In a moment in which trans rights are increasingly under unprecedented attacks, the role of allies has never been more critical. TEC’s Executive Director, Nathan Rodriguez (he/him), joins Gathering Ground to lead a powerful session on true and effective allyship, discussing ways in which organizations and individuals can create space for trans people to tell and lead their own stories. Participants will leave with concrete tools, resources, and strategies to effectively show up as equitable partners in the fight for trans equity.

This session will provide an overview of the New Jersey Reparations Council and its groundbreaking report, For Such a Time as This: The Nowness of Reparations for Black People in New Jersey. Together, we’ll uncover New Jersey’s enduring legacy of slavery and its history as the “slave state of the North,” and explore what repair might look like in this moment. We’ll also dive into the current landscape for reparations in NJ and across the country, highlight advocacy organizing efforts underway, and discuss concrete ways to get involved in advancing this work.

In January’s Briefing, Sue Bennett and Erika Sato (Sustainable Economies Law Center) shared crucial elements of making organizations more just, democratic, and liberatory for the workers who – collectively – control and govern our nonprofit – to the fullest extent allowed by the law governing nonprofits. They described how SELC makes decisions, designs equitable pay structures, and shares operational work across the organization in ways that distribute power and eliminate structural hierarchy!

Led by Rachel Kimber (Full Circle Impact Solutions) this session will help nonprofit professionals move from curiosity to confident experimentation with AI. Designed for those seeking to understand how artificial intelligence can advance mission-driven work, the workshop combines foundational learning with hands-on practice.

Led by Ted Rau (Sociocracy for All), This 90-minute briefing will cover consent decision making from sociocracy – a process designed to keep all those in a healthy balance and provide an inclusive, yet effective and pragmatic approach. We will understand it conceptually, but also spend some time practicing so everyone can walk away with new skills to try out in their team right away.

Led by Nisha Thomspon (Participatory Budgeting Project), this Briefing will break down what participatory budgeting is – a democratic process that allows communities to directly decide how to spend part of a public budget – and how community members can work towards making public budgets more equitable and effective.

We are thrilled to welcome renowned urbanist and activist Prof. Miguel Robles-Durán for a conversation on housing and urban justice. A leading voice in the global struggle against spatial inequality, Prof. Robles-Durán will share insights from his practice in urban theory, design, and activism. In this briefing, he will explore the systemic forces driving displacement, privatization, and urban injustice—and the collective strategies communities are using worldwide to reclaim their right to the city. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with one of today’s most visionary thinkers on how we can shape more equitable, inclusive urban futures.

Led by Rachel Kimber (Full Circle Impact Solutions), the session defines AI, presents relevant case studies, and guides participants in identifying potential applications within their organizations. The goal is to demystify AI, offer practical insights, and address ethical considerations, including justice and oppression. The workshop will provide foundational knowledge to equip nonprofit leaders with the tools to make informed decisions about AI integration in their operations and workflows.

In this Briefing, we’ll explore building worker power through familiar structures such as unions and organizing, as well as less-familiar democratic, sometimes called “flat,” organizational structures and worker-owned enterprises with award-winning journalist Bob Hennelly.

Join us for an insightful and inspiring conversation with Chris Smalls, founder of the Amazon Labor Union (ALU) and a leading voice in the labor movement. Chris will share his experiences organizing workers at one of the world’s largest corporations, discuss the challenges and opportunities for unions in today’s political and economic climate, and explore the future of worker-led organizing in the U.S. This is a rare opportunity to hear from a trailblazer who is reshaping the fight for workers’ rights and equity in the workplace.

With so much exhaustion, uncertainty, and anxiety about the future swirling right now, particularly for those with marginalized identities, amplified by the winter holidays which can be complex spaces to navigate, coping strategies are essential. Join Community Education Coordinator Lynette Sheard, from the Mental Health Association in NJ, as she shares actionable self-care practices to create space, invite balance and set boundaries in uncertain times.

Birthing persons of all racialized identities should have equal access to care, support and positive outcomes – but this isn’t the case in NJ or nationally. Learn about unique approaches and resources to address Birth Equity for in your families, neighborhoods and organizations: Join us and Cecile Edwards, Executive Director at the NJ Birth Equity Funders Alliance for a 90-minute Briefing.