Harnessing Our Collective Strengths: Lessons from the 2025 NHCJE Annual Meeting
On May 6, 2025, more than 140 changemakers from across New Hampshire gathered at the Lakeport Opera House in Laconia for the New Hampshire Center for Justice & Equity’s (NHCJE) Annual Meeting. The theme, “How Do We Harness Our Collective Strength?”, wasn’t just a prompt for discussion— it was a call to action, a spiritual refrain, and a strategic imperative.
At a time when equity efforts are under siege across the state and nation, this community convening served as a space of resilience and resolve. It was an affirmation that justice begins with each of us, and that together, we have the tools—and the responsibility—to build a more inclusive future for New Hampshire.
A Ceremonial Opening: Spirit and Intention
The gathering opened with a Ghanaian drum call by Theo Marty of the Akwaaba Ensemble, calling participants and ancestors into “community”.
Ramey Sylvester then offered a reading of “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing”, a hymn often called the Black National Anthem. The words resonated deeply:
“Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us.”
The poem’s origin and soul—of history remembered, hope reclaimed, and justice pursued—set the tone for the day.
Equity as a Spiritual Commitment
Claire Holston, Chair of the NHCJE Board, welcomed attendees with a grounding land acknowledgment and a heartfelt reminder: “Equity is not a policy. It is a spiritual principle.”
Claire Holston, NHCJE Board Chair
She invited the audience to pause and reflect—on the work ahead, yes, but also on their shared humanity and collective purpose. “Let our words speak truth, and our actions evoke love,” she said. The Board’s role, she noted, was not simply to guide from above, but to be co-creators of a shared vision—a vision where equity becomes the expectation, not the exception.
“Equity is not a policy. It is a spiritual principle.”
A Year of Challenge and Growth
Anthony Poore, NHCJE’s President and CEO, delivered a thoughtful year-in-review. He reflected on a landscape marked by challenges—attacks on public education, restrictions on Medicaid and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), and legislative efforts to suppress DEI values. And yet, he said, the organization’s resolve has never been stronger.
NHCJE continued to invest in communities, published data-driven research, and offered leadership in the policy space across a myriad of public and private sectors, helping policymakers better understand and address disparities in NH’s economic, health, education and law enforcement outcomes.
“I believe we have all that we need in this room today, to shift the balance of power… and if we are to succeed, it will require patience, perseverance, and persistence.”
A Divine Message: Dr. Daniel Black
Dr. Daniel Black, author, professor, and speaker, delivered a keynote that will not be forgotten. In soaring, poetic language, he described “angels” raining down—of all races, orientations, and identities—sent not just to survive, but to heal a weary world.
Dr. Daniel Black
“They came to bring life to the dead, the dying, the lifeless, the hopeless,” he said. “They came to reintroduce the world to God’s dream of humanity— one built on truth and justice and righteousness. They meant to love so hard their hearts hurt, to stand so strong their legs trembled, to unite like bees protecting a honeycomb of justice. These angels were black and brown and white, gay and straight and trans, rich and poor, fierce and fearless. They came not quietly, not passively, but boldly…with painted wings in every color of the cosmos.”
“They didn’t just want to be seen,” he said, “they demanded to be felt. They were not simply angels who are gay, but angels proud to be gay. Not angels who just believe in freedom, but angels who will fight like hell for freedom. Not angels who will only pray for you, but angels who will brush their knees and build houses for you. These angels came not to fit in—but to transform the world.”
Dr. Black’s message was both prophecy and challenge: that we are not just activists, professionals, or advocates—we are spiritual warriors, sent to dream and build a world rooted in courage, love, and dignity.
“To partner with the NHCJE, an angel must be willing to share their wings. For wings are no good if they only lift you. They must carry others too. The future belongs to those willing to shed blood for someone else’s liberation, to believe in a tomorrow no one else can see, to fight until even the forgotten learn to fly.”
Word cloud generated from audience responses to the question “What are words that Dr. Black’s talk brought up for you?”
Embracing Abundance in the Face of Scarcity
The day also featured a powerful panel discussion moderated by NHCJE Board member, Dr. R. Jamaal Downey, with leaders from across New Hampshire and the region:
From left to right– Dr. Giselle C. Shorter, Nellie Mae Education Foundation, Simon Delekta, NH Charitable Foundation, Devon Chaffee, ACLU-NH, Dr. R. Jamaal Downey, and Miranda Dupré, Vital Communities.
