Create the World We Want
As Bridge to Power begins to craft our narrative campaign, I believe it starts with our stories. The stories we tell ourselves and about ourselves and our communities are important in creating the world we want even in troubled times. Through deeply incorporating our worldview into our everyday organizing, we can visualize our people thriving and our communities as a place of belonging. We can begin to shift the narrative with all the ways we share our stories.
…I would turn to the Almighty, and say, "If you allow me to live just a few years in the second half of the 20th century, I will be happy." Now that's a strange statement to make, because the world is all messed up. The nation is sick. Trouble is in the land; confusion all around. That's a strange statement. But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough can you see the stars….Rev. Dr. MLK Jr
I was recently at the retirement party for Larry Fogle the Custodian at Peaslee Neighborhood Center in Cincinnati where I rented an office space for nearly 12 years. Larry retired at the age of 77 after 14 years as the custodian at Pealsee. The large front reception/meeting room was packed with the people and the hallway lined with dinner, desserts and lemonade. Peaslee engages kids and the general public in social justice education and art programming in what used to be a predominantly Black low-income neighborhood. They are also a host site for multiple organizing, peace and alternative economy organizations.
Larry has been a steady, welcoming presence at Peaslee. The large gathering of people from teacher aides, immigrants, kids with their parents, community elders, college professors, organizers and cooperativistas all there to celebrate Larry’s retirement is a testament to community building. These people have been in community with each other for many years. Larry spent 14 years with this community and it shows.
Why tell this story when talking about narrative? Because to me building and being in community with each other is even more urgent during this time of turmoil, and quoting Reverend King “the world is all messed up. The nation is sick. Trouble is in the land; confusion all around.” Seeing and feeling community, builds solidarity within the community. It is through community that we have empathy and support, it is only with community that we can take sustained action.
One of Larry's party attendees, Ms. Annabelle, is 93 years old. She was asked as a Black woman who has lived through the many social movements, what did she think of the present situation. She was not pollyanna about what we are facing in our country. She bluntly said it is bad. We are reacting and retreating instead of moving forward and fighting for the world we want. She brought up an important truth, fighting for the world we want is even more important now.
As Bridge to Power, we can have an impact right now on building the world we want. Building a community of love, empathy and solidarity with each other, and importantly, with each of our organizational members will produce a narrative that embraces the humanity, dignity and respect of each person. Together we can build a community of belonging.
It starts simply by talking about the world we want to live in with each other. It starts at our house meetings and our listening sessions. Being intentional about how our conversations are building our world together helps embed our values into our organizing strategy. It is important to allow space for everyone to feel and express their fears, yet how better to build community than showing empathy with each other, to validate people, but also spend the time to dream and realize our collective power.
Most of us have felt the power of collective action: standing in the crowd chanting “Housing First” or joining arms and walk into city hall to testify to push for Housing For All or circling up in a vigil to witness together or the one to one contact when a person decides to get involved to make change. These communal experiences of connecting and acting together creates the world we want. A community like the one Larry is part of is resistance; resistance that celebrates people and community and acts together. Let’s keep reaching for the stars during the darkness; let’s continue to build the world we want by organizing and acting together.
