Back to News Annual Community Meet 2026: Courage and Hope
More than 160 organizers, trainers, and changemakers from over 40 countries gathered to reflect on courage, hope, and the future we're building together.
This April, our community came together for the LCN Annual Community Meet 2026!
We held two sessions to reach members in every time zone, bringing more than 160 organizers, trainers, and changemakers from more than 40 countries.
The theme of this year was Courage and Hope and the stories and connections that filled both sessions showed us exactly what that courage looks like in practice.
The sessions were moderated by two of our board members: Regina Schwartz, who led the April 20 session for members coming from Europe, Africa, South West Asia & the Americas, and Junko Yoda, who held the space for our Asia-Pacific community on April 24.
Marshall Ganz opened both gatherings with a reflection that has stayed with many of us. The challenge right now, he said, is not only to resist, it is to build. To ask ourselves not just what we are fighting against, but what kind of world we are fighting for.
“The choices we make in the present shape the future. What is required now is the hopefulness to see possibilities, and the courage to act upon them, despite the uncertainty.”
5 years of growing leadership around the world
Our Executive Director, Mais Irqsusi, reflected on the growth of the network over the past five years and the expansion of the Leading Change Academy as a global pathway for leadership development.
Since 2021, LCN has continued building an ecosystem of people power rooted in its pillars: the Leading Change Academy, Community of Practice, the Resource Center, and Global Roots.
Stories of courage and organizing
We were joined by an incredible group of community speakers: Farah Halasa, James Otoo, William Suarez, Zarni Lynn Kyaw, and Muneeba Hafeez, who brought the theme of courage to life through their own organizing journeys. From Jordan to Ghana, from the United States to Myanmar to Pakistan, each of them shared what it looks like to build collective power in contexts shaped by injustice, inequality, and fear, and to choose to act anyway. We also heard from Anita Tang on the exciting member-led initiative to build a local community of practice for organizers and leaders in Australia and seed local leadership and power.
Reflecting and building courage together
Participants then moved into small breakout groups to reflect on a simple but powerful question: When did you, or someone you know, act with courage — even in a small way?
What came back into the room were stories of speaking up for the first time, organizing despite fear, supporting one another through uncertainty, and continuing to act even when outcomes felt unclear.
Sachiko Osawa, Head of Programs at LCN, closed by asking the community another question: What does this community give you that you struggle to find elsewhere?
The answers came quickly: hope, connection, people who understand the work, and the courage to keep going.
She also shared a vision for LCN’s future, one that is rooted in shared commitment and collective ownership, with its members at the center — going deeper, dreaming bolder, and acting with courage together to build lasting people power.
Closing and Celebrating
Both sessions closed with a special musical performance. Reem Manaa from Ahel and Hala Abu Taleb offered a moving Arabic song about longing for a better world in the April 20th session, while Kaz Uy closed the Asia-Pacific gathering singing the Kalayaan (Liberation) Song. A beautiful reminder that joy and celebration are also central to this work.
Following the performances, participants were invited to stay for an optional 30-minute relational space to reconnect with familiar faces and meet new ones from across the global community.
Throughout the April 20th session, Indra Zaka Permanaa, a talented visual scriber captured the energy of the gathering into a live illustrated video. Watch Zaka’s illustration below.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for ACM 2026 and made these gatherings so meaningful. We look forward to continuing to learn, organize, and build together throughout the year.
