What We Do – Partnerships

Partners In Well-Being: Lessons Learned

CORE Report:  Supporting and Sustaining Staff Well-being in Organizational Strategy

Click link to view or download a PDF of the report.

CORE’s central focus since 2019 has been to support social and environmental justice organizations in south-central Wisconsin in shifting their practices and culture towards individual and collective well-being for staff as well as the community. Much of our relationship-building, funding and accompaniment work in this arena has been with leaders of color in three important organizations working to empower marginalized communities in our region:  GSAFE,  Freedom, Inc., and UNIDOS.  Each of these organizations has worked intentionally on creating structures, policies, and practices to support staff and organizational well-being.

In 2023 CORE offered leaders from the three groups an opportunity to gather in facilitated dialogues to share and learn from each other about their different strategies to support staff and collective well-being. They enthusiastically agreed. With support from CORE they chose a consultant, Cynthia Lin, to create this experience with them and write up the results.

The report linked here documents some of the insights, strategies, tools, and key questions the leaders from GSAFE, Freedom, Inc., and UNIDOS surfaced in their discussions. In sharing their report, CORE’s partners hope to further support the development of shared values and coordinated practice among social justice organizations locally and beyond.

Partnering with Community Shares of WI

More information to be added.

Creando Espacio para BienEstar / Creating Space for Wellbeing

As the pandemic was shutting down spaces in 2020, CORE was supporting Latina leaders to explore culturally relevant and trauma-informed ways to strengthen internal and external leadership capacities. From there, Creando Espacio (Creating Space) was born, offering opportunities beginning in September 2021 for Latina childcare professionals to connect, learn, and practice sustainable and accessible strategies.

The program is designed to help people develop:

  1. A connection with their own inner wisdom (mind/body/spirit or energy) and the resilience to maintain that connection
  2. Concrete skills that empower the best in self and others (for example listening, grounded inquiry, moving beyond fear, transforming conflict, servant leadership)
  3. Re-energized imagination to envision new transformative possibilities for themselves, their families, their organizations, and their communities
  4. Community—reducing isolation and enhancing connection

Marcela Kyngesburye and Romilia Schlueter led the design and implementation of the in-person and online gatherings, with help from Veronica Figueroa as well. From 2021 through 2023 they engaged more than 25 Latina leaders, mostly from the childcare field, in opportunities to create space for the expression and strengthening of their individual and collective wisdom. The gatherings incorporated art, poetry, movement, journaling, and other transformational activities.

The participants report healing, growth, and connections that have been transformational for them.

“The course was a life-changing experience. It allowed me to get to know myself better and release feelings that I had inside. Listening to other women in similar situations made me feel understood and supported. It was definitely a very relaxing and rewarding space for me.”

“This workshop was wonderful. Not only did I enjoy every activity, but it also allowed me to connect with other women and learn from their experiences. I felt part of a community that seeks wellbeing and I would love to see more workshops like this one.”

“What I liked most about this event was the opportunity to express my emotions without being judged. It was like an inner break that helped me release stress. I would also love to continue participating in sessions like this in the future.”

In 2024, Romilia stepped back for family reasons. Marcela is carrying forward the programming and expanding the invitation to other grassroots Latina leaders.

For more information, please visit the website:  Creando Espacio para BienEstar