Episode 35: Building Transformative Communities with Shilpa Jain

Fierce Compassion Episode 12. Image of Dr. Akómolàfè sitting with arms around bent knee.

Episode 35: Building Transformative Community with Shilpa Jain

In this episode of Fierce Compassion, we welcome Shilpa Jain, former executive director of YES!, to explore the art of deep listening, conflict transformation, and participatory leadership. Shilpa shares how her upbringing in a tight-knit Jain community shaped her understanding of interdependence and belonging. We discuss how storytelling fosters connection across divides, the importance of co-creating spaces of healing, and the role of fractals in systemic change. With wisdom drawn from decades of community-building, Shilpa offers insights on navigating conflict with courage and compassion. Join us for a conversation on how small, intentional acts of connection can build a more just and loving world.

Also, we will be offering a limited number of live, one-on-one coaching sessions which will be shared on a special episode of the podcast. Follow this link to find out more and apply: https://forms.gle/4PqSPcJ74rLjzsUX8

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Episode 35: Building Transformative Community with Shilpa Jain

Fierce Compassion Podcast

Episode Transcript

About Shilpa

Shilpa Jain is currently rooting herself in Oakland/Berkeley, CA. For 11+ years, she served as the Executive Director of YES!, working with social changemakers at the meeting point of internal, interpersonal and systemic change. Prior to taking on this role, Shilpa spent two years as the Education and Outreach Coordinator of Other Worlds and ten years as a learning activist with Shikshantar: The Peoples’ Institute for Rethinking Education and Development, based in Udaipur, India. She has facilitated dozens of transformative leadership gatherings with thousands of multigenerational leaders from over 50 countries. She is passionate about dance and music, organic and natural farming, upcycling and zero waste living, asking appreciative questions and being in community. A focus on healing, forgiveness, compassion, love and wholeness permeates all of her work and life.