Author name: DayofD

By Sharon L. Shelton and Anja Williams Avis Ridley-Thomas with INVLA  Dialogue Practitioners who facilitated table conversations LOS ANGELES — More than 100 leaders from across Los Angeles County gathered on April 8, 2026, at the Center of Hope for the Season of Nonviolence Leadership Dialogue, a powerful convening focused on advancing nonviolence as a year-round practice for community safety and leadership. Hosted by the Institute for Nonviolence Los Angeles (INVLA) and its Days of Dialogue, the event marked the conclusion of the National Season of Nonviolence (January–April), a period inspired by the legacies of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi. But organizers were clear: this gathering was not about reflection alone—it was about action. “Nonviolence is not a moment. It is a method. It is a leadership practice” emphasized Sharon Shelton, emcee and dialogue practitioner. That message grounded the morning as leaders from public agencies, nonprofit organizations, faith communities, and grassroots groups came together in a shared space to engage, listen, and collaborate. The dialogue featured opening reflections from community and civic leaders, including Avis Ridley-Thomas, founder and Executive Director of INVLA and Days of Dialogue; Pastor Geremy Dixon, Center of Hope, Board Chair of United Faith Coalition and dialogue host, Dr. Breeda McGrath, President of Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School; Rhea MAC of the Empowerment Congress; and Dr. Mark Ridley-Thomas, founder of the Empowerment Congress and former Los Angeles City Councilmember and County Supervisor. Dialogue host and Center of Hope Pastor, Geremy Dixon Together, they emphasized the need for leadership rooted in trust, accountability, and community voice—especially in a time when many communities are facing ongoing challenges related to safety, equity, and opportunity. The dialogue honored the enduring legacies of Dr. King and Gandhi leaders who demonstrated that nonviolence is not passive, but an active and disciplined approach to addressing injustice and building stronger communities. Unlike traditional events, this convening was intentionally designed as a participatory dialogue. Attendees engaged in facilitated small-group discussions, reflecting on what nonviolence means in their daily lives, where challenges exist, and how communities can move forward together. At the heart of the gathering was a powerful idea: dialogue itself is a form of nonviolence. That is why dialogue matters. When diverse voices — generationally, racially, culturally, religiously — come together in the same room, something happens that cannot happen alone. People build on one another’s ideas. They name ills that might otherwise go unseen. They collaborate on solutions and identify what they are calling forward. They ensure that no part of the community is left out of the picture. The more complete the picture, the more honest and powerful the response. Through structured conversation, participants practiced listening across differences, building understanding, and identifying shared solutions. This approach, developed through INVLA’s Days of Dialogue model, positions dialogue as a tool for prevention, relationship-building, and collaborative leadership. Dialogue in action The event also highlighted the continued growth of the Leadership Dialogue Systems Initiative, an effort to embed dialogue into organizations and institutions as a way to strengthen alignment, reduce conflict, and support long-term community impact. As the session concluded, participants shared key insights during a full-group discussion, lifting up themes of trust, connection, and the need for sustained engagement beyond a single gathering. The message was clear: the Season of Nonviolence may end, but the work must continue. INVLA and its partners are now calling on leaders across Los Angeles to take the next step—by joining ongoing dialogue efforts, bringing these practices into their organizations, and committing to nonviolence as a daily leadership discipline. That is what April 8th was building toward. Not the finish line. The starting point. L-R Sharon Shelton Emcee, INVLA Partners – Paul Beck Board Chair  NewGround, Dr. Breeda McGrath President Pacific Oaks College & Children’s School, Avis Ridley-Thomas, INVLA Executive Director, Dr. Mark Ridley-Thomas Empowerment Congress Founder and INVLA Senior Advisor “Nonviolence does not begin with action. It begins with our willingness to come together, to tell the truth about what we see, and to decide–together–what must change and how that change unfolds.“ – Avis Ridley-Thomas, INVLA Founder To learn more or get involved, visit:www.daysofdialogue.org About INVLA Days of Dialogue The Institute for Nonviolence Los Angeles (INVLA) Days of Dialogue convenes cross-sector leaders to advance nonviolence as a strategy for community safety, institutional trust, and collaborative governance through structured dialogue and leadership engagement.

