This week, activist burnout. We all seem to be feeling some degree of it right now, and for very understandable reasons. We’re facing so many urgent challenges and crises across simultaneous fronts, from the climate crisis to the pandemic, the fight for voting rights, for racial equity, not to mention reproductive rights are under a frightening new assault.

We know that we want to reenergize and reengage, but we may not be sure how. So for this town hall, we’ve assembled a panel of experts to offer perspective and guidance on how to understand your burnout, and how to find your way back.

Jennifer Farris Young is a leader with Indivisible Action Tampa Bay, and is a clinical therapist specializing in trauma. She is a frequent guest of the Washington State Indivisible Podcast, helping activists cope with overwhelm, grief, anger, and burnout.

Paul Gorski is the founder of the Equity Literacy Institute and EdChange. He has more than 20 years of experience helping educators, nonprofit workers, and others strengthen their equity efforts, and has published more than 70 articles and has written, co-written, or co-edited twelve books on equity, and is the co-author of “Measuring” Social Justice and Human Rights Activist Burnout." He holds a PhD in Educational Evaluation from the University of Virginia.

Jayna Tavarez is a higher education/student affairs professional at the University of Massachusetts Amherst where she works closely with college students within Residence Education. In addition to her full-time role, Jayna is also a graduate student in the Social Justice Education program and a Research Apprentice for the Center for Racial Justice and Youth Engaged Research. Her research primarily explores how issues of burnout cut across race, and sexual orientation with a particular focus on activist burnout among college student activists.

Marceline DuBose holds an Ed.M. in Teaching and Curriculum from Harvard University as a Rockefeller Brothers Teaching Fellow. Also a certified yoga instructor, Marceline incorporates historical and policy perspectives, systems change theory, adult learning theory, critical reflection, and key approaches from yoga philosophy as she works toward individual, organizational and societal change. She is also the co-author of the book, “No Stone Unturned,” a guide to reducing burnout and increasing creativity and invigoration as core goals.