“Conversation” as defined by Mirriam Webster’s dictionary is an oral exchange of sentiments, observations, opinions or ideas, or an informal discussion of an issue by representatives of governments, institutions, or groups.
People talk a lot, but how much actually gets done after those exchanges. At conferences all over the world, people with all the right credentials know the language, the terms and the anacronyms. If you are not part of that insider language you can feel on the outside. Whilst experience and competency are critical to problem-solving, often those with all the credits after their names are not the ones eliciting the action. More often that comes from those with the lived experience whose souls touch yours and inspire you to be part of the solution. As almost every conference and gathering went virtual this year, at last, the voices of those who hold the key to real change emerged, freed by the expense and logistics of having to travel.
The Convergence three week gathering in September put on by The Criterion Institute, of 80 plus individuals across several time zones, on “How to use Finance as a Tool to Reduce Gender-Based Violence” sparked some incredibly honest and deep conversations. The power of invitation to see things differently, through an investment lens, through a journalist’s lens and most importantly through a survivor’s lens.
One of the guiding principles of Rockflower’s work is the Currency of Mind™, a willingness to enter into conversations with prospective partners despite having no idea where the funding will come from, but knowing this is just one element of the relationship. By joining together in sincere and transparent conversation with a mutual desire to see progress made manifest we are able to look for the gaps and build the bridges to the other side.
If only 0.04% of funding goes directly to locally-led organizations whose life experiences ensure that they are the ones with the solutions to the problems confronting them, then let’s keep having the conversations to find out how to change the narrative and dig deeper to ensure results. Getting money to where it is needed is where it starts, but being willing to keep having the difficult discussions until change actually happens should be the only thing confronting us.
Isn’t that the whole point of this year? To upend norms and “that’s just the way it is” attitudes, and have the conversations, around inequity, healthcare, race and social injustice. To put yourself in the middle of the space and assume you know nothing, to be okay in the “not knowing” place and wait in the pregnant pause for the truth to be revealed.
#THEPOWEROFCONVERSATION