By: Anne Sawyer When Listening Becomes Leadership: Reflections from a Powerful Day of Dialogue On January 21, 2026, SCHARP convened one full day of dialogue on homelessness — two sessions bringing together service providers, advocates, community members, and individuals with lived or proximate experience. It was one of those days where you could feel the weight in the room — and the willingness. Participants didn’t come to argue policy.They didn’t come for a presentation.They came because the work is hard, the systems are complex, and the conversations we need aren’t happening often enough. Here’s what made the day powerful. 1. People showed up informed — and honest. Most participants entered with deep familiarity with homelessness systems. This wasn’t an introductory conversation. It was layered, nuanced, and real. Frustration with fragmentation, burnout, and lack of coordination surfaced quickly — but so did a desire to understand, not blame. 2. Listening shifted the temperature. Across both sessions, the most meaningful takeaway participants named wasn’t “being heard.”It was listening. Slowing down enough to hear how the same system feels from different roles — case manager, community member, advocate, neighbor — changed the energy in the room. Assumptions softened. Defensiveness lowered. Complexity became shared rather than owned by one group. 3. Emotional regulation is not a side benefit — it’s core. Pre-dialogue, many expressed concern that the conversation could become polarized or performative. Post-dialogue, participants described feeling grounded, clearer, and more connected. That shift matters. When people leave feeling steadier rather than more reactive, collaboration becomes possible. 4. Dialogue builds relational infrastructure. Homelessness requires services, funding, and policy reform. Dialogue does not replace those. But dialogue builds something essential underneath them: trust, shared language, and cross-role understanding. Without that relational infrastructure, coordination struggles no matter how much funding or planning exists. 5. There is readiness for more. The clearest signal from the day? People are ready for spaces like this. Not as one-time events, but as ongoing practice. We are now reviewing detailed scribe notes from the tables to identify recurring system themes and areas for continued engagement. What’s already clear is this: When structured well, dialogue is not soft work.It is how systems work. Grateful to everyone who showed up with openness and courage. The conversation — and the commitment — continues.  

In a year marked by urgency, uncertainty, and division, Days of Dialogue continued to do what it does best: create space. Not just for conversation—but for breath, for listening, and for being heard. Because in times like these, dialogue isn’t extra. It’s essential. Throughout 2025, we partnered with communities, schools, faith leaders, and organizations to hold conversations that mattered—conversations rooted in respect, curiosity, and care. With California Science Center, we centered youth voices, making room for what young people are carrying and what they are ready to change. At Pepperdine University, students modeled what becomes possible when we stop debating and start listening to understand. In partnership with Black Women for Positive Change, we leaned into the future—exploring how artificial intelligence intersects with ethics, equity, safety, and belonging. Through Dialogue Echo, we extended those conversations beyond the room, weaving reflection into action and action into community. We honored culture, history, and truth during AAPI Heritage Month, and gathered in resilience for Juneteenth—celebrating freedom while strengthening collective voice. With YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles and Kids Managing Conflict, young people practiced something powerful: how to speak up without shutting down. Our work with Move LA amplified community voices in climate justice conversations—connecting policy to lived experience. And with the Empowerment CongressMinisters Dialogue, faith leaders came together not just to talk, but to lead with courage and care. Across every circle, one truth echoed clearly: people heal when their stories are met with respect. In dialogues confronting hard history—like the Chinese Massacre of 1871—we faced the past honestly, because repair begins when truth is spoken out loud. At our Third Annual Fall Luncheon, we strengthened the relationships that make this work possible—across backgrounds, roles, and generations. This work required listening.It required slowing down.It required choosing connection over assumption—again and again. To our facilitators: thank you for holding space with skill, integrity, and heart.To our partners and supporters: thank you for believing that dialogue can move us forward. As we look ahead, our commitment remains the same.Let’s keep the conversation going. If your community, school, or organization is ready, Days of Dialogue is here.  

