Let’s Talk About the Power of Common-Unity
- Jan 23
- 5 min read
Updated: Jan 26
Versandra J. Kennebrew is a dynamic motivational speaker, healing artist, and holistic health educator with more than two decades of transformative experience. As the founder of Optimal Living Retreats LP, she empowers couples, communities, and wellness professionals to embrace touch as a sacred tool for healing and connection. Her innovative work in relationship wellness earned her the prestigious 2025 CREA Global Award from Brainz Magazine, honoring her contributions to holistic healing and emotional intimacy.
In today’s rapidly changing world, organizations often struggle with disengagement, isolation, and the growing epidemic of workplace loneliness. The Power of Common-unity in Organizations explores how intentional human connection transforms teams into thriving communities. Drawing from nearly a decade of leadership within Toastmasters International and an award-winning tenure as District 14 Program Quality Director, I demonstrate in this speech how “common-unity”. A fusion of shared purpose and collective growth, ignites engagement, strengthens collaboration, and fills the void of meaningful relationships.
Good evening, District 14 Toastmasters family! It’s an honor to be here with you to celebrate the successes of our clubs during the first half of this Toastmasters year.
Nearly 10 years ago, I walked into my first club meeting in College Park, Georgia, with a dream to speak, to lead, and to connect like one of my mentors, Les Brown, The Motivator. What I found at Ardyss Toastmasters Club Atlanta in District 44 was far more powerful than a podium or a timer. I found a community, a common-unity, that lit up my life and my speaking career.
Today, I want to explore how the shared heartbeat of Toastmasters can help us overcome three common challenges to member engagement, and how it can fill the void of meaningful relationships in a world that’s growing lonelier by the day.
Let’s talk about the power of common-unity
We live in the most connected time in human history. We carry minicomputers around in our pockets and receive countless notifications and unwanted phone calls from telemarketers, yet loneliness is at an all-time high. Studies show that over half of Americans feel isolated, unseen, or emotionally disconnected.
But here’s the truth, loneliness isn’t just a lack of people. It’s a lack of meaningful connection.
Like some of you, I joined Toastmasters to enhance my public speaking skills. On a warm and toasty summer day in 2016, I received my Competent Communication manuals in the mailbox, and I jumped right in, page by page and project by project, until I achieved, drum roll please, “DTM!”
That’s right, my dear Toasties. I achieved the highest education distinction in Toastmasters International, Distinguished Toastmaster, or DTM. I learned quickly that Toastmasters is not only a place to practice speaking, but also a global movement of people who show up, speak up, and lift each other up. And when we tap into our common-unity, we don’t just build better speakers, we build better leaders and better humans.
From my experience sponsoring and mentoring hundreds of Toastmasters members, there are three top challenges that keep members from fully engaging, and how common-unity can break through each one.
1. Fear of failure
Many members hesitate to speak or lead because they fear being judged or falling short.
I remember mentoring a new member who wanted to wait for weeks to present her Ice Breaker. The fear she was experiencing led her to make excuse after excuse for not adding her name to the agenda as a speaker. We got together after a club meeting and met with the Vice President Education. Together, she and I encouraged our new member to consider what she wanted her new family to know about her. Career, hobbies, pets, hopes, and dreams were some of the topics we suggested she might explore.
She lit up when we mentioned hopes and dreams, and her speech revealed a special part of herself that she didn’t share often. We broke down barriers that day and made a meaningful connection through discovering what mattered most to her.
Common-unity creates safety. It says, “You’re not alone. We grow together.”
2. Inadequate information sharing
Opportunities are missed when communication is unclear or siloed.
I’ve seen clubs lose momentum simply because members didn’t know about contests, trainings, or opportunities outside the four walls of the club. Depending on your club’s niche, members have specific communication expectations.
A few examples:
Hope Speaks Toastmasters
Entrepreneurs, average age 25 to 45, ministry or community service
Preferred communication: WhatsApp and telephone calls
Your Small Business Toastmasters
Preferred communication: Email, newsletters
St. Augustine Toastmasters
Preferred communication: Church bulletins, flyers, church events
When we share information openly, using the most common communication methods for our members, we create a culture of inclusion.
Common-unity thrives on transparency. It says, “We rise when we share.”
3. Lack of education program awareness
Here’s a brief overview:
Pathways Learning Experience, six specialized paths
Better Speakers Series, 10 to 15-minute advanced education projects
Better Leader Series, 10 to 15-minute advanced education projects
These education tracks help members develop crucial communication and leadership skills through hands-on practice in a supportive environment. They boost confidence, improve presentation delivery, enhance critical thinking, and teach effective team roles. However, until recent Pathways updates, they may have been hidden in plain sight.
I recall one member telling me, “I didn’t know what a DTM was. I thought Toastmasters clubs were just about giving speeches.” That’s a missed opportunity.
Common-unity is about empowerment. It says, “Let me show you what’s possible.”
So what is common-unity? It’s the fusion of shared purpose, mutual growth, and collective joy. It’s what happens when a club becomes a family. When a speech becomes a breakthrough. When a handshake becomes a lifeline.
From Atlanta to Accra, Toastmasters clubs are lighting up lives. Every time we welcome a new member, mentor a peer, or celebrate a win, we’re building a bridge across the loneliness gap. Let’s be intentional. Let’s be connection catalysts.
Fellow Toastmasters, when we move from isolation to common-unity, we don’t just speak, we are heard. Let’s commit to creating spaces where every voice matters, every story is honored, and every member feels seen. Because community isn’t built by proximity, it’s built by intentionality, safety, transparency, and empowerment.
If you are able, I invite you to stand and extend your hands to the Toastmasters member on your right and your left. Look them in the eyes and say these words, “We are Toastmasters!” When we say these words, we are declaring that we embody the promise, mission, and vision of Toastmasters International.
Now give yourselves a huge round of applause for committing to your own personal development. Let’s continue to celebrate one another and tap into the power of common-unity.
Read more from Versandra J. Kennebrew
Versandra J. Kennebrew, Speaker, Author & Healing Artist
A certified yoga teacher and graduate of Irene’s Myomassology Institute and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, Versandra blends science, spirit, and storytelling to create immersive wellness experiences. Her book Touch Me With Love: Intimate Alignment for Couples Through Touch and Yoga is a cornerstone of her mission to restore trust and deepen love through intentional touch. Whether speaking on international stages or mentoring future wellness leaders, Versandra’s message is clear: love is the force that binds us, and touch is its language.
