April 17, 2025
At Root Change, we believe that community power is the foundation for lasting social transformation. In 2023, with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, we launched the Community Power Group Learning Initiative (CPLI) —a global coalition that brings together organizers and community leaders from diverse backgrounds, both in the U.S. and internationally, to transform societies and advance equity. Grounded in the values of justice, empathy, and solidarity, CPLI participants share a belief in the capacity of those most affected by inequity to unite, voice their aspirations, and drive systemic change toward social, economic, and health equity.
Through this initiative, we have explored and strengthened grassroots movements that challenge inequitable systems and foster inclusive collaboration. Last October, we had the honor of deepening this mission by joining Catalyst for Peace and Fambul Tok in Freetown, Sierra Leone, for the Constellating Peace from the Inside Out program.
This invitation provided a rare and valuable opportunity to learn from global peacebuilding efforts, particularly the Fambul Tok reconciliation model, which has played a critical role in post-conflict healing in Sierra Leone and across Africa. By participating in this program, we connected our ongoing community power work with effective global practices in restorative justice, reconciliation, and conflict resolution.
Why Sierra Leone? Learning from the Fambul Tok Model
Fambul Tok (meaning “Family Talk” in Krio) is a community-based reconciliation initiative that emerged in the wake of Sierra Leone’s devastating civil war. Rooted in traditional practices of acknowledgment, apology, and forgiveness, the bonfire model has helped communities heal and rebuild by prioritizing local agency and storytelling as pathways to peace. This unique community-owned program brings together perpetrators and victims of the violence in the civil war to talk, heal, and chart a new path forward together.
The impact of Fambul Tok extends beyond post-war recovery. Today, the women of Sierra Leone who suffered tremendously during the war continue to do the important work of sustaining peace at the village level and have become a dynamic force in empowering and mobilizing women. Peace Mother and Chiefdom Animator Mariatu Barrie stated “Our strength comes from our ancestors. They remind us that peace is not just the absence of conflict but the presence of unity.” Fambol Tok’s work has also expanded to focus on the country’s development process. Its principles are embedded in the Wan Fambul National Framework, which promotes inclusive, decentralized development planning. This aligns closely with CPLI’s goals of nurturing diverse coalitions, managing conflict, and strengthening grassroots advocacy in the U.S.
Bridging Global and Local: Key Learning Goals for CPLI
Our participation in this program was guided by several key learning goals:
- Understanding the Fambul Tok reconciliation model and its adaptability to community power work in the U.S.
- Navigating diverse coalitions and generative conflict, recognizing that difference is an asset in social change efforts.
- Exploring strategies to transform policy and institutions by building cross-sector allies, including local government.
- Developing skills in restorative justice and reconciliation to address tensions that arise in community-led movements.
- Cultivating solidarity across geographies, sharing insights with global partners, and expanding the reach of our work beyond national borders.
By engaging in this exchange, we identified new approaches for addressing the challenges of power-sharing, justice, and movement-building in complex social change ecosystems.
The Root Change Delegation: Representing CPLI
Our delegation to Sierra Leone included Root Change co-founder Claudia Liebler, and four CPLI leaders who represent health and economic justice nonprofits in New Mexico, Missouri, Ohio and New Jersey, each of whom brought deep expertise in community engagement and power-building. Their participation was fully supported by Root Change, and they documented key insights to share with the broader CPLI network.
In addition to attending workshops and engaging with local leaders, our team participated in structured reflection sessions, dialogue with diverse stakeholders, and immersive learning experiences. The knowledge gained not only enhanced our work with CPLI but also contributed to shaping the future of the Community Power movement globally.
Sustaining the Learning: Building a Global Community Power Movement
The journey did not end in Sierra Leone. Root Change remains committed to ongoing collaboration with the Constellating Peace community. At its core, this partnership reflects our belief that powerful change happens when communities share knowledge, experiences, and strategies across borders. As we explore ways to apply the Fambul Tok model in the U.S., we also remain open to what we can contribute to a growing international movement for justice and inclusion.
We continue to reflect on the insights gained from this transformative experience and look forward to integrating them into our ongoing work. Together, we are constellating peace, from the inside out.