By: Anne Sawyer Reflections on a Year of Dialogue, Courage, and Community This year, across California, people came together in the spirit of listening — not to debate or persuade, but to understand. In temples and museums, city halls and classrooms, communities sat in a circle and found what’s been missing in so many public spaces: space itself — to speak, to feel, and to heal. From Venice to Long Beach to Los Angeles, the stories shared through Days of Dialogue revealed a profound truth: even in times of tension, grief, and division, people are ready to reach across differences when they are invited into spaces that honor their humanity. 💬 What Dialogue Made Possible At the California Science Center, staff gathered to talk about fear, belonging, and resilience following ICE raids near their workplace. They described anxiety, exhaustion, and the simple relief of being able to speak openly: “I’m not alone.” “It was a good space to get some things out.” These dialogues reminded participants that emotional safety begins with being seen — and that resilience is not about staying strong, but recovering together. At the Open Temple in Venice, a Shabbat gathering became a moment of collective reckoning. Two years after the war began, congregants reflected on pain, faith, and the possibility of compassion across divides: “Why do we have to be on one team or another? Why can’t we have compassion for everyone?” Dialogue here was sacred — a form of prayer through presence. In Los Angeles’ Chinatown, a conversation remembering the 1871 Chinese Massacre brought forward hidden histories and collective truth-telling. Participants spoke about how silence erases, and storytelling restores: “People would care more if they knew more.” “Healing begins with acknowledgment.” From these moments — of vulnerability, reflection, and courage — came community healing and renewed commitment to teach history truthfully and live it more consciously. 🌎 A Year in Motion In 2025, Days of Dialogue facilitated dozens of community conversations with over 500 participants — from city leaders to students, from faith communities to cultural institutions. Each dialogue reminded us that empathy is learned through encounter, and that every person’s story — when heard — helps build a more just and compassionate society. Together with partners like The California Science Center, Open Temple, and Move LA, we have built not just conversations, but connection — the kind that transforms communities from the inside out. 🌱 Looking Ahead In 2026, we will continue this work — expanding dialogues around: Democracy & Belonging AI & Ethics in Society Healing Across Histories Community Resilience & Trust-Building We invite you to be part of it. If your organization, school, or congregation is seeking to navigate tension, build trust, or simply bring people together — we’re here to help you hold the conversation that matters most. 👉 [Request a Dialogue] or [Partner with Us] ✨ Voices from the Circle “Talking is a way of de-escalating what one is feeling.” “Every harm can be seen as an opportunity for healing.” “Older people have a lot of education — from living. It’s shameful not to use that wisdom.” “There are always people to the left and right of center — but not being extreme gives people a chance to feel safe to talk.” “Never again is now.” “It’s important to remember that we are not alone.” ❤️ With Gratitude To every facilitator, partner, and participant who joined us this year — thank you. You helped keep dialogue alive in a time when silence too easily takes its place. Because of you, our communities are stronger, our stories are heard, and our shared future is brighter. Days of Dialogue Creating space for understanding since 1997.

