • Put efforts and resources to train staff to build and lead coalitions. 
  • There’s power in the ability to give and receive feedback. Do it and seek it.

Advancing Your Organization’s Power 

 

Marsha Eichelberger (Executive Director at Family Promise Montco PA) and Denise Williams (Founder and Executive Director at Be ReZilient, Healing Through the Arts) shared how they stepped into their organization’s power to make societal and governmental systems and structures more responsive, compassionate, and equitable. Moderated by Meghan McVety (Principal and Co-Founder at Capacity for Change, LLC). Attendees learned:

  • It’s not just about the leaders of organizations—the more individuals engaged and in a mindset of transformation, the greater the impact we can achieve. 
  • Encourage and create space for others in your organizations to step into their own power. 
  • Advancing our power and challenging the status quo involves taking risks. 
  • Acknowledging your accountability in advancing an organization’s power is essential.
  • Work with partner networks, collaborations, and coalitions to advance your own power in your organization and community. Lean into the power of coordinating initiatives around mutual goals.

Closing Plenary

 

  • David Charles, Founder and Executive Director of The Strive Initiative, explained his motivation for embracing his power, sharing on how his acknowledgment on his upbringing and experiences inspired him to support Pottstown’s youth.
  • Attendees heard about our new initiative, the POWER Council, Promoting Opportunities and Wellness Through Equity and Reform, which will help shape and guide the foundation’s efforts to build community power in Montgomery County.
  • As we did at our last event, “Building the Public Will for Housing Solutions,” we gathered on-site post-event feedback from attendees and are grateful for all the insights shared. Here are a few comments that we enjoyed reading so much:
    • "The event was well-organized and let us hear various voices within Montgomery County. It was motivating to hear the ideas of the panelists. The opportunity to build relationships was greatly appreciated." - Lisa McCarthy, Family Promise of the Main Line
    • "Great event! I really enjoyed the conversations and panels. I always appreciate HealthSpark + the ways you all create plans and programming that impact our community! Thank you!" - Gilberto Vega, Theatre Horizon
    • "Love the event! Was my first and I plan on doing this again. Anjali was especially amazing and so inspiring." - Cyndi Woodruff, Mission Kids CAC

In closing, we’d like to offer thanks to:

  • The offices of State Senator Amanda Cappelletti and State Senator Maria Collett for attending. 
  • Kristyn DiDominick, Executive Director at Bucks-Mont Collaborative and Denise Williams, Founder and Executive Director at Be ReZilient Healing Through the Arts for supporting our registration table.
  • Bucks-Mont Collaborative, Coalition for Racial Justice and Social Equity, Interagency Council of Norristown, Montco 30% Project, and TriCounty Community Network for sharing on their mission and resources during our Breakfast & Networking Hour. 
  • Our consultant Meghan McVety for guiding and supporting our creativity, vision, and implementation as we shape foundation activities.
  • Destiny (featured in our Gen Z’s Rising Power panel) for her video capture of the morning activities.
  • Our Board Chair, Dr. Natasha Patterson for her wonderful opening remarks at the event.
  • All of you, for joining us in “Building Community Power.”

Till the next event!