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Community Voice

A Movement Whose Time Has Come: Community Voice and Advocacy

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On June 27, Next Stage will present its fifth and final webinar on the power of community voice, with this one focused on its essential role in advocacy (Sign up here!). Of all the topics covered as a part of the series thus far, this one holds special interest for Helen Hope Kimbrough and Josh Jacobson, the team that has been presenting this content over the last three months.

Advocacy is defined as public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or policy. Advocacy is also the opportunity to:

  • Present a case for support through methods of data-gathering, comparative analysis and trend research, and storytelling to inform the process
  • Build and cultivate relationships, engaging partners in the community, giving them action steps and tools to join the conversation
  • Make a clear case of what you hope to achieve, outlining funding support, resources and next steps to impact the community

It seems everywhere we look these days, the voices of people who are being left out of public discourse are finding opportunities to be heard – the very definition of community voice. Helen and Josh are excited to share their enthusiasm for the topic in today’s two-part blog.

Inspired by the Foot Soldiers of Change


by Helen Hope Kimbrough

In the Charlotte community, there has been a movement of advocacy stemming from social justice – the act of right-sizing access and opportunities that should exist for everyone, not just a select few.

If you’ve ever attended a public forum or civic meeting, there are so many individuals and organizations coming forth to present matters and concerns that pain residents in our community. For instance, a mom who needs an affordable place to live for herself and two young children in a safe area, a family that needs quality and affordable childcare to work to pay their bills, an aging senior who needs a selection of healthy food options that are better suited for his healthcare needs. The stories go on and on.

Fortunately, we have foot soldiers who are on the ground and ready to carry the mantle (and message) to get folks the help and support they need. They are trusted advocates amplifying their voices to make a difference in the lives of others with evidence, data, compassion, and resources.

A Community Organizing Renaissance

In preparation for our next webinar on Community Voice and Advocacy, Josh and I almost didn’t include it. Yet, the more we talked about the collective community voices and their ability to disrupt systems in thoughtful, consistent, and innovative ways, we were inspired to examine it further and feature it as a part of our webinar series as a deepened approach.

And what we’ve witnessed is how trusted advocates have built and cultivated relationships with community leaders, public officials, and individuals while being diligent in earmarking time to meet with city, county, and state officials, learn more about grant opportunities and financial investment, ask the tough questions, plan follow-up discussions, and educate supporters on ways to engage and participate in the process. Plus, they’ve optimized tools such as thought leadership, social media, convenings, and public meetings to get their message across, leveraging community voice and advocacy.

We are witnessing a renaissance in community organizing by service providers who are proximate to the need, channeling a powerful message of advocacy that is in turn leading to policy change. It inspires me personally. I look forward to sharing these stories during our webinar next week.

Tackling the Monster Upstream


by Josh Jacobson

As I talk about the changes at Next Stage of late, I find myself summoning the metaphor of “bailing babies from the river.” Health and human service providers often describe their intervention work in this way – of being on the banks of a rushing river, rescuing drowning children as they pass heading downstream.

One’s career can be defined in this way, with success measured in the number of individuals one has “saved” from the rushing river. It takes doing that for a while before even thinking to look upstream, where if you squint, you can see a monster who is dumping children in the river. But whereas there are many of you downstream to try to save those children, it appears there are few upstream where the monster is causing the crisis in the first place.

This is the analogy often presented about advocacy and systems change, and it was one I had heard many times before. The monster is depicted as “the system” that allows some sort of policy – either public or corporate – that creates a negative downstream impact. But I will admit, it took a decade of doing this work at Next Stage for it to sink in. And now I feel called to make the main thrust of my work systemic in nature. It is no longer sufficient to bask in the “warm fuzzy” of downstream victories.

Disruption vs Status Quo

I had a conversation with a colleague recently where I tried to explain how this has manifested in my life, and why I feel so drawn to systems work. For the person downstream, there comes a point where you begin to question whether you are actually contributing to the problem – if in “bailing babies from the river,” you are also maintaining a status quo that helps to shift attention away from the monster creating the problem in the first place. You know that it is a life worth saving, but if you continue in your work, will the situation ever get better?

