In A Tradition That Has No Name, Mary Belenky (1997) writes about the importance of supporting subordinated populations in finding a public voice, “to cultivate a commitment to the common good and to take a critical stance toward social arrangements that keep people silenced and isolated” (pg.9).
A major part of what is happening at the GYPS supporting participants, in finding a voice and expressing themselves.
At the Summit, every day starts with a talking circle attended by the entire village. A theme is usually introduced by one of the facilitators, and the youth are invited to speak from their personal experience.
Often what is shared in the circles are a youth’s personal journey. Many of the youth have experienced extremely traumatizing events- events that forced them from their homelands such as war or catastrophe, or an incarcerated parent, domestic abuse. The circles are an opportunity to tell their story in front of a group of loving witnesses. This is part of the healing journey that Amala creates. Vanessa Stone, the founder of Amala, teaches that everything that happens to us can be turned into something that is FOR us. We can use it to move us forward into our call to action in life.
If words aren’t the medium a youth wants to use, but he or she feels called to share, they are welcome to bring a song, a dance, a prayer, or even step into the circle in silence, to be witnessed. These talking circles are some of the most potent moments of the summit, because its first thing in the morning, we haven’t eaten yet, we hold ourselves in silence as we walk to the place where the circles take place, and the shares are often some of the most vulnerable and moving of the week.
There are principles that the Amala Foundation teaches. Some of the principles are:
- Give What You Want The Most
- Burn and Serve (Service is our Teacher and Our Healing)
- Its All For You
Creating a Global Village To Explore Issues of Race and Displacement 