Debilyn is a political mystic, change maker, coalition builder, writer, speaker and coach. In 2003, she was meditating after yoga and saw a beautiful vision of our future political system and culture, writ large. The blurry visuals of happy people and functioning politics as democracy was bathed in a warm, golden light. It reminded her of “the golden hour” that filmmakers refer to. And the feelings that she experienced were of contentment, generosity, pride and service to others. She wishes she could capture the feeling in a bottle and share it with you today. But that moment is why we are here today. In that moment, she chose to work towards that vision and enact a vision of healthy self-governance, the likes of which we have yet to experience.

She is drawn to transformative stories and experiences like bears to honey. Whenever she starts to lose faith in our nation, she turns to cinema therapy. She has a movie collection of miraculous stories with defined before and after themes. The before in the story is filled with despair and the after with wonder, gratitude and connection. These stories lift her up to restore her soul, deepening my neural pathways with the belief in transformation.

Debilyn is a transformation partner working on multiple levels from individual, interpersonal and systemic levels. Her current project, AmericanFuture.us works with everyday Americans across the US to catalyze their imagination for the future they want. Her previous work includes co-founding Living Room Conversations, National Week of Conversation and Bridge Alliance.