Capacity Building with the Acosta Institute
Welcome to Capacity Building with the Acosta Institute, where we explore, define, and dream out loud about capacity building as an act of world building. In each episode, we explore insights, strategies, and transformative practices that empower individuals and organizations to create resilient, healing-centered environments. Join us to discover how capacity building can equip your team and community to thrive in the face of today’s challenges—and to co-create the impactful future you envision.
Capacity Building with the Acosta Institute
S2 EP7: Trauma, Harm, and Society: Healing Solutions for a Unified Future with Tracey Lenhardt, Lori Glazebrook, and Lisette Torres-Gerald
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In this episode, Acosta Institute Fellows Tracey Danielle Lenhardt, Lori Glazebrook, and Lisette Torres explore how trauma, systemic harm, captivity culture, and institutional violence shape bodies, identities, and communities. Drawing from their respective frameworks — Lori’s Raised in Captivity and Liberation Wheel, Tracey’s SPEAK™ methodology and “Return to Sender” approach, and Lisette’s research on STEM trauma and contemplative crit collage — they offer healing-centered pathways for reclaiming agency, mending identity, and disrupting systems that ask people to shrink, overextend, or absorb harm. This conversation invites listeners to imagine a more unified future rooted in collective care, nervous system liberation, embodied truth-telling, and the conditions we need to collectively thrive.
Lori Glazebrook: Lori’s work goes beyond mapping and naming captivity-culture. She created the Liberation Wheel that maps the conditions we need to collectively thrive—as a somatic practitioner she helps people deconstruct the nervous system patterns that keep the cycle going—the functional freeze, the burnout, the self-doubt—she helps people access their inner-agency and authority, so they have the capacity to live a full life. You can find the Raised in Captivity framework and find out how to work with Lori at rewildingthenervoussystem.com and follow her weekly Substack, Reflections From the Roots to learn more.
Tracey Danielle Lenhardt: Tracey Danielle Lenhardt, J.D., is an attorney and independent scholar who created the SPEAK™ methodology, redefining healing through identity reclamation and “Return to Sender.” She is the founder of Strategic Pathways, providing tools for navigating education, finances, and systems after harm—including real-time nervous system regulation.
Explore her work: traceylenhardt.substack.com
Lisette Torres: You can explore Lisette’s research on STEM trauma and the CCC methodology by following TERC (T-E-R-C), a non-profit STEM education research organization, and by connecting with her on LinkedIn.
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