Espresso & Empowerment with Empowerment Congress & Days of Dialogue
Espresso & Empowerment invites community members to coffeehouse conversations centered on the current moment in civic engagement. Trained Days of Dialogue facilitators will guide intimate conversations about the state of our society, grounded in the Empowerment Congress’ guiding principles: civic engagement, intentional civility, empowerment, participatory democracy, reciprocal accountability, and servant leadership.
Monthly at Sip & Sonder Inglewood for 4Q 2025.
about the sessions
Session 1
10.04
Educate
Session 2
11.01
Engage
Session 3
12.06
Empower
about empowerment congress
Empowerment Congress is a distinctive and deliberate national model of civic engagement built on the core principles of participatory democracy, reciprocal accountability, and intentional civility. We have developed a unique and dynamic partnership among neighborhood groups, residents, nonprofit organizations, businesses, religious institutions, and community leaders within diverse communities. The EC served as a model for and precursor to the City of Los Angeles’ Neighborhood Councils. This organization is a fiscally sponsored project of Community Initiatives.
Mark Ridley-Thomas, Founder
about days of dialogue
Days of Dialogue is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization whose mission is to be a catalyst in the community problem-solving process by creating dialogue on sensitive social issues among diverse community groups. By facilitating respectful, purposeful conversation on a broad range of public issues and public policies and topics, we foster understanding and encourage people to improve their quality of life through civic engagement. This organization is a fiscally sponsored project of Community Initiatives.
Avis Ridley-Thomas, Founder
Sharon Shelton, Resident Facilitator
about in residence at sip & sonder
In Residence at Sip & Sonder provides a platform for creatives, academics, and community leaders and organizers to share programming that celebrates and explores the rich cultural tapestry of Black and Brown communities, thereby fostering dialogue, creativity, and community connection. From music to well-being to civic engagement and everything in between, In Residence is here to amplify Black and Brown voices and experiences.