In the Spotlight: Beverly Braxton

Human Agency & Belonging: The Power to Bridge People through Storytelling & Listening

This week, we’re thrilled to shine a light on one of our most down-to-earth Village Builders, Beverly Braxton. Beverly’s story is one of warmth, resilience, and an unwavering dedication to fostering connection and belonging in her community. From her roots as an educator to her transformative work as a community catalyst and change agent, Beverly exemplifies what it means to build bridges and nurture the human spirit. When you meet Beverly Braxton, you instantly sense a rare blend of wisdom, warmth, humility, and passion for the well-being of her community. Hailing from the semi-rural landscape of Warwick, NY, her roots are steeped in an old historical farming town that values southern hospitality. It’s that same down-to-earth spirit that guided her remarkable 30-year career as a public elementary school teacher, where she pioneered a progressive education program, Partners in Education (PIE) dedicated to sparking curiosity and critical thinking in young minds and open to anyone who resonated with its philosophy.

From Classroom Innovator to Community Visionary

Beverly wasn’t your typical teacher. While many believed a “back to basics” approach was the only way, she boldly ventured into a realm where the classroom extended far beyond four walls. Progressive education to her meant developing students’ critical thinking, community, and collaborative skills while also nurturing kids’ love of learning. n On occasion she had families with multiple children , for as long as eight years. I remember being truly moved hearing how she maintained a personal connection with every child and family—a rare practice that not only celebrated academic achievement but also honored the human story behind every student. This practice, as I learned, would later be carried on to her community and change agency projects.

Building ‘Family Central’ and ‘We the People Warwick’

When she left teaching in 2010, it wasn’t a farewell but a doorway to deeper questions. Concerned by how fast children were growing up, Beverly began asking, “Does anyone else notice the challenges these youth are facing?” Through her years of working with families and children, she acknowledged that while many see the challenges, few know how to address them. This motivated her to create the grassroots organization, Family Central-NY in 2014 to address a host of social trends undermining the well-being of children and adolescents. Drawing on decades of witnessing social change—from the transformative 60s to the turbulent moments of MADD and beyond—Beverly has faith that change can be brought about by caring adults working together. Her efforts focused on creating spaces that gave people agency to shape their own futures. And create these spaces she did.

In 2021, during the Capitol Insurrection and the Black Lives Matter movement, there was an eruption in her town. She said to herself, “I can keep putting bandaids on problems but we really have to go deeper”. Seeing that her community was suffering, she wrote to her local newspaper to highlight the urgency and posted an invitation to come together. She did this by asking one powerful question “Are we a town who is serious about belonging?”

Ninety people heeded the call.. amidst the COVID pandemic.

Unsure how to lead a large movement over Zoom, she leaned into what she knew: how to listen, organize, and call people into purpose. Whether someone could lead a group, design a flyer, or simply show up, there was a place for them. She personally interviewed each volunteer, building small, supported circles of dialogue — because people were hurting, angry, and afraid to speak. But they came anyway. And they began, together. She named this group: We the People Warwick — All of Us Matter.

The Power of Stories

To address the deep divisions in her community, Beverly designed a four-week small group dialogue series grounded in storytelling. Recognizing the importance of intimate conversation, she kept the groups to no more than eight people so every voice could be heard. After engaging with the 90 people that reached out, she identified core facilitators and partnered with a trusted organization to lead online facilitation training. Participants met in pairs, then in groups, gradually building trust through a thoughtful sequence of conversations. Each session explored essential themes: personal origin stories, group identities and belonging, what matters most in one’s community, and ideas for change. The series culminated in an “Action Forum,” where participants identified the biggest local challenges and self-organized into action groups to begin addressing them.

At the heart of this work was the belief that stories are essential for understanding and connection. Beverly saw that we often assume we know someone just because we’re friendly with them—but real understanding only comes when we hear each other’s lived experiences. Drawing inspiration from The Moth storytelling program, she helped participants learn to craft and share five-minute personal stories. Some were deeply emotional, others quietly powerful, but all offered windows into each person’s humanity. She made a point of encouraging stories from those who might typically be overlooked—like the local police chief, an EMS worker, and a member of the LGBTQ community —challenging stereotypes and surfacing shared experiences across differences.

What emerged was a powerful reminder that storytelling creates the conditions for empathy. It allows people to see one another not as roles or labels, but as full, complex humans. This process helps dismantle assumptions, replace fear with curiosity, and foster genuine connection. By centering stories, Beverly’s work has shown that healing divides doesn’t start with debate—it starts with listening. And through that listening, people begin to reimagine what's possible together.

The Mission to Create Communities of Belonging

What sets Beverly apart is her fearless curiosity and her gift for inspiring others to listen deeply. Whether she’s organizing community forums on mental health or addressing divisive behaviors at local events, she meets each challenge with grace, clarity, and unwavering determination. Her work is a powerful reminder that communities grow stronger when we embrace our shared humanity.

Beverly’s initiatives reflect the heart of the Village model—bringing people together to co-create solutions that honor every voice. “Our community grows based on what we contribute to it,” she says. “Every voice, every story matters.” She recognizes that she’s been living these principles for years—hosting small group consultations that mirror Village’s Open Space conversations, creating spaces for healing, and cultivating dialogue without even naming it as such. Her time with VillageCo has helped her name and deepen these practices, especially resonating with the model’s emphasis on Acknowledgement. She’s found joy and inspiration connecting with fellow Village Builders, including a memorable session on Nonviolent Communication that she integrated into her personal and community life.

What stands out most is Beverly’s ability to act with hope even in uncertainty. When she wrote that public letter to her local newspaper, inviting anyone who wanted to build a more inclusive and connected community to join her, she had no idea what would unfold. But by simply creating space and offering a sense of shared purpose, she sparked a movement—one rooted in belonging, listening, and collective care.

If you’re inspired by Beverly’s story, consider taking that first step in your own community. Together, we can grow villages where every person feels seen, valued, and essential.

Food for Thought

1. When have you felt called towards community service and action?

2. What changes do you see are possible in your local community?

3. What are some of the hurdles you’ve experienced while bringing a community together?

4. Where do you find home/security in times of uncertainty?