Episode 6 - Reclaiming Relationship as a Leadership Strategy with Cedar Landsman & Lucien Demaris

In this rich and reflective episode, Jennifer Sconyers sits down with Cedar Landsman and Lucien Demaris, the visionary co-founders of Relational Uprising, to explore how relational culture can transform organizations from the inside out. Together, they unpack the limitations of individualism in U.S. culture and make a compelling case for centering relationships—within teams, communities, and movements—as a radical and necessary act of change leadership.

Relational Uprising supports mission-driven organizations in building deep connection, mutual understanding, and sustainable team cultures. Their approach is a powerful counter to the transactional norms embedded in dominant systems, and one that honors embodiment, belonging, and collective resilience.

🧭 What You’ll Learn

• What relational culture really means—and why it's critical for sustainable change
• How individualism undermines social change work and what we can do instead
• How somatics and embodied leadership intersect with systems change
• The role of storytelling and resonance in rebuilding trust and community
• How Cedar and Lucien work with mission-driven organizations to cultivate collective capacity
• When organizations should consider relational culture work (hint: it’s not just when there’s a crisis)
• Why tending to bias and inclusion requires more than a checklist—it requires connection

🧠 Wisdom & Insights

• “We tend to think of relationships as a side effect of the work. But what if relationships are the work?” —Cedar Landsman
• “We must tend to the relational aspect of embodiment—it’s essential for protecting our communities and building resilience.” —Lucien Demaris
• “Isolation is not a resilient state. Leaders thrive when they are well supported.” —Cedar Landsman

💡 Highlights

• Cedar’s journey from food justice and urban planning into relational systems change
• Lucien’s background in somatics, wellness, and his critique of disembodied wellness culture
• How their methodology is different: not plug-and-play, but a deep practice of collective awareness
• ALC’s swimming pool analogy: shallow, medium, and deep work—and how
• Relational Uprising fits in Real-life applications across sectors: nonprofits, cooperatives, higher education, and faith communities
• Why this work is especially important now, amidst DEI backlash, organizational burnout, and social isolation

📆 Upcoming Opportunities

• Relational Uprising has a residential advanced workshop coming in Fall 2025.
• A prerequisite intro workshop is required.

Join the interest list at relationaluprising.org to be notified when a new intro workshop is scheduled. They’re also hosting a leadership convening focused on the unique challenges in progressive and social justice organizations.

🔗 Connect with Relational Uprising

🌐 Website: www.relationaluprising.org

About Abundance Leadership Consulting

The ALC ChangeMakers Podcast is brought to you by Abundance Leadership Consulting (ALC), a certified MBE/WBE consulting firm helping nonprofits, foundations, associations, and mission-driven organizations navigate change with confidence.

At ALC, we specialize in strategic planning, leadership development, organizational change management, board governance, facilitation, and nonprofit mergers, acquisitions, and mission continuity planning. Through our proprietary F.A.B.R.I.C.™ Framework - Fairness, Accountability, Belonging, Relationships, Inclusion, and Collaboration - we help organizations strengthen culture, build sustainable systems, and achieve long-term impact.

Exploring a Nonprofit Merger, Partnership, or Sustainability Strategy?

The nonprofit sector is facing unprecedented challenges, from funding uncertainty and leadership transitions to increased operational demands and shifting community needs. Sometimes the most strategic path forward is deeper collaboration, shared services, a formal partnership, or a merger.

ALC helps organizations assess opportunities, manage stakeholder engagement, navigate complex transitions, and protect mission impact throughout the process. Our approach centers people, culture, and community alongside financial and operational considerations.

Learn more about our nonprofit mergers and acquisitions services at:

https://nonprofit-ma.com/

Connect with Us

If today's conversation sparked new ideas for your organization, we'd love to hear from you.

• Visit: Abundance Leadership Consulting
• Learn about nonprofit mergers and mission continuity: https://nonprofit-ma.com/
• Connect with Jennifer Sconyers on LinkedIn
• Subscribe to the ALC ChangeMakers Podcast for conversations with leaders creating lasting change in their organizations and communities.

Because sustainable organizations create sustainable impact.

🎧 Subscribe & Follow Want more stories of bold leadership and culture change? Subscribe to the ALC ChangeMakers Podcast on Spotify and follow us at jennifersconyers.com