Listening Circle hosted by The Mandala of Voices

Empathy can be a powerful response to harm and injustice. Listening circles are a way of coming together with intention—to slow down, to listen deeply, and to care for one another in moments when the world feels chaotic or divided. These gatherings create space for voices that are often overlooked, helping us move beyond isolation, hierarchy, or quick judgments and toward real understanding and connection.

By choosing presence over urgency and listening over debate, listening circles offer a gentle yet courageous alternative to the ways we’re often taught to communicate. In times of social upheaval, political tension, or ongoing injustice, simply holding one another’s stories with respect and care becomes an act of peaceful resistance.

Our hope is that this practice fosters a sense of safety, belonging, healing, and self-reflection—and opens the door to deeper connection and the possibility of restoration.

Honoring the Indigenous Origins of Listening Circles: Our Commitment to Cultural Humility

We acknowledge that listening circles are traditional Indigenous practices that have been used for generations to build community, support healing, and pass down knowledge through deep and respectful listening. We approach this practice through the lens of cultural humility, understanding this is a lifelong commitment to self-reflection, ongoing learning, and the careful examination of power dynamics within relationships. We acknowledge the legacy of colonization which often involved the appropriation of Indigenous practices without reverence or consent, rather than their protection and honoring. As participants in a practice that is not ours by origin, we commit to engaging with it consciously, respectfully, and without claiming ownership or authority.

Recognizing the Longstanding Violence Against Black and Brown Communities

In light of recent events, we recognize that while this type of violence is receiving widespread attention now, Black and Brown communities have faced targeted violence for generations—experiences that have too often gone unacknowledged. Privilege has allowed many of us to remain unaware and unaffected by their suffering. This space is committed to listening to, believing, and honoring these stories and experiences. In this space, we will witness and acknowledge the fear and pain that Black and Brown communities have been expressing for years. We affirm our commitment to anti-racism, acknowledge that government-sanctioned violence against unarmed civilians is a long-standing issue,