Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Step Away from CNN.... Put Down the Facebook

So, the world feels pretty bleak right now. It is. But always/nevers and extreme ways of seeing things can make things feel even heavier and worse. We all need a break. Like Gordon said in his e-mail yesterday, please take care of yourselves. Here’s a few things that have helped me (personally) this week:

Activate with others:
·         10 Actions in 100 Days Seattle


Take A Break:
·         Plan your vacation time and communicate it responsibly so it goes as smoothly as possible for everyone involved

Laugh….if you can…even if it’s laugh-crying?
·         The Daily Show is a go-to for me
·         “What to do when you're so overwhelmed by the Trump presidency you can barely move”
·         Escape into a (non-dystopian) book or movie!

Remember that we’re in this together even if it looks a little different:
·         When everything feels so divisive:


Share positive local changes that affect your work!
·         Changes are happening in Seattle; Seattle approved two open-use sites (but lack funding and locations)
·         People Experiencing Homelessness are Connecting to Estranged Family Due to Startup “Mircale Messages”
·         We have some folks in office who won’t be bullied


And even stories that aren’t local but remember all the good work around the world! Remember the arch that bends toward justice and acceptance:
·         Lesbian Church Minster near White House
https://www.facebook.com/Upworthy/videos/1602791829761669/
·         100 Years of Planned Parenthood
https://www.facebook.com/NowThisHer/videos/960548247409384/


And cuteoverload used to be my go-to, but here’s some things that help now:

Sunday, January 29, 2017

Welcome Newcomers!

Dear newcomers to political action,

First of all, welcome! You likely went to the march, are paying more attention to politics since DT was elected, or are simply fed up with people who are protected by law getting treated like shit. So let me welcome you! :) Now, you may be hearing people complain that you haven't shown up til now, but that's for another post and I think it's great you're here NOW. Better late than never! (Which is why I'm habitually late to every event...just ask my frenz....) So, let's get back to topic and talk about 4 steps to get you headed in the right direction.

(1) Reflect on what you feel--is it angry or guilty or empowered or like you want to stomp on an old white dude's throat because he told you what to do with your body for the 1000th time? Or maybe you're the son or daughter of immigrants! Or maybe your best work friend is your first friend of color and they just told you they were afraid to leave their house and you were shocked. Whatever it is! Reflect on the moments that brought you here. And now, I encourage you to sit with that icky feeling and to work through it on your own or with fellow newcomers. And the next step is key!

(2) If you listen to, read about, and, most importantly, BELIEVE the experiences of people you want to help, you will learn about how THEY have asked for people like you to step up. This is critical that you don't just willy-nilly go off and do whatever you like. There may be undertones of ignorance in your plans, so you should read up on what people most affected are saying is the best move forward!

(3) I know you want to get out there and get your hands dirty but hold off just one second! Seek out and talk about it with someone who looks like you. (If you want to pounce into action, please follow the lead of an experienced organizer in your area of advocacy.) Hear me out! If you don't have people in your immediate friends or family, seek out groups online who seem to hold similar experiences and values. This means white people talk to fellow white allies who are a little further along in understanding anti-racism work. Women speak with feminist women, men with feminist men, cis people (people born with genitalia/anatomy that matches their gender) with cis people who support trans rights, heterosexual with heterosexuals who support LGBTQ* rights, Christian with Christians who welcome other religions , etc. Do not burden people who feel oppression by asking them to teach you about their oppression--there's a whole world called "The Internet" for that. Do your research!

(4) Lastly, GET MOVING! DO WHAT YOU CAN. Time's a wastin! Get a lil uncomfortable. Remember that your discomfort is less than what others are suffering, so push yourself. If you don't want to start with a march? Afraid to jump in that deep? Okay! Here's 26 other things you can do to support your community in these times! Please pass and share with others! It's important we use what we have for those who  who have not. Thanks for standing with us!

Love and solidarity,
Kerry


(Edit)
PS If you're interested in some other actions, here's a bunch at varying engagement levels:

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

This Movement is a Marathon---Not a Moment!

This election and march from this past weekend helped energize many. Let's keep this momentum moving. Remember this movement is a marathon!

You'll need:
-to train....your brain. Read up on issues that matter to you--books, articles, published reports, and personal stories that indicate the personal and collective impact of your cause. Read diverse authors and perspectives. Sign up for newsletters.

-to cross-train. You'll be strongest in your focus area if you exercise other muscles to help retain your overall balance. Don't narrow EVERYTHING to just one issue. Understand the intersection of systems of oppression. It will help round out your understandings and strengthen your resolve.

-to get a good night's rest. Make sure you're sleeping! Regularly! No one performs their best when cranky and tired!  And no one wants to march on front lines with a whiner who is tired instead of someone energizing the people around them!