The fact that I am struggling with this more than two decades into a career in social good only serves to highlight my privilege. For the community leaders at the frontlines of this work, this trade off is a daily struggle. It is why the shift toward service providers building expressions of advocacy has been such an amazing trend to observe. Who better to amplify the voices of the oppressed than those who have direct knowledge from providing them services?

It is a space where community voice is the fuel that powers the disruptive efforts that lead to change. Helen and I look forward to sharing how your organization can participate in the movement when we get together next week.

Did you hear? Next Stage has made webinars a big part of its work. This spring, Helen Hope Kimbrough and Josh Jacobson originated a five-part series on the role of community voice to inform all aspects of the social good business model including program development, marketing, human resources management and advocacy.

Did you miss the memo? Don’t fret! Helen and Josh are repeating the series live this summer. Check them out here and sign up for the second wave of the series running through September.

Marketing & Community Voice: An Essential Primer

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“Welcome to our webinar. We’re so glad you could join us!”

This quarter, Helen Hope Kimbrough and I are leading a series of free webinars on the topic of community voice. Specifically, we are outlining how the process of listening to the constituents closest to where impact is created can be applied to different aspects of the social good business model including programming, marketing, human resources and advocacy. It is a part of a new rollout of themed webinars we host quarterly.

Don’t miss tomorrow’s session Marketing Matters: How Community Voice Leads to More Effective Marketing from 11 am-noon. It is the most popular of the series to date, with more than 100 people scheduled to attend. Be sure to sign-up, as the sessions are available on-demand only to the people who register.

Tomorrow’s webinar is designed to provide an overview of the type of content we can deliver for organizations as a part of our new offering: training services. Going forward, we can be engaged to build custom workshops and learning management experiences for the staff of nonprofits and philanthropic organizations. Information about our training services on community voice can be found here.

A New Priority Audience: The People You Want to Serve

I have written previously about diminished referral pipelines (more than a year ago), and our learnings on the subject have only deepened. We have heard from organizations of all missions and budget sizes, and it is clear that some continue to struggle with their programming census.

Safety net organizations have appeared to feel the least impact, as inflation and market forces have caused many people just above poverty to seek emergency support. For example, Crisis Assistance Ministry served 44,734 individuals in FY23, up from 40,268 in FY22, an increase of more than 10%.

More challenging have been the social good institutions that have traditionally benefited from a reliable referral pipeline from service providers like Crisis Assistance Ministry. Many of the public and nonprofit institutions counted on to ensure people won’t need emergency services in the future — organizations focused on prevention and economic mobility — have turned to their marketing teams to rethink communication efforts to recruit clients.

It is an area of nonprofit communication that has often been less examined, where signage and flyers with clarified incentives have traditionally won the day. As you likely know if you’ve been following our blog, we believe a lack of trust in institutions is a big challenge to overcome.

Our focus on marketing and community voice is designed to help marketing professionals navigate this new reality with the goal of growing demand for services.

Marketing & Community Voice

We define community voice as “a two-way directional approach geared toward listening to community and institutions alike toward building trust as an asset, embracing transparent communication, and moving change-worthy initiatives forward together.”

So what does that mean when it comes to your communication efforts?

“It’s Not Always About You” – Too many nonprofits make the mistake of centering themselves in the narrative – their mission, their goals, their services – which does little to engage the person they seek to serve. Our approach to movement-building brand marketing suggests people look for themselves in the story your organization communicates, and that means creating human-centered communication that makes the constituent the hero of their own story. This is a substantial shift for an industry of social good that typically places the helpful nonprofit as the protagonist of the story.

Community Voice is Market Research – Will your messaging land with the people you hope to attract? This isn’t a space to use guesswork – just ask! Test marketing to get messaging right is commonplace when focusing on volunteers and donors, and the same is true for the people your organization wants to serve. The learnings here are likely to be powerful – the behavioral health impacts of poverty, the damage done by deficit framing, the roles of proximity and interconnectedness – and will provide a far more nuanced understanding of how best to build more trusting relationships (and the communication efforts that will make that possible).

Authenticity in Storytelling – Our work with clients has often focused on how to harness storytelling to advance organizational goals. It is an activity where authenticity and intentionality are so important, but also so often not employed to create positive experiences for everyone involved. In our session, we review the the concept of asset framing vs. deficit framing and unpack why people may be reluctant to have their story told in the first place.

