On May 1, Center for Council stepped into independent 501c3 status as a nonprofit organization known as Beyond Us & Them.
After ten years of fiscal sponsorship, Beyond Us & Them will lead the way in providing solution-focused scalable practices to combat the loneliness epidemic and to foster social connection. Our work disrupts divisiveness and combats fear, isolation, and acrimony to cultivate a culture of social connection, engagement, and resilience.
As our programs steadily expand, we are experiencing an increase in engagement. Now, more than ever, our focus is on meeting this moment with empathy, understanding, and kindness.
Our organization creates practical solutions to address a range of social and cultural crises, from the loneliness epidemic to fractured police-community relations and recidivism.
While thinking globally, we act locally — with extensive programming, including resourcing incarcerated individuals for a healthy post-incarceration life. With initiatives in 29 California prisons and re-entry programming in Los Angeles and the imminent expansion of our programming throughout the state of Vermont, our organization is positively impacting thousands of system-impacted individuals and their families. We will also be increasing our work training police agencies nationwide, as well as staff from schools, community-based organizations and businesses, promoting a positive culture of wellbeing, engagement, productivity, and inclusivity.
Journalist Stephanie Sarazin with Psychology Today explored how our work provides a practical antidote to othering — and she focuses on the practice of setting an extra chair in our council circles to hold a place for all those whose absence is felt. Read this insightful and unique window into our work here.