-to find a crew to support you. Find your people. Go volunteer. Show up at council and community meetings, set up sign-making and postcard and letter-writing parties....get organized!

-to find your pacer. Get a buddy to volunteer with! Help each other out when you're feeling the drain, but know when they need to drop back and that's okay too.

-to walk if you need to. You can't sprint the whole thing or you'll likely burn out early. Maybe you need to step to the side and let people pass you. You'll catch up eventually! We're all heading in the same direction. :) (Well, most of us in the movement.)

-to take frequent breaks for the bathroom before you think you'll need them.
Give your body little breaks! Even 5-10 mins alone can help you clear your mind and help rebalance your energy. Being antsy and knowing a portapotty is coming up soon helps relieve built up tension. Don't say, "one more mile before I stop" because you know that 9/10 of that next mile will be spent focused on that portapotty! Go early! Go often!

-to find healthy ways to refuel and stay hydrated. I love liquid relaxation, but the i influence of too many adult bevs and carbs can make me feel sluggish. You need to have the best energy for this marathon, so feed your body well!

--to realize that, if you get injured, resting your mind and body will give you the time to heal if you need. Step away for a bit and come back when you're ready. We'll be waiting.

Here are some other tips!


Feel free to share others!

Friday, January 6, 2017

Response to "Shifting Philanthropy from Charity to Justice" by Dorian O. Burton & Brian C.B. Barnes

https://ssir.org/articles/entry/shifting_philanthropy_from_charity_to_justice

ssir.org
We need a new framework for giving to address America's economic, social, and political inequalities.
My wonderful friend Rashid posted a link to this article. Below are my more detailed grants-focused responses to many of the theoretical issues he brings up:

This is something my Resource Development and Communications departments have talked a lot about. I've been learning over the past 7 years about the shifting philanthropic narrative: from deficit-based to strengths-based, from set paths for recovery to personal autonomy around focusing on problem A or problem B, and from charity to justice, and from mass #s to individual impact (with some impact and ROI language to back it up). All these changes have a huge potential to propel the sector's stability, longevity.... and overall ability to resolve these issues. These issues all point back to the nonprofit industrial complex at its base, tho... but that is for another discussion.

Certain donors are farther along in their acknowledgement of privilege and identity awareness. And, to be honest, the means by which they came into their money (or fortune). It's no wonder it's called "fortune" as some people feel it's because "luck" is involved and others feel it's "hard work," and those of us who understand social constructs (like racism, classism, ableism, etc) understand it's likely more related to those historical privileges. Some donors want to feel like they are doing charity/god's work....and they are afraid to support justice (I know! I know! It's problematic! Who doesn't want justice!?!). But if their money is used to create justice and along the way, I have the opportunity to support their learning about privilege, justice, and social constructs, then I will most certainly do that. Not everyone is movable on this point, but everyone's money could still help the cause. 

For example, it's hard for me, as a grants manager, to know when to move the discussion with donors into the justice realm. We have taken this shift in the majority of our grant proposals, appeals, blogs, acknowledgments, and other communications, but writing words that are sent to a person and having a live conversation about justice and power are two very different situations. 

A trustworthy foundation is necessary to have courageous conversations, especially with people in power (ie, people with money from whom we're trying to get said money). I personally think a middle ground between the  problematic "charity" language and the somewhat activist/polarizing "justice" language is "community investor." Investing in one's community for the better is rarely disagreed upon. It's a "safe gray space" if you will. It opens up the conversation for folks who aren't quite ready to be on the front lines of rallies but allows them to dip their toe into the pool of understanding political and economic dynamics that influence their world.

I think everyone can be brought closer to the justice narrative---it's a long and tenuous arch that sometimes could backfire if not handled appropriately. Which can and does and has happened. (This backfiring also doesn't bode well for our bottomline goal.) Then again, we think about whether or not "those" people who do NOT want to support justice are the appropriate donors to our agency. One could argue that plenty of other places do good work and that they would be happy to take their money. I would argue that if an agency is operating without the knowledge of the intersectionality of privileges, that they aren't actually being as impactful and helpful to society as they could be. And that the work they do could be more damaging to the populations served.And, to stretch it farther, that the money being given to negligent or unreflective agencies is far more damaging than not giving at all.

I've wrestled with these and other ethical questions so much more than I ever thought I would in fundraising, and these questions and the constant reflection on them keeps me on my toes. In addition to my own personal beliefs that tie me to my agency's mission, the fact that we grapple with questions like these and set aside time to discuss them---these are some of the reasons I stay in the fundraising field and, specifically, at Solid Ground.