The Connected Elephant (CE) is committed to building and sustaining a community that acknowledges and honors a diversity of histories, identities, and lived experiences. We address difficult ‘elephant in the room’ issues of disparity through meaningful and constructive action steps and dialogue.

The Connected Elephant (CE) is committed to building and sustaining a community that acknowledges and honors a diversity of histories, identities, and lived experiences. We address difficult ‘elephant in the room’ issues of disparity through meaningful and constructive action steps and dialogue.

We stand proudly alongside our community members whose differences have historically left them oppressed, marginalized, disrespected, or unsafe. We amplify their voices and experiences, and create spaces for our community to engage as change agents for inclusivity and belonging.

Our work centers the concepts of equity and justice as we work towards ensuring compassionate and humanizing policies, practices, and procedures within our community systems.

We facilitate opportunities for community members to become actively engaged in a process of:

• Lifelong learning and critical self-evolution

• Recognizing, challenging & redressing power imbalances

• Developing and sustaining inclusive, mutual relationships driven by respect and trust

• Pursuing institutional accountability

CE opportunities to prioritize the cultivation of belonging and inclusion:

• Speaker Series

• Community Dialogues & Listening Opportunities

• Fun Community-Building Events

• Action steps that are informed at the local, state and federal level

• Supporting and amplifying the work of other aligned organizations in the Seacoast that are committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice.

• Engaging and activating various stakeholders (e.g., Lane Library, Hampton Parks & Rec Department, Hampton Youth Association, community churches, civic groups, schools, local businesses, etc.) in this work so we are actively working together as a community.

• Other innovative ideas generated by this supportive community.

Our vision is to create and sustain a community that acknowledges, integrates, and honors a diversity of histories, identities, and lived experiences. We communicate, collaborate, learn, and grow with the wider community around this supportive work.

----

As we address the elephants in the room, we invite anyone who is willing to engage respectfully in difficult, controversial conversations. We are inclusive of diversity of all types—including diversity of thought.

However, we are NOT “inclusive” of voices that promote hate or harmful beliefs of any kind. White nationalist, Nazis, White supremacists, homophobes, transphobes, misogynists, and ableists are NOT WELCOME HERE

• Elizabeth Doppler-Bourassa

• Jessica Crowley

• Kelly Martin

• Dan Ronner-Bland