This November, we pause to honor Veterans Day and Native American Heritage Month—two observances that invite us to reflect on service, sacrifice, and the courage it takes to protect identity across generations.
At HueLife, our mission is rooted in human understanding and engagement as a force for change; today, we focus on those who serve and protect, those who lead towards truth and healing, and those who defend their right to exist.
For some of us who grew up in the former Soviet Union, this theme is deeply personal. The USSR blended dozens of nationalities — Ukrainians, Russians, Lithuanians, Armenians, Georgians, Kazakhs, and many more — into a single “Soviet” identity. While it offered a sense of unity, it also erased languages, histories, and cultural truths. These struggles echo the experiences of Indigenous peoples in the United States, who endured forced assimilation, loss of language, cultural erasure, and generational trauma, yet continue to lead powerful efforts of reclamation and healing. This month, we are introducing you to four courageous women who will share their approaches and best practices as they apply facilitation methods to their work within indigenous communities. We would also like to acknowledge ordinary people in Ukraine who are stepping into service to protect their families, language, and freedom today. Their struggle is both deeply Ukrainian and universally human.
Join us in honoring all who courageously reclaim identity, culture, and belonging.
Want to tap into collective wisdom without everyone talking at once?
The Virtual Fishbowl Conversation method creates space for depth and listening. An inner circle of experts or experienced voices engages in an open conversation while the outer circle actively listens—building insights before stepping in.
Pro-Tip: To maximize engagement and equity:
Remind the outer circle that listening is participating—their reflection time builds richer contributions
In the "step-in" phase, invite quieter voices first to ensure diverse perspectives are heard
Use the chat for those who prefer to process in writing—it often surfaces insights that spoken conversation misses
The result? Thoughtful dialogue that honors both speaking and listening as essential leadership skills.
Learn to design for inclusive and equitable participation, ensure group commitment and resolve, create a realistic and achievable plan, inspire accountability, and plan with implementation in mind.
Our YouLEAD alumni continue to inspire us with the ways they are shaping communities and changing the world. This month, we celebrate an extraordinary milestone from two of our 2023 participants, Sofiia Hrytsenko from the Kharkiv and Mariia Hryhurko from Odessa, who just marked the first anniversary of founding their NGO, Global Youth, an organization born directly from the leadership spark ignited during their YouLEAD experience. Their story, recently featured by Ukraine Global Scholars, highlights how YouLEAD gave them the confidence, vision, and practical tools to launch youth-led projects that empower others and build civic leadership across Ukraine. Sofiia and her peers remind us that when we invest in young people, we are investing in future change-makers who are already leading with courage, creativity, and global perspective.
Join us this afternoon (2:00-3:00 p.m. CT) for an enriching conversation and a Fishbowl Method demonstration on Indigenous Culture in Facilitation.
Our four expert guest presenters will share best practices for honoring appropriate customs and creating truly inclusive spaces. Take a moment to get to know them through their bios below!
Fawn Sampsonis an educator, facilitator, and doctoral student dedicated to strengthening leadership, civic engagement, and economic vitality in Tribal communities. A citizen of the Leech Lake Nation, she integrates her professional work in education and community development with her personal passions as an artist, entrepreneur, mother, and wife.
Shynoke Ortiz, MCRP, is a Diné (Navajo) community planner and mental health educator who serves as Program Coordinator for the Proud Indigenous Youth Leadership Program at the Albuquerque Area Indian Health Board. They are a certified trainer in multiple suicide prevention and mental health first aid curricula and use ToP facilitation methods to support Indigenous communities in building resilience, leadership, and strategic community-driven plans.
Nicole Beane (Tibikigiizisookwe) a descendant of the White Earth Nation, is the American Indian Community Coordinator for Ramsey County, where she advances policy and systems change to strengthen relationships between Native communities and local government. With more than a decade of experience in municipalities and public schools, she blends her background in American Indian studies and human resources with her passion for culturally grounded community engagement.
Hannah Tomeo: an enrolled member of the Colville Confederated Tribes with Yakama, Nez Perce (Nimiipuu), Sioux, and Samoan heritage, is a communications professional and mental health advocate dedicated to empowering Native youth. She serves as the K–12 Coordinator for Washington State University’s Native American Health Sciences Department and has led impactful community-based programs—including the First Face for Mental Health training, which she helped deliver to more than 500 participants across Tribal communities.
HUE™ Conversations is a one-day, interactive workshop designed for leaders, facilitators, and change-makers who want to strengthen their ability to navigate complex dialogue and guide diverse teams toward collective action. In today's work environments, effective leadership requires more than decision-making—it requires the skill to listen deeply, engage authentically, and facilitate conversations that honor different perspectives while moving groups forward.
Why HUE Conversations?
At the heart of this course is the DEVCA strategic thinking framework, which engages participants through five distinct types of thinking:
Data-Based Thinking – What’s happening?
Emotive Thinking – How are we feeling?
Visionary Thinking – What’s possible?
Critical Thinking – What could get in the way?
Action-Oriented Thinking – What will we do?
Together, these elements create a natural flow for group decision-making, empowering every participant to contribute meaningfully and move forward with clarity and purpose.
In Case You Missed It
Have you seen what's new with HueLife? In case you missed it, check out our last newsletter and stay updated on what's happening!
Message from HueLife Team: Navigating Chaos
Upcoming Courses: Hue Conversation Method, ToP Facilitation Methods
Pro Tip: Polarity Management and the Paradox of Chaos
Partner Spotlight: Greg Stopka
Featured Course: HUE™ Implementation Strategies
Announcements: New Team Member Shayna Keppeler, CoP November Fishbowl
Session
Mission Update: YouLEAD 2025 - Reflections from Ksyusha Lohvinenko
Have questions or suggestions for our HUE News? Either respond to this email or contact Shayna Keppeler Director of Community Engagement atshayna.keppeler@hue.life
HueLife, 5775 Wayzata Blvd, Suite 700, St. Louis Park, Minnesota 55416
-1.png?upscale=true&width=520&upscale=true&name=Social%20Post_HUE%20Conversations_May-July_2025%20(4)-1.png)
