Come, Unity

In November of 2023, Carey awoke in the night to learn that her son had been assaulted by a group of teenagers involved in a string of violent crimes in the Arizona East Valley.

In this episode, Carey shares her her experience walking with her family and her community through the emotional, physical, and legal struggles that have followed more than a year since that event.

Kathy Tilque, a Gilbert Town Councilmember during that time, and now the president of the Gilbert Advocacy Center Foundation, shares her perspectives from that time period, along with her vision of how the coming Advocacy Center will be a resource for individuals and families who are victims of crimes like this.

To become a founding partner of the Gilbert Advocacy Center, go to www.gilbertacf.org and click on "Founding Partners."

Trigger warning: this episode discusses domestic violence, rape, suicide, child abuse, and sexual abuse. Please listen with care.

In this heartfelt episode, Jessica Nicely and Ben Williams share their stories of physical and sexual abuse as children, and their journeys to overcome and heal from it. They discuss:

• Mixed messages victims receive through religion, and the power of faith in God

• Impacts of abuse on the family members of survivors

• How trauma from abuse can affect generations

• Ending the cycle and creating a safer home and community as a parent

Jessica is the CEO and Founder of Winged Hope, an organization that serves victims of domestic violence, most often children and women. She has received thousands of disclosures from victims of physical and sexual abuse, and has dedicated the better part of her life to healing, teaching, advocating, and providing resources for these victims.

Hear from Kathy Tilque, former councilwoman for the Town of Gilbert and current President of the Gilbert Advocacy Center Foundation, on why this center is being built now, who it will serve, and what has motivated Kathy to take up this work and mission.

To become a founding partner of the Gilbert Advocacy Center, go to ⁠www.gilbertacf.org⁠ and click on "Founding Partners."

Grief is a universal human experience, yet it remains deeply personal and often misunderstood. In this continuation of episode 5, Chaplain Thomas Arbaugh and hosts Zybrena, Carey, and Ben explore the intricate landscape of grief. They delve into:

(1) The complex interplay of grief, and how it affects our relationships.

(2) Understanding that grief looks different for everyone.

(3) How unexpected changes and unmet expectations spark grief.

(4) Understanding cultural differences and communal grieving.

This is part 2 of a 2-part conversation.

Book recommendations:

• Any books by Mitch Albom

• Prayer in the Night by Tish Harrison Warren

• 1000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp

• What Happened To You? by Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Bruce Perry

Grief is a universal human experience, yet it remains deeply personal and often misunderstood. In this episode, Chaplain Thomas Arbaugh joins hosts Zybrena, Carey, and Ben to explore the intricate landscape of grief. They delve into:

(1) The ministry of presence for yourself and others.

(2) The vital role grief plays in our lives.

(3) Techniques for holding space during times of loss.

(4) Navigating the complex interplay of emotions while grieving.

This is part 1 of a 2-part conversation.

In this powerful episode, Thomas Arbaugh shares his transformative journey from a troubled youth to becoming a respected chaplain, therapist, and Faith Services Administrator for the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Re-entry.

Thomas opens up about his early struggles, his spiritual awakening, and his mission to help others find hope and authenticity. His story is a testament to the power of redemption and the impact one person can have on their community if they are willing to look deeper and see the individual.

Hosts Carey, Z, and Ben discuss building profound connections through intentional efforts. We explore how sharing experiences, showing compassion, and embracing vulnerability are crucial in creating meaningful relationships.

We share our personal journeys of navigating differences in beliefs and perspectives, demonstrating how open communication and a willingness to sit with discomfort can actually fortify our bonds. We also highlight the dangers of making assumptions about others and emphasize the importance of creating safe spaces for authentic and heartfelt dialogue.

Listen in as we unpack strategies for fostering true unity within our communities, reminding ourselves that unity is not about uniformity, but about embracing and celebrating our diverse journeys together.

We're recording this episode to help get the word out and get Sharon Kotsonas to 1000 signatures for Gilbert Town Council. Sharon has a servant's heart, a listening ear, and a long-term view of planning today for the city the people want 25 years from now.

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Electronic signature here: https://go.azsos.gov/xwrg

Gilbert residents can sign Sharon's online petition in less than 1 minute. All you'll need is your address and drivers license number.

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/kotsonas.for.gilbert/

Hosts Carey, Zybrena, and Ben continue the conversation, reflecting on pandemic-era experiences and mindsets around race, disunity, and polarization, and comparing them to today's society.

We share perspectives on parenting, marriage, and friendship in the context of seeing the world through the eyes of another person, and sitting in the discomfort to enable others to feel seen, known, and loved, and understood.

In this episode, meet the hosts of the Come, Unity Podcast: Zybrena Crawford Porter, Carey Bailey, and Ben Williams.

Get to know our background and why we've chosen to launch this podcast at this time. We'll share reflections on what unity is, how we pursue it, and set the stage for all that's to come.

We hope you'll join us in our efforts to build understanding, compassion, and unity in our community and yours. Thanks for listening! Stick around, the best is yet to come.