Welcome to the second episode of the We Rise Podcast. Today, Tony Skrelunas of Tribe Awaken joins Christine to share words of wisdom about community, resilience, traditional Navajo ways, the importance of ancestral wisdom, and rethinking the future.  Tony helps communities move forward while rooting into their history. Holding an MBA and a partner of Navajo Power, a utilities solar company, Tony is also a motivational speaker, inviting people to look back at their values and teachings to help overcome challenges. In this conversation, we explore how traditional communities are transitioni ..read more

There is something truly unique and complex about coal mining communities in Appalachia, and Atlas Charles has experienced this firsthand. Growing up queer, nonbinary, and autistic in the Cumberland mountains of Southwest Virginia and southwestern West Virginia, Atlas understands the coexistence of hardship and beauty. Today, Atlas uses their systems leadership skills to lead the complex work of co-creating thriving communities that balance economy and collective well-being. Their work centers equity, anti-oppression, and regeneration, while believing in and harnessing the existent wisdom a co ..read more

Jacob Hannah grew up in a coal mining family in West Virginia. He saw the slow loss of coal jobs in the area, as well as the costs associated with mining and extraction in communities and the broader region. Jacob moved through his own journey – leading with curiosity – to working with communities, creating new opportunities for projects leading with innovation and sustainability, and building resilient communities based on the vision and ideas of local leaders. Jacob talks about listening to people as they are the experts in their own community, and building relationships and trust to create ..read more

Every interaction we have impacts others, and every interaction someone has with you impacts you. So how do we take this knowledge and allow it to transform the way we show up in the world? On this episode of Yes! We Rise, founder and CEO of Collaborative by Design, Cheri Torres, PhD, joins Christine to share her life's work around supporting growth and evolutionary purpose in people and organizations. She dives into the power of asking generative questions, understanding your broader purpose, and how curiosity unlocks inherent wisdom. This rich conversation is both relatable and transformativ ..read more

Welcome to the Yes! We Rise Podcast. Today, Christine shares the top 10 strategies Dialogue + Design uses to support the different communities they work with, from establishing a thoughtful action plan, to balancing different personalities in a room, and acknowledging and honoring your wins. In an effort to create a safe space for diverse groups of people, certain approaches are absolutely essential. As a community strives toward a vision, it is vital that the door stays open for new members to join, and you’ll hear our best practices to bring you encouragement and new momentum in your communi ..read more

Dialogue + Design Associates is the sister company to the Yes! We Rise Podcast. They provide facilitation, community engagement, and help everyday community members and leaders come together, envision their future, and find tools and resources to make that vision a reality.  In 2016, a few groups approached Dialogue + Design in the hopes of creating a community-based effort to grow the solar energy economy in Southwest Virginia. In today’s episode, Christine shares the history behind this initial vision and the incredible progress that has been made. From a recording from a recent gatheri ..read more

Allera Dawn is a life and business coach, business expert, and podcaster who works with clients who are seeking deep healing and transformation. Allera is also a change maker and an activist. Today, she sits down with Christine and opens up about her own spiritual journey, the importance of claiming your worth, and how to truly heal through deep inner work and discovering the hidden power of “diamonds” in your life. Allera openly offers her experience and wisdom in this episode of Yes! We Rise. Welcome! LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Discover more about Allera and her powerful work through her webs ..read more

Laura Hartley is an activist, a life coach, and founder of Public Love Education, an online school for changemakers. She has a deep passion for seeing individuals and communities break free from toxic systems and works to foster social healing and community thriving. Today on Yes! We Rise, Laura and Christine explore what true resilience looks like, healing from burnout, and the discovery of your inner compass. In this episode, Laura gifts us all with endless wisdom, encouragement, and possibility. Welcome! LINKS/RESOURCES MENTIONED Discover more of the important work Laura is doing through he ..read more

Real systems-level change takes community, safety, and trust. Today, Christine is joined by Beth Tener, founder of New Directions and Kinship. Beth shares that creating change does not happen through one person or organization, but through collaborative networks working together toward building systemic change. She believes strongly that the answers can already be found within a community - the challenge is in providing the necessary support to bring it forward. Beth’s work helps people remember they're part of a beautiful ecosystem. Communities have a shared history that informs what exists i ..read more

Percy Deal is a member of the Diné (or Navajo) Nation. He’s a rancher and a community advocate from Black Mesa, Arizona, and deeply involved in local community and government issues for the last 45 years. He continues to use his expertise in educating and advocating for community transition on Black Mesa. Christine had the opportunity to sit down with Percy and learn about the very real challenges many Diné community members face, and why creating an equitable transition in Black Mesa is a core issue and need. Lean in as Percy shares words of wisdom and offers a glimpse of the future that many ..read more