Join Us Tomorrow at 3:00 PM ET!
Every Thursday, Indivisible co-founders Ezra Levin and Leah Greenberg host a participatory conversation on the week’s news, the state of our democracy, and our plan to defeat the authoritarian threats we face.
**Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Program starts promptly at 6 p.m.**
# September Monthly Meeting
## Presented by Akron Democracy Defenders and Indivisible Akron
Join us for a grounded, honest conversation about what it means to stay courageous and principled when the world feels intimidating. This September, we’re hosting a panel of psychologically minded speakers and professionals who can help us unpack how fear is used, how to recognize real risks versus scare tactics, and how ordinary people can still act with integrity — even when dissent feels dangerous.
Inspired by “[On Courage: How to Be a Dissident in an Age of Fear](https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/on-courage-to-be-a-dissident-in-americas-age-of-fear_julia-angwin_ami-fields-meyer/57113822/#edition=74408321&idiq=86836582),” this discussion will explore:
* How fear is weaponized and how to tell what’s real
* How to stay grounded when labels like “domestic terrorist” are thrown around
* Quiet forms of resistance and behind‑the‑scenes activism
* How to act with courage even when you feel afraid
This will be a supportive, community‑centered conversation — not a lecture — and a chance to connect with others who are navigating the same climate of fear and uncertainty.
Meet the moderator and our panelists:
**Rose Phelps, MS, LMFT (Ret.)** Our moderator, Rose, is a retired marriage and family therapist who integrated clinical and political work throughout her career, including extensive group therapy with trauma survivors. Her activism began in the feminist and anti‑Vietnam War movements, and her specialization in trauma recovery inspired the concept for this panel.
**Sally Iannone** Sally is a licensed independent social worker with more than 40 years of psychotherapy and coaching experience in NE Ohio. A “child of the 60s,” her early involvement in civil‑rights and antiwar movements shaped her lifelong commitment to social justice. She holds degrees in political science, sociology, and social work from Case Western Reserve University.
**Becky Erickson, Ph.D.** Becky recently retired as professor of sociology and former department chair at the University of Akron. A nationally recognized researcher and educator, her work focuses on emotional experience, wellbeing, and organizational culture. She now mentors leaders and groups working to foster human flourishing during times of uncertainty.
**Diana Marshall** Diana is a retired psychiatric nurse practitioner whose 43‑year career centered on trauma care across all age groups. She served for 12 years as psychiatric liaison to Akron Children’s Burn Center and later coordinated the Psychiatric Mental Health NP program at the University of Akron while maintaining clinical practice.
**Wendell Niles** Wendell is an engineer turned activist whose experiences as a person of color and a decade living in Europe inform his perspective on courage and hope. He brings practical strategies for navigating fear and staying grounded in challenging times.