Narrative, Resilience, and Social Change - Urmitapa Dutta, Susan James, and Host Susan Grelock Yusem

What's happening in our world—and how do we respond? For the past four years, Commonweal’s Omega Resilience Awards project has been exploring this question with fellows and research teams across Africa, India, and Latin America. Now we're ready to share what we’re learning. Join us for a conversation with three of the researchers, who will share their findings and explore together: How do we respond to these times not just through individual stories, but through the larger work of changing our collective narratives? Join us in person or online for a 1-hour moderated conversation, some time for questions, followed by a reception and viewing of the gallery exhibit (on display through March) [link to gallery show page] featuring stunning illustrations by Jon Marro, bringing the four years of this project to life. This is part of Commonweal's 50th anniversary year—a time when we're reflecting on five decades of healing ourselves and the Earth and asking how we navigate these times through community, learning, and resilience. Dr. Urmitapa Dutta (University of Massachusetts Lowell) Exploring how creative expression, cultural preservation, and artistic activism contribute to community resilience Dr. Susan James (Pacifica Graduate Institute) Examining how both traditional and modern technologies—including sacred practices and ritual—support community-based solutions Susan Grelock Yusem, PhD leads strategy and innovation at Commonweal, weaving together her experience in strategic communication, community psychology, and regenerative systems. A trained depth psychologist and community psychologist with a doctorate from Pacifica Graduate Institute, Susan brings psychological depth to collaborative leadership, particularly in narrative design, creative development, and building resilient organizations. Find out more about Commonweal New School on our website: tns.commonweal.org. And like/follow our Soundcloud channel for more great podcasts.