How I’m Coping
The Supreme Court ruling on Presidential immunity yesterday left me feeling hollowed out.
Like, empty and numb… unsure how to move forward with so much against us and so much at stake.
Then, this morning, I received an email from client and musician Marye Lobb. She shared a short story about an experience at a recent concert she attended — a moving experience that refreshed and revived her.
It was the perfect reminder of how to move forward.
Because these healing and unifying experiences are what my company supports every day.
Last week, we had a kickoff call with a new client in the dance field. One of the major themes that arose in our discussion of their work was connectivity. We spoke a lot about the desire their members have to be in community with one another, but also the energy folks must be willing to commit to exist in and benefit from community. You have to show up, give, listen and care to actually build meaningful relationships.
With another arts client, we’ve been focused on the power art-making wields in providing purpose and direction. Whether it’s dedication to craft and technique or desire to push and pull at the edges of an art form so it continues to evolve — practitioners benefit from this commitment and personal development for their entire lives
Over the weekend, I had a lovely exchange with an artist via DM through Jacob’s Pillow. She had just performed in week one of the festival, and she was thanking us for a wonderful experience. She shared with me that it was especially meaningful to her to perform at the Pillow, because her father had performed there with another dance company in the 90s. It felt like a connection to legacy as well as an opportunity to perform, and that’s just so beautiful.
I could keep going, sharing inspiring moment after inspiring moment, when I reflect on the work we’re doing with arts organizations and purpose-driven creatives.
Supporting their work keeps a light on inside of me, warming the space that feels hollow when the world gets too dark or too cold.
A recommendation: The Social Change Map
“In our lives and as part of organizations, workplaces, and movements, many of us play different roles in pursuit of equity, shared liberation, inclusion, and justice. And yet, we often get overwhelmed, lost, and burned out. […] The Social Change Ecosystem Map is a framework that can help individuals, networks, and organizations align with social change values, individual roles, and the broader ecosystem. It has two components: shared values embodied in the yellow circle in the middle; ten roles that people and organizations often show up in when they are participating in social change efforts. These are premised on an ecosystem concept, that we are more effective and more sustainable in our social change work when we build connections with others.”
I often reference The Social Change Ecosystem Map when I’m feeling lost and ineffective. It reminds me to continue to define and refine my role in social justice work based on my own strengths within a larger system. It reminds me that I can’t save the world alone, so I shouldn’t try. Basically, this framework keeps me motivated, but it also alleviates the pull to do too much, i.e. commit beyond my capacity.
Today, I pulled it up again and discovered that there’s a new workbook for purchase. I ordered immediately.
We can work on it together.
The Social Change Map was developed by Deepa Iyer, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at Building Movement Project.