Talking Circles

What are Talking Circles?

Talking Circles are an ancient practice in which people gather in a circle to talk and listen. Gloria uses Talking Circles as a means of organizing and movement-building. Since 2022, Gloria’s Foundation has hosted over fifty Talking Circles. Countless more have been hosted since 1968.

Why a Talking Circle House?

Years ago, Gloria was inspired by a plaque on an old London brownstone, commemorating it as a space where women had fought for the right to vote. Since then, she has been committed to dedicating her own home as a center for organizing and activism.

Her inspiration for Talking Circles came during her two-year stay in India after college. Later, her friend Wilma Mankiller, former Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, explained this as an ancient tradition that fostered democratic decision-making and community building. This practice also became a key organizing tool in the women’s movement, evolving into what are often called consciousness-raising groups.

Since moving into her apartment in 1968, Gloria has hosted countless gatherings, including those that helped launch Ms. Magazine, the National Women’s Political Caucus, Women Moving Millions, and more. Her home has continued to serve as a safe space for collaboration, connection, and social change.

In the past three years alone, Gloria’s home has welcomed over 200 people to Talking Circles, where attendees often describe the experience as transformative due to the shared knowledge and the community built within this special space.