Helen and I look forward to seeing you for the webinar tomorrow, or for any of our upcoming sessions on the practical uses of community voice to advance social good outcomes. We will discuss these themes and more with an eye toward ensuring that the communities we aim to serve are centered in all aspects of our work.

Interested in having our team introduce the principles of community voice for your staff team, board, volunteers or grantees? Please get in touch – we’d love to hear from you.

Embracing the Outsider: The Benefits of Hiring Beyond Industry Boundaries

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As I reflect on my major career shift two years ago from ministry to consulting, and how Next Stage welcomed this “social impact outsider,” to the team, I’m thinking about the mutual ways we’ve benefited from our pairing. I took a risk using my skills and interests in a new environment and, thankfully, it was met with opportunity. I don’t believe that’s the norm and I’d like to see more companies give it a go – for the benefit of someone looking to grow in a new direction and – as I’ll highlight – the benefit of their mission or business.

“Minimum Qualifications”

  • ​​A minimum of 3 years of relevant industry experience
  • Past role in sustainability-focused communications or in a communications role heavily focused on sustainability
  • Knowledge of financial analysis, business planning, marketing planning and execution within big-box format (event management role)
  • Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, journalism or equivalent

The bullet points above were taken from current LinkedIn job listings for the Charlotte region. I don’t want to call out the company or job title but trust me when I say these “Minimum Qualifications” are unnecessary for the roles they aim to fill.

Why? Because there is so much potential for companies when they consider bringing in talent outside their industry. A common theme for today’s workforce is the struggle to keep employees engaged. And maybe one reason is that hiring managers are overplaying experience and downplaying interest when reviewing their candidate pools. (Or asking AI to do that filtering for them. Sigh.)

Three Benefits

I’ve seen – and experienced – many benefits of hiring from outside the bubble, but I’ll highlight my top three.

Fresh Thinking

Many companies talk about wanting to be “ahead of the curve” or “disruptive.” If that’s you, keep this in mind: On teams where every member shares the same background and experiences, it can create an echo chamber of ideas – not fertile soil where innovation can blossom.

In fact, one hint that it was time for me to move on from ministry communications after 13 years was that I could not come up with a new way to announce our Bible study offerings. I lacked fresh thinking and was struggling to overcome the status quo.

At Next Stage, my newness, curiosity and desire for context led me to ask (many!) questions of my teammates: Why is it done this way? Can you explain this terminology? What’s the vibe?

I brought these learnings to the communication I produced for Next Stage and our clients. I found opportunities to unpack what felt like insider language and new nuggets of insight to draw people in. When you’re “in it” for several years, it’s normal to take for granted that folks will understand XYZ about your program, product or mission. In many instances, I didn’t. I figured other stakeholders might not either, or they needed a refresher. Newness became my value-add to our engagements.

Transferable Skills That Get The Job Done

This seems like a good point to clarify that I’m not saying industry or degree experience isn’t useful, but that it shouldn’t be the most important thing for all jobs, or even listed as a minimum requirement that might hold good talent back from applying. For example, I hold a B.A. in Journalism from UNC, with a concentration in Advertising…from ye olde year of 2003. Folks, I never once had to use Photoshop to complete an assignment! My degree, while foundational for my training, now better indicates my interest than my aptitude for designer roles at an ad agency. (Shout out to Canva!) Meanwhile, there are applicants who pursued other degrees in college and then developed a passion for visual design. What sounds better for your needs?

More than industry, I believe intrinsic skills are universally valuable to an organization. Whether it’s communication, problem-solving, or leadership, candidates from outside your go-to hiring bullpen often possess transferable skills that can be seamlessly applied to new roles. Today’s ever-changing world needs workers who can adapt and navigate unfamiliar terrain so be sure you value those intangible qualities as you review a candidate.

Improved Diversity and Inclusion

Onboarding can be arduous, and I know everyone’s plates are already full. It’s tempting to hire someone who needs to learn less so you can get straight to it, but you might miss the opportunity to enhance the diversity of experience, knowledge and overall skillset of your organization if you go that route. Employees from different industries and perspectives can offer insights into customer needs and preferences from their work that can positively shake up “how it’s always been done” at your organization, providing the breakthrough you’ve been looking for in a program or initiative.

