And one more thing: we are building a family compound (long, expensive story, but a leap of faith) and we need to replace the fence surrounding the lot in this gentrifying neighborhood. The (White) neighbors on one side already built a fully opaque, 10' high wooden fence. That just didn't feel right to me: I don't want to be surrounded by walls, I want the wind (and birds, and lizards) to pass through, and **I want to talk to my neighbors** over the fence. Garrett, your work helped me crystalize and articulate what we wanted and why. So we are doing a 4' high fence with hog wire, and a gate--with visions of hosting, wait for it, neighborhood potlucks! I was chatting with our (Black) neighbor on the other side, gave her a heads up that we would need to replace the falling-down fence, and assured her it would allow for conversation. She was like "yeah, doh, of course!"
"Every organizing effort is a leap of faith. There’s no guarantee that anything we try together will actually bear fruit." This. Thanks, I'm going to use this as the opening quote at the next social justice meeting I lead at our UU church.
On FB, Rebecca Solnit shared a really useful reflection on how Mamdani's behavior at the press conference mirrored the social tactics of desi folks the world over. Look for it. I think you'll appreciate the analysis.
I do really appreciate it! And it's such an important and necessary addition to the discourse. I think the one thing I'd lovingly press the author on, though, is lumping Zohran into the same category as successful Desi CEOs/tech entrepreneurs. Obviously, the cultural context (and the lessons learned therein) is similar, but one thing you'll notice in Zohran's reflections after the meetings (for instance: in his Adam Friedland Show interview) is the this North Star wasn't just "what I want to do after this meeting" or "what might make me win this moment with a weirdo elder" but "what orientation in this space will have the greatest positive impact for New Yorkers." With that said, I love the "yes and" that Zohran is heavily influenced by Desi culture, but would add that he has skillfully brought his whole self (including his cultural background) into an organizing mindset.
When you told me during the worst of the terror days that you'd be there in 2 weeks and post, my terror from afar for the family still in Evanston and Skokie left me unable to imagine what you could possibly say that would alleviate the terror. Yet again, you pulled it off.
Cousins reported long lines to donate food being collected across from ETHS. Others talked about whistle notification from one suburb to the next. What made no sense was how they were all coming together. Clearly the Pink Poster Club was going strong.
Then I marveled at how Charlotte, home for a decade, was so quick to organize. Now it makes sense. With ICE having been sighted in Columbia, I now know exactly who to contact and how.
Serious thanks for continuing to be there and make such an important difference.
And one more thing: we are building a family compound (long, expensive story, but a leap of faith) and we need to replace the fence surrounding the lot in this gentrifying neighborhood. The (White) neighbors on one side already built a fully opaque, 10' high wooden fence. That just didn't feel right to me: I don't want to be surrounded by walls, I want the wind (and birds, and lizards) to pass through, and **I want to talk to my neighbors** over the fence. Garrett, your work helped me crystalize and articulate what we wanted and why. So we are doing a 4' high fence with hog wire, and a gate--with visions of hosting, wait for it, neighborhood potlucks! I was chatting with our (Black) neighbor on the other side, gave her a heads up that we would need to replace the falling-down fence, and assured her it would allow for conversation. She was like "yeah, doh, of course!"
I absolutely love getting to imagine a long beautiful future of gatherings in that backyard!
"Every organizing effort is a leap of faith. There’s no guarantee that anything we try together will actually bear fruit." This. Thanks, I'm going to use this as the opening quote at the next social justice meeting I lead at our UU church.
No pressure, but I'd love to hear how it goes!
On FB, Rebecca Solnit shared a really useful reflection on how Mamdani's behavior at the press conference mirrored the social tactics of desi folks the world over. Look for it. I think you'll appreciate the analysis.
I do really appreciate it! And it's such an important and necessary addition to the discourse. I think the one thing I'd lovingly press the author on, though, is lumping Zohran into the same category as successful Desi CEOs/tech entrepreneurs. Obviously, the cultural context (and the lessons learned therein) is similar, but one thing you'll notice in Zohran's reflections after the meetings (for instance: in his Adam Friedland Show interview) is the this North Star wasn't just "what I want to do after this meeting" or "what might make me win this moment with a weirdo elder" but "what orientation in this space will have the greatest positive impact for New Yorkers." With that said, I love the "yes and" that Zohran is heavily influenced by Desi culture, but would add that he has skillfully brought his whole self (including his cultural background) into an organizing mindset.
Do you know if this is posted elsewhere ( not FB)?
He (the author of the post Rebecca Solnit shared) posted it on LinkedIn, too:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ji-uncle-kedar-gadgil-njp7f/?trackingId=%2F%2FhYssq23DkO02GwjiJwaw%3D%3D
When you told me during the worst of the terror days that you'd be there in 2 weeks and post, my terror from afar for the family still in Evanston and Skokie left me unable to imagine what you could possibly say that would alleviate the terror. Yet again, you pulled it off.
Cousins reported long lines to donate food being collected across from ETHS. Others talked about whistle notification from one suburb to the next. What made no sense was how they were all coming together. Clearly the Pink Poster Club was going strong.
Then I marveled at how Charlotte, home for a decade, was so quick to organize. Now it makes sense. With ICE having been sighted in Columbia, I now know exactly who to contact and how.
Serious thanks for continuing to be there and make such an important difference.