A Conversation on Hope, Humanity, and Collective Action
At this year’s Gathering for Change on October 15, presented by Walsh Construction Co., community members came together for an evening of inspiration, learning, and shared purpose. The keynote conversation, “Leading with Empathy,” made possible through the generous sponsorship of Columbia Credit Union, invited attendees to reflect deeply on what it means to lead, listen, and act with compassion in the face of complex social challenges like homelessness.
Moderated by Esra Khalil, senior program officer at the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington, the discussion featured Jesse Beason, president and CEO of the Northwest Health Foundation, and Ed Johnson, director of Litigation at the Oregon Law Center. Together, they offered personal stories, sharp insights, and a resounding call to ground our work — and our humanity — in empathy.
Empathy as Foundation
Johnson opened by sharing how his mother, a preschool teacher known for her deep listening and authentic care, taught him the essence of empathy long before his career in law.
“People who come into legal aid offices often do so for the first time in their lives,” Johnson reflected. “I have to remind myself of the courage it takes to walk through that door and trust someone to help.”
For Beason, empathy was also a lesson rooted in family and perspective. His mother, a social worker in a mental health facility, modeled respect and agency for every person she assisted. Later, as a high school senior in Littleton, Colorado — just a mile from Columbine — Beason witnessed firsthand how narratives were told about communities without including the voices of those who lived there.
“If we don’t listen,” Beason said. “We never get the real story.”
Diversity as Strength, Hope as Discipline
Beason expanded the conversation by naming diversity as a form of evolution:
“Learning new things isn’t about affirming your beliefs; it’s about evolving them,” Beason said. “To live in a society where everyone belongs, we must face our history and see diversity as our superpower.”
Khalil echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that empathy and inclusion are inseparable from meaningful change.
Both speakers underscored that homelessness is a human problem, not a “tent problem.” Johnson reminded the audience that people living outside “are our neighbors,” and that the first step to ending homelessness is trust.
“The more people we have doing this work, and the better equipped they are, the closer we get to solutions.”
Turning Empathy into Action
When asked about actionable next steps, Johnson was direct:
“Get off your couch. Talk about homelessness. It’s a housing problem — and the only solution is more permanent, affordable housing.”
Beason added that belonging begins in everyday connection — when we meet each other eye to eye, show up to community events, and shape narratives grounded in truth.
Khalil closed the conversation by lifting up the hope embodied in organizations like Council for the Homeless, where empathy meets action daily.
“When issues feel complex, empathy inspires hope, and hope fuels meaningful change,” Khalil said.
Beason reminded the audience:
“Hope is a discipline.”
On this evening, through honest dialogue and shared commitment, hope was alive and well in Clark County.
Call to Action
The conversation doesn’t end here. Each of us has a role to play in leading with empathy. At Council for the Homeless, empathy is more than a value; it’s the foundation of every action we take. Let’s keep hope alive through collective action.
Join our email and advocacy list today: https://www.councilforthehomeless.org/take-action/our-newsletter/.
View the entire “Leading with Empathy” conversation at 1:28:00 on the event recording: https://www.avstrea
*Photo credit: Brianna Barnes Photography