Many companies list DEI as a priority and hiring is a critical element of that focus – but the data proves that opportunity can be harder to come by for candidates who are from diverse racial backgrounds, neurodivergent, or who come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. From a team culture perspective, embracing candidates from diverse backgrounds and industries fosters a more inclusive workplace culture where all employees feel heard, respected, and empowered to contribute their best work.

For more on building a diverse, thriving workforce, sign up for our upcoming webinar, Community Voice & HR: Listening to Your Employees.

Open the Door

As we reflect on our own experiences and career journeys, let’s consider the benefits of opening doors wider to candidates from outside our industry – and being welcoming teammates to these candidates.

The rewards for both the individual and the organization are worth it.

Community Voice: Passing Fad or Lasting Disruption?

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Over the past few months, Next Stage has been developing a new approach to advancing social good — offering workshops and learning management for professionals on a range of topics including movement-building brand marketing, effective forms of collaboration and dynamic methods of building public-private partnerships. You can learn more and register for our webinars here.

The first topic we are tackling is Community Voice, which we define as “a two-way directional approach geared toward listening to individuals and institutions alike while building trust as an asset, embracing transparent communication and moving change-worthy initiatives forward together.” It is a concept that has existed for some time – the Google Ngram Viewer suggests a spike in its usage in the 1990s – but it has taken on increasing importance in the 2020s.

The one-two punch of the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the murder of George Floyd in early 2020 shifted approaches to reaching people in need. Systems and service providers realized the importance of building stronger relationships with the communities they were serving.

But in the years since, we’ve noticed something else occurring – an appropriation of the language of social good, transforming definitions and ultimately devaluing the concepts they represent. It is a scourge and we feel the need to call it out. 

Words, Words, Words

It wasn’t that long ago that other buzzy impact terms like ESG and CRT were vilified politically, twisted in their meaning to suggest something they were not. DEI is similarly under attack, with efforts across the country to either limit or completely eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives on public university campuses. Corporations that once championed these concepts have quietly shifted their strategies, downplaying past statements and pulling out thesauruses to find less triggering language. 

Inside the world of social good, we have also observed an opposite trend. As opposed to running from these terms, organizations have adopted them to describe their programming, whether earned or not. Large, agency-like nonprofits have taken to calling themselves “community-based organizations,” stretching the definition to fit as new sources of funding flow to trust-built neighborhood groups. The concept of community voice has also been appropriated, with every digital survey and focus group rebranded to suggest a deeper and more impactful form of engagement.

We know language matters, so who defines what constitutes authentic trust-building in the community? If every form of engagement is rechristened as Community Voice, won’t that devalue its substantial potential to disrupt the status quo?

In short: yes. 

Recently, Next Stage published a community report on the topic – Inside-Out: The Case for Community Voice – highlighting the role Community Voice plays in bridging divides that limit referral pipelines and slow pandemic recovery. In it, we make a passionate argument for increasing community voice efforts to overcome a crisis we fear is dismantling decades of forward progress on social causes

A Crisis of Trust

According to Gallup’s annual survey, confidence in America’s ‘trusted’ institutions has eroded significantly in recent years. While this trend of declining trust has been decades in the making, extending back more than 40 years, there has been a sharp downward dip, with community trust in businesses, government, faith communities, media and the medical, justice and education systems at an all-time low.

It doesn’t take long on social media to see how this mistrust is breeding misinformation, upending social norms, and fostering disdain across socioeconomic lines. With the rise of AI and lifelike avatars of real humans, the future looks uncertain for how to recapture trust in systems.

Nonprofits have been similarly feeling this pinch. Traditionally, nonprofits have not self-identified as being part of ‘the system.’ Instead, they think of governments, corporations and institutional philanthropy in those terms, seeing their programming on the same side of the table as the people they aim to serve. And yet, these organizations are wrestling with the same lack of engagement as these other institutions. They are learning that ‘systemness is in the eye of the beholder.’

Not all nonprofits are having the same experience. Those 501c3 organizations that had previously invested in growing relationships with the constituents they hope to serve have fared much better than those that largely sat back, depending on referral pipelines from safety net partners. Nonprofits that often brag about how many organizations they receive referrals from are more often passive in building unique relationships themselves, satisfied instead to await the person in need to come through their front door.

At Next Stage, we believe there is another way – one that requires an increased focus on relationship-building ahead of the deployment of services. It is a shift in practice that is too often not funded, not prioritized and not done effectively.

