November: A Season of Reflection and Gratitude
Dear VISIONS Community,
As we enter this season of reflection and gratitude, I’ve been moved by the ways our community continues to show up, for one another, for our clients, and for the larger vision that connects us all.
This past month, our Board of Directors came together in the Bay Area for a weekend of meaningful discussion, shared meals, and renewed commitment to VISIONS’ future. We were fortunate to be joined by a few of our local consultants for dinner, a joyful reminder that the strength of VISIONS lies in our relationships. (See photos below!)
I want to invite you to our upcoming VISIONS Community Town Hall on December 10, where we’ll gather as a full community (staff, consultants, and board) to share updates, hear from one another, and look ahead together. This is a space to reflect honestly on how things are going, celebrate what’s working, and co-envision our path forward. Your presence and voice matter deeply.
In the spirit of connection and learning, I wanted to bring your attention to an email regarding a short skill and interest survey Amy recently sent out. This will help us map the incredible range of expertise across the VISIONS network, from facilitation and mediation to coaching, assessment, and systems change, and identify opportunities for peer learning, co-facilitation, and deeper collaboration.
Also, here is a short “How We Got Here” reflection, written at the request of our consultants through Rick, offering context for where we are in this moment and how we’re continuing to evolve together as a community.
I want to highlight our ongoing commitment to the no-cost and low-cost community work that has always been central to VISIONS’ mission. These projects, from community dialogues to youth programs, reflect the heart of who we are and the impact we strive to make. To that end, we’d love to hear your stories and experiences from this work: moments that capture the power of VISIONS’ tools in action. Your reflections help us celebrate our collective impact, update our website and external facing communications, and strengthen future grant applications that make this work possible.
Finally, as Giving Tuesday approaches, I hope you’ll help us spread the word about our $25+ Community Campaign, a collective effort to sustain our mission and expand access to VISIONS’ work. Every contribution, every share, every story told makes a difference. Together, we can grow the impact of the work we all believe in so deeply.
Thank you, for your heart, your courage, and your commitment to the practice of transformation across difference.
With warmth and gratitude,
Elika
💡 Save the Date: VISIONS Community Town Hall – December 10
📋 Consultant Skills & Interests Survey
❤️ Support VISIONS this Giving Tuesday: Join our $25+ Campaign and invite others to do the same!
From VP Admin
VISIONS is in a space that I have not seen in my 5 years on staff. Those who have been at VISIONS for many years shared the organization has been here before however, personally for me, it is very scary. The uncertainty and trying to make sure our obligations are covered has been, to say the least, stressful. I do feel the tide shifting a bit in a positive direction with more people understanding that we cannot give in to what is happening around us. So with that sharing, I do want to thank you all (staff, consultants and board) for your patience and understanding during this time.
Continuing to cut costs. Each month since last fiscal year, as expected income has dropped drastically, the administrative team has been challenged with finding ways to cut costs. So in this vein, know we are doing all that we can to continue to find ways to cut costs/expenses. We have shared ways you can support us and if you have any ideas to please let me (Nikki) know.
B&Es are due December 10th next month. This is because the office will be closed December 19, 2025 through January 2, 2026 for the winter break.
From Senior Director of Consulting and Programs (Rick)
Greetings Community!
I am aware that many of us are directly impacted and/or are very close to those directly impacted by what feels like an assault on humanity currently practiced by the U.S. Staying in community is one way to combat this and maintaining strength in the face of such extreme overreach of power. I am heartened to see the amount of pushback in the form of trainings to protest, the ways that people are alerting community members to the existence and practice of ICE through the use of whistles, horns, ‘adopting a corner’ for communities to experience neighborhood watch-type practices. Using our MAD-SAD-SCARE to activate self and others in an annoying way is one way I keep myself going.
Several other things to share in this moment: From an inquiry perspective there are a growing number of interested parties reaching out directly to VISIONS. Naturally, the inquiry process takes time – and, this is promising, given the nature of the various requests (facilitation, presentations, train-the-trainer model, 2 large RFPs, etc.). Continuing to ‘manifest’ success in these developments. The biggest interest continues to come from faith-based clients.
Also, there have been a couple of engagements that we have had regarding leveraging our emotional literacy work and its connection to the impact of the overarching climate of so many challenges to historically excluded groups and the organizations supporting them. Rick provided a well-received presentation for Harvard’s Channing Department of Network Medicine while Jeanne herself provided a very strong presentation and facilitation to an internationally attended audience supported by our relationship with Mediators Beyond Borders International (MBBI) (many strokes Jeanne!).
There are still lots of slots open for PACE January and April. Please reach out to your contacts to see if there is interest in joining us for either of these workshops.
From CAC / Jeanne
Check out our ad in the November issue of Sojourners magazine! Shout outs to: Louise Coggins and Louise Howlett for helping foster this partnership with Adam Taylor and the Sojourners team; John Maudlin for designing the beautiful ad; and Amy Baker and the Faith-based Marketing Group for all the help cross-promoting this message to other faith communities.
