This interactive virtual webinar Iman Mills Gordon & Shiree Teng. explored our liberatory framework, informed by critical love theory, that positions joy and love as essential drivers of resilience, connection, and meaningful change, especially when facing adversity.

Joy and love are not just emotions but essential leadership tools that sustain movements, build resilience, and create cultures of belonging and care. They are also at the core of liberatory leadership. The essence of what differentiates liberatory leadership from traditionally oppressive systems.  Systems of oppression thrive on extraction, burnout, and fear—they teach us that urgency, scarcity, and suffering are necessary for change. Choosing joy and love disrupts these patterns and reclaims our right to well-being, creativity, and connection.

“The moment we choose love, we begin to move towards freedom, to act in ways that liberate ourselves and others.” -bell hooks

Shiree Teng is a community organizer, storyteller, and healer who believes that love and courage will lead the way towards our collective liberation. An immigrant kid who grew up organizing, she has never stopped.

Grounded in Radical LOVE, Shiree challenges the burnout culture pervasive in the nonprofit sector. She is a truth-teller and healer who names what others are afraid to say, while giving leaders tools to reimagine the work together. With deep insights into race, class, gender, and power dynamics, she brings a rare lived understanding to her work, inspiring countless leaders to own their power and tell their stories.

We collectively created this Joy and Love playlist during our session — thank you to everyone who contributed! If you’d like to add your own music that brings you joy or reminds you of love, feel free to email us at [email protected], and we’ll add it to the playlist.