It is a shift that centers Community Voice as an essential first step.

Championing Authenticity

With such a challenge of mistrust to overcome, nonprofits that slap the term Community Voice on pre-existing strategies are likely to find themselves moving backward. 

We recognize the challenges faced by service providers, who struggle with limited resources to address trendlines like this crisis of trust. This is why, as a follow-up to our report, we have launched a webinar series on the topic of Community Voice.

On May 8 at 11 am, Next Stage’s Senior Director of Community Voice, Helen Hope Kimbrough, and I will lead a free webinar entitled “Programming Matters: How to Strengthen Nonprofit Effectiveness Through Community Voice.” We will walk through the ways Community Voice aids in evaluating program efficacy, increasing constituent acquisition, deepening partnerships and growing peer engagement. It is a session ideal for chief administrators, program directors and philanthropic leaders.

On May 30 at 11 am, Helen and I will be back for another free webinar entitled “Marketing Matters: How Community Voice Leads to More Effective Marketing.” This session will focus on how community voice can help your organization understand its true value proposition, test market language, leverage gatekeepers and “neighborhood PHDs,” and tell stories that celebrate equity and honor the people you profile.

We believe every organization has the potential to adopt approaches to community voice that lead to stronger services, more equitable storytelling, and ultimately better decision-making. We hope to see you at our webinars in May.

Inside Out is the New Bottom Up

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Hearing the words “bottom up” when we look at how people are viewed, judged or measured can be a trigger for me and others. In my lived experience, I’ve witnessed negative connotations or biased opinions when it comes to the reality or perception of what the “bottom” references.

The Study that Put Charlotte at the Bottom

When the 2014 “Land of Opportunity” Study placed Charlotte 50th (out of 50) for economic mobility in major cities, stating that children born into poverty likely remained in poverty, there were shock waves. The findings were a catalyst for rallying cries from corporate, community and civic leaders to do something to change this outcome for Charlotte. Leaders joined forces and organized the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Opportunity Task Force, ultimately developing 91 recommendations to improve and advance economic mobility, especially for the most vulnerable populations.

That study was published a decade ago. Since that time, Leading on Opportunity, an organization supporting Charlotte’s generations-long journey, was formed to convene sectors, implement the recommendations, and improve economic mobility for all using three cornerstones: strategy, data, and policy.

Reactions to this study sent a clear message – Charlotte didn’t like being placed at the bottom but it ended up there from its inability to improve the quality of life for many of its citizens.

How it Feels

Most parents want their children to thrive in their educational pursuits – from preschool to advanced degrees. This belief is strong and crosses variables of race, religion, gender, zip codes and economic status.

When my younger son was in third grade, he struggled with reading and spelling. He would try really hard, but for him, success was not instant. My son was not a traditional learner but instead an experiential learner. This means he learned best through a hands-on or interactive approach strengthened by experiences. Yet, his teacher at the time was not enthusiastic about experiential learning or the context of how he learned. Therefore, my son was placed in the lowest reading and spelling groups. One day, he came home and asked, “Am I smart?” Even in third grade, my son, who learned differently, knew that he was at the bottom. And more importantly, he didn’t like how that made him feel.

In response to his question, I shared that sometimes it takes longer to process, navigate and understand information. I told him that we would find the right tools and resources to course correct to get him on track. It was a journey of advocating for experiential learning not only for the teacher, but for the school administration as well. I did not shy away from this journey because I knew the talents and gifts that my son possessed. I just needed his learning environment to adequately adjust to how he learned and processed information.

After months of sharing case studies and articles on experiential learning, I gained buy-in from the principal who directed the teacher to try this approach. Once she did, my son gained traction of clarity and understanding that was notable in elevating him to higher reading and spelling groups. This was a pivotal moment that changed his trajectory and mine.

Who Decides?

What occurred with my son are common occurrences for many. Someone is deciding who is deemed to be “at the bottom” – not only in education, but in a variety of sectors and situations.

When we work on projects at Next Stage, we regularly hear the phrase, ‘from the bottom up.’ Usually this is said with good intentions and acknowledgment from people in positions of power or influence, especially for problem-solving.