CAC Updates- Board Meeting and CAC Report to the Board
As the CAC Chair, I observed the fall board meeting on Friday, Oct 24. I shared a report in advance and also gave a short presentation, so I thought I would share here what I shared with them: “Since our last report, the CAC has primarily focused on VISIONS' financial challenges. CAC has received financial updates at the monthly meetings, and then considered how consultants can be engaged for support and solutions through an inclusive process with clear communication strategies that ensure transparency around the financial landscape and organizational transitions. Some of this has happened through CAC supporting the design and facilitation of larger meetings and the intention is to continue to assist with these going forward, especially in facilitation of the monthly Community Meeting space. In March, the plans for an in-person October retreat were cancelled; however CAC continues to plan for consultant professional development; ex: a training focused on disability that was originally planned for the retreat is being scheduled for another time. Intentional recruitment for CAC itself has continued, with Yoojin Janice Lee joining for a 3-month trial period (by her request) starting in October. Recruitment has been especially important as several CAC members will retire at the end of the year; conversations are also happening about how to honor consultants as they retire. Other current members are: Emily Schatzow, Jabari Carmichael Brown, Hideko Akashi, Stella Panzarella, Gary Lyon, Terry Berman, Rick Pinderhughes, Jim Turner, Elika Dadsetan-Foley, Jeanne Firth (Chair). In addition, the CAC would like to begin a conversation with the board about strengthening collaboration across VISIONS, between the board, staff, and consultants. We are requesting a real-time meeting on this topic between representatives of the CAC and the board, ideally within a month after the board meeting.” This final component includes revisiting CAC’s charter which has not been updated in recent years.
Community Calls: topics, purpose and any feedback (meeting held 1st Friday of the month)
The monthly Community Calls have been ever-evolving and range in their purpose each month – we've heard from participants that it would be useful to share the topic or purpose of each call in advance. Thus the intention is to do that going forward! We (CAC and staff) have been talking about the Community Calls more generally -- particularly we've been wondering if Friday afternoons is the best time, or if we should look at other options. We might even do a doodle for scheduling if needed. Would you send me (Jeanne) a note if you have thoughts on the Community Calls, either schedule specific or generally about their purpose, etc? Thanks!
In the News: VISIONS' Executive Director, Elika, Weighs In
We’re proud to share recent media highlights featuring insights and quotes from our Executive Director.
- Digital Workplace Tech Priorities Narrow as Budgets Tighten
- Debate Rages Between Generations Over Whose Experience Sparked Viral Idea
- Do you have time blindness?
- When Schools Try to Erase Diversity, Parents Have To Make It Part Of The Curriculum
- How women over 50 are redefining solo travel through culture connection and purpose
- Construction Warning Issued After Foreign-Born Population Plummets
- Mentorship Helps Foster Youth Find Stability In School Life
From the Office
Office Closures
Fall Break: November 24 - 28, 2025
Winter Break: December 22, 2025 - January 2, 2026
Have any general feedback, questions, or ideas? Let us know!
Out Doing Work
On Nov 1, VISIONS was proud to join Mediators Beyond Borders International, Women’s Intercultural Network, and National Association for Community Mediation to host a FAM-focused “Listening Circles: Constructive Expression of Thought and Feeling” workshop. More than 250 participants from over 40 countries registered for the event.
Upcoming Programs to Join or Share with your community
NEW WORKSHOP
Season of Connection: Managing Emotions and Relationships Through the HolidaysDecember 3, 20255-6:45 ET/ 2- 3:45 PT
Looking for ways to navigate potentially tense conversations differently over the holidays? Want resources to stay emotionally centered during conflict?
Conflict exists in all relationships. Learn tools to practice connection through conflict in this interactive workshop—a mash up of two beloved VISIONS tools: Guidelines for Effective Dialogue and Feelings as Messengers.
The holidays can bring joy—and stress. For gatherings with family, friends or coworkers, this session offers practical ways to stay grounded, compassionate, and connected, even when emotions run high.
You’ll leave with: • Practices to manage emotions by treating them as sources of vital information, allowing yourself to re-center and move from a place of clarity • Conversation tools for curiosity and connection across differences • A renewed sense of calm and compassion for self and others
Led by Dr. Rick Pinderhughes and Dr. Jeanne Firth, seasoned VISIONS facilitators, this session blends reflection and real-life practice to make learning engaging and applicable.
PACE Level I is the foundational workshop offered by VISIONS. When you complete this virtual course, we believe you will have the skills necessary to:
- Identify unconsciously held misinformation in yourself, in others, and in organizations.
- Communicate more effectively across difference.
- Recognize personal, interpersonal, institutional, and cultural barriers to belonging.
- Understand the ongoing personal effects of historical and contemporary exclusion.
- Facilitate change in groups and organizations to create supportive environments for all.
- Per person cost: $1,150.00 (A Supporter Rate of $1,250.00 is also available).
- If you need support on the course fees, please email us at office@visions-inc.org.
Upcoming Dates:
January 28
March 25
May 27
June 24
Are you looking for ways to strengthen and deepen your relationships? Would you like to enhance your communication skills and promote successful outcomes in a variety of settings? Join our virtual transformative workshop, where you’ll learn VISIONS Guidelines for Effective Cross-Cultural Dialogue.
- Develop practical communications skills that you can apply every day, both at work and in your personal life.
- Strengthen your ability to communicate with people from different backgrounds, identities, and experiences.
- Foster a culture of inclusivity and respect within your organization.
VISIONS has been teaching these guidelines to individuals, groups, and organizations for over 40 years. They have been instrumental in transforming organizations into inclusive, welcoming environments, and are also powerful skills for cultivating rich, enduring relationships between individuals.
Per person cost: $25.00 regular rate (A supporter rate of $35.00 is also available).