WALKING OUR TALK BUILDS COMMUNITY
ANASTASIA STANMEYER
Empowering Women , One Circle at a Time
b y S a m a n t h a A n d e r s o n
THE WOMEN ENTER a softly lit room in the friends meeting house in Great Barrington . They settle into chairs assembled in a circle ; a woman facilitator opens the meeting with a brief greeting and two minutes of contemplative silence . The facilitator then invites each woman to share a bit about something going on in their lives , while the others listen without interruption or commentary .
This is a typical start to a Walking Our Talk meeting , an organization founded in the Berkshires in 2006 to empower women through conversation , connection , and community . For eight weeks , these women will gather weekly in this circle to talk openly about their lives , offer support to one another , and share their progress in personal and professional development . The goal is to actively work towards realizing their hopes and dreams .
Carmen Baker decided to write a book .
WALKING OUR TALK BUILDS COMMUNITY
Mary Campbell founded Walking Our Talk “ because I was having a difficult time getting traction on what to do with my life and needed the support and accountability to bring my dreams forward .” She had always been active and involved in community activities such as singing in her church choir , but she realized she had always wanted to sing solo . In 2005 , Campbell started working with a life coach . Encouraged to face her fears about singing in front of a crowd , Campbell formed a band , chose the songs , and got up on stage to great applause . Energized , she realized that many of her neighborhood friends had aspirations , too , they just needed another woman ’ s support to bring them to life .
Campbell had found profound inspiration in Jean Shinoda Bolen ' s book The Millionth Circle , awakening her to the power of women gathering and collaborating in sacred circles . She decided to invite eight other women to join her in what became the first Walking Our Talk circle , with the intention to bring each woman ’ s hopes and dreams forward and to share honestly what was going on in their lives . That group met every other week for four years in living rooms across Berkshire
County . Each woman was encouraged to initiate a project , and the circle members actively supported each other in bringing them to fruition . Slowly , Walking Our Talk expanded , with more circles launched seasonally . Campbell found they needed facilitators experienced in group dynamics to keep the meetings organized , so she trained a small stable of women to serve in that role .
Realizing the meetings required structure to create a safe container , they crafted a participant handbook outlining Walking Our Talk ’ s “ Agreements and Values .” The handbook includes honoring attendance and timeliness , maintaining confidentiality , fostering respect , encouraging self-love and empowerment , and embracing responsibility . In circle meetings , some women focus on personal development such as attending yoga classes and getting more rest ; others focus on learning new skills that they want to add to their resume . Several have created businesses which have thrived in the community , and some have pursued ( like Campbell ) artistic endeavors . The range is wide , and there is no judgment about whatever project is chosen . Each week , the women are paired up and assigned
84 // BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE Holiday Spring 2024 2023