Together, they tackled some big questions:
How do we respond to fear with connection?
What does effective collective action look like?
How do we build joy, even in the face of injustice?
Panelists emphasized the power of imagination, the importance of narrative, and the need to move from a mindset of scarcity to one of abundance.
“Greatness is in us. We cannot only react to oppression– we must create the world we want to see.”
Panelists acknowledged the pressures many advocacy and nonprofit organizations are feeling in 2025—shrinking budgets, increased scrutiny, and hostile legislation targeting DEI, social safety net programs, education, and community programs and initiatives.
“We are falling into a scarcity mindset,” one panelist observed. “We need our funders and leaders to loosen up and act boldly in a time that demands it.”
The antidote? Embracing connection as a strategy, not just a sentiment. Telling the story of our communities—our assets, our vision, and our shared humanity—is itself an act of power.
Joy as Resistance
“Joy is not just a feeling—it’s a tactic,” Miranda Dupré reminded the audience. She and others lifted up the role of the arts, festivals, cultural events, and mutual celebration as tools to sustain “community” in the face of hostile attacks.
“I love people that are joyful,” she said, “but right now, that joy is under threat—by policies that attack not just our programs, but our ability to dream.”
Across New Hampshire, there are traditions of civic gathering—town meetings, potlucks, Pride parades, Juneteenth events—that can be leveraged for inclusion and action. “Let’s gather not just to fight,” one panelist said, “but to imagine the world we want and celebrate the people we’re building it with.”
From Crisis to Clarity: Building the Long View
The panel didn’t shy away from the challenges: the backlash against LGBTQ+ rights, bans on books and DEI programming, and efforts to roll back public investments in early childhood, housing, and healthcare.
But the group remained grounded in a clear message: we have been here before, and we know how to organize. “We’ve been here before,” several of the speakers reminded the room. “Freedom is not won—it is continuously fought for.” Together, we rise.
The group shared examples of organizing against proposed budget cuts, building coalitions across issue areas, and responding to community trauma with landscape analysis, power mapping, and proactive vision-building, rather than reactive retreat.
“We can’t afford to only address symptoms, we need to invest in imagining and building the system we actually want.”
What Comes Next?
In response to the question, What does a collective, effective strategy look like to you?, the answers echoed one another:
A unified vision that centers equity as a principle, not just a checkbox.
Standing together across sectors—education, housing, legal advocacy, community health—because the threat is interconnected.
Investing in the imagination to see beyond today’s political chaos to tomorrow’s opportunity.
And, perhaps most importantly, refusing to lose sight of joy—not as escapism, but as a foundation of resilience.
“There is an opportunity here,” said Simon Delekta. “People are saying yes. People want to build something better. It’s time to expand our table.”
Looking Forward: A Shared Future
Attendees left the Lakeport Opera House energized by a common purpose: to build a New Hampshire where all belong, where access to education, healthcare, and dignity is guaranteed, and where joy is not an afterthought, but a strategy.
The angels are here. The work continues.
On a Note of Gratitude
The 2025 Annual Meeting of the New Hampshire Center for Justice & Equity would not have been possible without the incredible support of our collaborators, allies, investors, and community partners.
Special thanks to our sponsors for standing with us in a shared commitment to justice, equity, and community transformation:
Collaborator-level: Eastern Bank and Eversource
Ally-level: Ledyard Bank, McLane Middleton, Sheehan Phinney, Speedy Printing, United Methodist Foundation of New England, Walden Mutual Bank, and Revision Energy.
And to NHCJE’s Investors, thank you for believing in our mission and investing in the long-term vision of equity across New Hampshire: The Endowment for Health, Nellie Mae Education Foundation, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, Point32Health Foundation, and You Have Our Trust.
We are also grateful to Thomas Forbes of Teeba Music, who brought spirit and soul to our gathering through music, and to Miriam Kovacs of the Broken Spoon in Franklin, whose catering nourished us all with care and consideration. And Matt Anderson for his photography, and to the team at the Lakeport Opera House for their help and support leading up to, and during, the meeting.
Photos by Matthew Anderson.