By: Brett David Louie Two weeks ago, Days of Dialogue was able to host one of the most impactful and formative dialogues that I have been a part of. We collaborated with Rev. Frank Wulf and the La Plaza United Methodist Church to host a dialogue centered around the Los Angeles Chinese Massacre of 1871. Held the day after the October 24 anniversary, we gathered in El Pueblo to remember lives lost, to name the truth that at least 18 Chinese Angelenos were killed in what historians recognize as one of the largest mass lynchings in United States history, and to ask what repair and relationship look like in our city today. With nearly 20 individuals present for the event, they were not only able to address the questions through intentional dialogue, but also carry the conversation into action! We opened with a historical look at the events of that tragic night. From breaking down how this tragedy came to be through economic insecurity and racial tensions, not dissimilar to what is seen today, to descriptions of the lynchings taking place, and even a prayer from our hosts, the history section of the agenda certainly provided insights into the massacre. The intimate setting of being where the massacre first started helped to elevate the gravity of the situation, and allowed for participants to feel the weight of the address. Afterward, we moved into small dialogue groups. Participants reflected on Los Angeles history and shared memory, intersectional bridge building, combating racism, and Asian empowerment. The conversation was honest and nuanced. While we had a diversity of ethnicity, background, fiscal status, and age, there was plenty of consensus around how important this space truly was. Younger individuals felt “safe to open up about [their] lack of knowledge” on the history of the event, and older individuals “…wished they had learned about this, so they could have taught it to their children while growing up.” AAPI attendees found intersectional empathy and comfort with the shared experiences of others, and the all too familiar discussion of socioeconomic status impacting politics returned. Deep, diverse conversation, for a deep, diverse group. There was significant outrage directed at the fact the Chinese Massacre of 1871 is not taught in schools, and worry regarding the current political climate outside our doors. Familiar patterns of bigotry were all too easy to gesture to, and it was evident participants needed this space to express these feelings. One of the participants mentioned that he, “Could clearly see the signs of a mob, especially for such a massive group to target a small section of the LA populace. I’ve seen this same kind of technique used in the wake of the Civil Rights movement.” Having an expert, historical opinion present at the dialogue elevated the conversation, and certainly allowed for an easier time in seeing the implications and connections. While emotions ran high due to the nature of the dialogue, our facilitators were able to focus the energy into constructive conversations. People told the truth about harm, and they also named hopes and next steps. “We need more of these facilitated community spaces, so that we can continue to share and pass down this knowledge to next generations, and prevent another massacre from happening again.” By the end, every table offered one insight and one action, so that we left not only with memory, but with momentum. We must ‘build unity across racial communities, and our existence is resistance.’ We are grateful for the generous hospitality of La Plaza United Methodist Church, for Rev. Wulf’s partnership, for our facilitators who kept the space steady and equitable, and for every attendee who showed up ready to listen, speak, and build. Thank you to community partners and neighbors who shared the invitation, brought friends, and made room at the table. From pain to partnership, from memory to movement, this is what it looks like when Los Angeles chooses each other. In the words of one of the attendees, “I hadn’t realized how much impact one person could have in preserving collective memory and community experience.” You can be that very person who not only helps to carry the conversation,  but invites others to the table as well. We hope to collaborate with Rev. Wulf and the La Plaza United Methodist Church soon, and cannot wait to see you at another dialogue soon!

🌟 Empowerment Congress Ministers Dialogue: Faith Leaders in Action 🌟 In August, the Empowerment Congress hosted a powerful Ministers Dialogue focused on the critical role of religious leaders and clergy members in today’s sociopolitical climate. Civic leaders, clergy, and community members came together in heartfelt dialogue, engaging questions such as: What can be done—individually and collectively—right now to strengthen communities? How might past solutions be adapted for today’s challenges? How can faith communities reconcile with those who have been hurt by the Church? How can more people across Los Angeles, the nation, and the world be brought into this work? The conversations were moving and inspiring. Participants shared prepared resources, personal stories, and courageous perspectives that challenged and uplifted the group. At times, the dialogue moved participants to tears, underscoring the depth of solidarity, vulnerability, and love in the room. The event affirmed the power of faith leaders working together with courage and vision. By sparking honest conversations and motivating one another into action, participants highlighted the importance—and urgency—of clergy as leaders in civic engagement and social change. The Empowerment Congress extends heartfelt gratitude to Gethsemane Christian Love M.B. Church for hosting this meaningful gathering, and to every participant who contributed their voice, wisdom, and hope. This dialogue was not only important, but imperative—for Los Angeles and for communities everywhere.

🌍 Community Voices on Climate Justice 🌍 Over the past two weeks, Days of Dialogue, in partnership with Move LA, convened two powerful conversations on climate justice and the future of clean energy. From CSU Los Angeles to the Port of Long Beach, diverse community members, students, labor leaders, policymakers, and advocates came together to share their stories, their concerns, and their visions for an equitable transition to a cleaner, more sustainable future. ✨ Key themes that emerged across both dialogues: Equity in Transition – Ensuring frontline communities most impacted by pollution and climate change are centered in solutions. Workforce & Opportunity – Lifting up pathways for good jobs, training, and union partnerships in the clean energy economy. Community Power – Recognizing the wisdom and lived experience of residents in shaping climate policies and projects. Urgency & Hope – Balancing the challenges of climate change with the opportunities to innovate, collaborate, and lead with justice. These dialogues reminded us that tackling the climate crisis is not only about technology and policy, but also about justice, voice, and connection. Together, we can imagine and build a future where both our planet and our communities thrive. 💡 Thank you to Move LA, our hosts, facilitators, and every participant who shared their truth. Your voices are shaping the path forward. #ClimateJustice #DaysOfDialogue #MoveLA #CommunityVoice #CleanEnergy