But let’s be clear – no one likes to be at the bottom or feel less than. This is evident in Charlotte’s response to the study and my son’s response to his teacher. There are structures and systems put in place that don’t optimize inclusivity or equity for everyone. And while “starting from the bottom up” implies that everyone will be able to provide feedback, it also implies that the final decision will still be made by those at the top. This begs the question:

Who determined the bottom? And who is benefitting from that structure?

Unpacking the Inside-Out Framework

It’s why Next Stage has changed its language over the last year. We champion an “inside-out” approach instead of a “bottom up” framework. “Inside-out” focuses on proximity to a problem or concern, seeking resolution together. It shakes up the process and suggests that every stakeholder’s voice has value, regardless of where they reside in the community or organizational chain of command.

We want to continue this conversation and continue leading the charge on reframing this mindset. On April 17, Next Stage is launching a series of free webinars unpacking the concept of “Inside Out”. We’ll share how Community Voice creates a foundation for nonprofit leadership, communications and program staff to authentically engage with stakeholders, improve program quality and create messaging that resonates.

The first session will be on Wednesday, April 17, at 11 am. Sign up here to join us!

Happy Hill: A Reflection on the Winston-Salem Neighborhood

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Happy Hill Neighborhood

Last month, Next Stage CEO, Josh Jacobson, and I had the opportunity to formally tour the Happy Hill neighborhood in Winston-Salem, NC. The historically African American community has been disenfranchised and underfunded for decades – but community leaders have persevered over the years, fighting for neighborhood improvements and historical recognition. When we visited, leaders from the Happy Hill Neighborhood Association graciously shared this history while we walked together through the neighborhood.

The experience was transformative and profound. For me, it also evoked feelings of frustration, hope, anger, sadness and grief. I can empathize and resonate with the collective and persistent trauma faced by Black individuals, families and communities all over this country, since the beginning of its time.

The Vision

As we toured the historical neighborhood, I felt pride for our Black ancestors who were truly visionary for their time, such as the seven freed men who were the original building blocks of the Happy Hill community. Rather than distancing themselves from their oppressors, they had a vision to purchase land to secure generational freedom, wealth and opportunity. Unfortunately, their vision was met over the years with egregious injustices by local government and developers to claim the land and develop buildings and homes based on their plans for the city – without input from the residents who have lived and tended the community for generations.

These founding families deserve so much more recognition for the genuine love, commitment and dedication they had to give their people the opportunity to crawl out from under centuries of oppression. When visionaries like the beautiful souls serving the Happy Hill Neighborhood Association make and take space to be courageous enough to stand up and speak out against the injustices done to their neighborhood, it reminds me that amidst the anguish, collective determination rises as an even more powerful force. In witnessing their courage, I’m reminded that from this shared pain can emerge a strength that fuels transformative change and a united voice against systemic injustices.

Anger, Frustration, Heartbreak and Hope

I felt conflicted as a Black woman, whose recent ancestors came to America of their own will, to try to make a better life for their families and achieve an “American dream” – promised to all and still only intended for some. For the some that can pick themselves up by the “bootstraps” to amass all of the resources needed to push out those they don’t think are deserving of a dream. The pursuit of an elusive American dream echoes the struggles of my own ancestors. As I delve into the layers of my family’s history, I strive to uncover and understand my roots while navigating the complexities of identity and belonging.

Through Happy Hill’s stories of survival and determination, I find strength. It is fueling my commitment to contribute to a more just and inclusive society, forging a connection between my experience and the enduring legacy of determination from those who’ve faced unimaginable hardships.

I felt such anger, frustration, and heartbreak for the families who have been fighting for what is rightfully theirs for generations. This experience transformed me. Not only by the discomfort I felt, but also by the hope for the future I left with. I witnessed the determination, fire and unconditional love from the women who showed us around their neighborhood.

Persevering for Preservation

Our tour guide called me in, to bring attention to the notion that the Happy Hill community should not be seen or known as resilient because they should not have to be. For many, many years, the Happy Hill community was told their stories and their histories weren’t important and weren’t worth being preserved. And yet, they persevered to receive historical designations for their land and they continue to pour into the heart of their community through fervent advocacy, community gatherings, and oral storytelling – that is determination.

In closing, our visit to Happy Hill brought me tremendous hope because I feel inspired to tell the story of what I witnessed there, and I’ve met the gifted activists who are determined enough to continue showing up for their home.