@Darius Parker the Hope Reimagined team is deeply honored to be partnering with Youth Speaks this upcoming slam season, holding the Decompression Zone alongside powerful performances and brave truth-telling. What we love most about this work is witnessing young people write, speak, express, and process in community. Poetry and performance are not just art forms—they are acts of regulation, meaning-making, and belonging. When young people step on stage, they bring their whole selves. When the community listens, something collective happens. Our Hope Reimagined team is there to support, to catch, to offer grounding when things move big—but the real healing doesn’t come from us alone. It comes from being seen, being heard, and being held by community. This is the medicine of collective expression.This is what healing can look like. https://youtu.be/8NEOkE1E1yQ?si=m5NFuCK3o57tBcnY

“There is no hurry.There is no rush.There is only the slow, steady unfolding.”— Octavia E. Butler A gentle reminder for today: growth doesn’t need to be forced. Notice what’s unfolding at its own pace—in your body, your work, your relationships. What might become possible if you trusted the timing just a little more? or maybe you have a different quote you want to share?

This is a heavy moment.There is a lot of fear in the air—violence, racism, and dehumanizing narratives are escalating. The public conversation around the Nicole Good case is also surfacing deep misogyny, blame, and distortion that can be especially activating and painful. If you’re feeling unsettled, angry, tired, vigilant, or pulled between wanting to speak and wanting to withdraw—nothing is wrong with you. These are nervous systems responding to real conditions. A few reminders for how we take care here: - Slow the body first. Before engaging, scrolling, posting, or debating—pause. Breathe. Feel your feet. Touch something solid. Regulation is not disengagement; it’s what allows clarity and choice. - You don’t have to consume everything. Limiting news and social media is an act of care, not avoidance. - Stay connected. Check in on each other. A text, a voice note, a walk together, a moment of witnessing matters more than perfectly articulated opinions. - Honor different capacities. Some people need to speak loudly. Others need quiet. Both are valid. - We protect our humanity together. That includes refusing misogyny, racism, and harm—without sacrificing our own nervous systems in the process. This space exists so we can practice being human in hard times—grounded, connected, and resourced enough to keep showing up for ourselves and for each other. You’re not alone.Take the care you need. Offer the care you can.

Thursdays are a heavy coaching day for me, so I’ll be a little lighter on engagement here today—but I still want to keep the soundtrack of the day going. 🎶 Yesterday, @Ires Aponte shared a song that instantly became my post meditation morning personal dance party track. 💃🏽✨ https://youtu.be/C7tu4EMoDxI?si=osCC2dDB_nvRmSVM I’m collecting the songs that move me during these mornings and weaving them into a soundtrack for our March retreat—music that carries energy, grounding, and joy. I like all kinds of music in many different genres so share what insures you! Drop a song for the soundtrack of your day below. I may just add it to the retreat playlist. 🌿🎧

🎶 Community Check-In 🎶 If your day had a soundtrack… what song would be playing right now? Drop a song in the comments that captures:• how you’re feeling• the energy of your day• or what your nervous system is needing in this moment No explanation needed—just music as a window into where you are.Looking forward to listening alongside you. 🎧🌿 Mine is https://youtu.be/HT3d8Eq2n2c?si=b0FrfDaWSV5qH5z1 Evolution for revolution!