The Power of Connection and Community

The Power of Connection and Community: Reflections from the Together We Rise Program 

By Marie Celestin

A few months ago, we launched the Together We Rise program, a space born out of necessity, gut instinct, deja vu, and urgency to make meaning in the chaos. I thought I was building something for others, but I didn’t realize how much I’d come to depend on it, too.

If I’m honest, I was close to emotional hibernation. The world has been heavy with political unrest, social injustice, climate grief, and burnout. But this community reminded me of something sacred: even in uncertainty, we don’t have to walk alone.

Each week, we gathered in a circle grounded in care, curiosity, empathy, and collective storytelling. We didn’t have to shrink ourselves or fix the world in one conversation. We simply came as we were, and that was more than enough.

We wrestled with big questions and held space for all the mixed emotions. Inspired by Luvvie Ajayi Jones, we explored what it means to be professional troublemakers and allies. We were ignited and saddened by Amanda Gorman’s inaugural poem, which is even more relevant now. We examined relationships and belonging through the lens of podcasts and interviews led by Michelle Obama, Trevor Noah, Simon Sinek, Mel Robbins, and many others. Each media piece was more than content; it was a conversation starter, mirror, and spark.

We reflected on powerful protests by Kristen’s presentation and Lauren’s original photography, images that spoke louder than words and reminded us of the beauty in resistance. And we carried Coach Evelt’s mantra: “Everything rises and falls on our relationships.” Those words became part of our value GPS and in community agreement. No matter the issue, the seed was always human connection.

Through it all, we practiced self-care as a communal act. We reminded each other that making time for joy is important, especially in a world that wants us to live in fear, be burned out, isolated, and disconnected.

Creating Together We Rise alongside my co-visionary, Renee Hobbs has been one of the most life-giving collaborations I’ve ever experienced. Her wisdom, humor, and insight helped turn this idea into something extraordinary, something deeply needed.

So what was the Together We Rise program really about? It was about resilience, community building, shared struggles, hope, and connection during uncertain times. It was about helping educators, leaders, professionals, and community members lean into relational engagements, mindfulness, critical conversations, media literacy, and creative expression as tools for learning, reflection, and change.

Together, we: 

• Strengthened our media literacy muscles.
• Shared tools to manage stress and recharge ourselves.
• Practiced creative expression as art-ivism and joy.
• Built a net of support and connection.
• Redefined what it means to be in community, learn, reflect, and show up.

And as we wrap this season of the first 100 days, I want to leave you with seven lessons this community taught me—gifts I’ll carry forward:

1. Community is a lifeline, not a luxury. In times of crisis, it’s tempting to isolate. But connection is what saves us. Whether through Zoom screens or shared playlists, this community reminded me that healing is collective.

2. Friendship/Relationship is a healthy habit and an art. Connecting with each other isn't just social in a space like this; it’s fuel for hope and sustenance.

3. Media literacy is part of the solution. We learned how to pause before reacting, how to question the stories we consume, and how to stay awake in a world that numbs. That awareness became a survival skill and a superpower.

4. Collaboration is the secret sauce. Working with Renee showed me that when we co-create from a place of authenticity, vulnerability and imagination, the result is more impactful than anything we could do alone.

5. Art is activism. Lauren’s protest photos, Pam’s thank-you letters to public officials, Evelt’s memorable quotes, and Kate’s newsletter weren’t just inspiring. They were calls to action. Art stirs the soul and shifts the culture. It is protest wherever you are, and you get to choose the type of “agent” or superhero you want to play, with or without a cape.

6. Protest isn’t just in the streets.  It’s in all the spaces we’re in. In the sharing. In the teaching. In the Silence. In the what’s and who’s missing in the stories and images. In the conversation that dares to tell the truth. In the choice to speak. We redefined protest as any act that interrupts injustice and nurtures community.

7. Have fun & share your “B-side.”  In a world that profits from our fears, pain and productivity, fun is often overlooked as part of “adulting.” We learned to make space for learning, laughter, creativity, and empathy and reflection, dare I say fun.

To everyone who said yes to this wild, still-in-progress journey, thank you. You’ve shown me what it means to rise not just once but over and over again together as a community. 

But we’re not done. This is just the beginning. Join us to continue the work in the next 100 days and beyond.