Building a Socially Just Movement
posted by wanderlust | April 1, 2010
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IcerocketAfter tonight's conference call, where we discussed the future of Evolver Social Movement, I find it important to speak up on the importance of inclusiveness and argue that we find creative ways to involve diverse communities in our efforts to evolve consciousness.
On the call, Daniel suggested: speaking to people at their level / where they're at / using language they're comfortable with. I think this might be helpful, as real organizing happens interpersonally. Still, if you're trying to be someone you're not, people will call you on your act. So that's a tricky thing to balance, and it doesn't really answer the root of the concern.
Daniel also suggested doing things that involve children more, like art projects and festivals. Absolutely. But none of these really get at the core, which seems to be a blind spot, writ large, in this "movement" of white folks waking up and using technology to connect with each other.
I feel that the guys who started this movement, as they've shared, were coming from a real place that resonates with many undergoing awakening. Still, this is a place of immense privilege for many, even to have accessibility to entheogens, travel, etc...
Building scaffolding is great, but if it lacks legitimacy to those who have been buried under the rubble of capitalism's scaffolding, a "corporate-based" social movement will be MORE than a turnoff.
Perhaps what we need to do is log off, go to the "bad" part of town, and start talking to folks. Then, log back in, and bring their perspectives into the discussion, and use the humble financial support of our largely disappearing middle class to pull up the people, those less privileged than us (even though we are broke). It's only then that we can work together to build a more equitable world.
I feel that our spore reflects this vision, to a degree. But we could be MUCH more diverse.
Ideas like a Time Exchange are great if they cross over to the "other side of the tracks," (my use of this cliche comes from my years in a Kentucky town that truly embodied the notion), but if they are "intentional communities" that are inherently "like minded" and if that "like-mindedness" is ignorant of social realities and inequities, as many in the metaphysical/psychedelic/spiritual groups are, it's bound to fail.
But if you have a Time Exchange like the one in Oakland, where it's bringing together groups that the media would like us to believe are traditionally violent against one another, then we're doing something to evolve the consciousness of our communities.
It's certainly important that we have a diverse community, in economic background and social experience; yes, crucial to include those at the margins of society (as opposed to our largely middle class white male community), and we must do so early on in the process of gathering our "choir"...truly, any social movement (or scaffolding for a social movement) that doesn't do so will fail.
I think we're definitely on the right track, but have to acknowledge white privilege and all that comes with it, and use strategies to avoid replicating that.
If we are able to reach across social divides to include diverse communities in our activism, projects, and decision-making, we will build a movement that works.
I worry that the founders of Evolver might be far too entrenched in white privilege to really enable this movement to grow equitably in a world filled with people who have been pushed to the margins for so long. Truly, I don't know you guys well enough to say, and my intention is not to cast judgment, only to say that a movement with diversity at the center of our model, with those with social mobility as the spokes, can fulfill the vision you've set forth, but the challenge is enormous on a personal and subjective level.
Are we game? Or will we focus too much on money and our own survival, and continue to turn inward, leaving those who have been marginalized by mainstream society, and who would seem to have no value at a time of financial need, at the margins of our movement?
My intention is to follow this blog with another, telling my personal story and how I came to be a regional coordinator in Long Beach...but I feel this is a core issue, and would like to hear your feedback, Evolvers.
**Image is from the Los Angeles Community Action Network as they recently took over the Rotunda in LA City Hall over the right to Housing... Check them out at http://cangress.wordpress.com/ **
Comments
time exchange
— Apr 01, 2010
which oakland time exchange are you referring to? i've been looking for a good one in the Bay Area.
thanks!
sobrante park, east
— Apr 01, 2010
sobrante park, east oakland....
pretty sure timebanks.org has a listing of time banks in the US.
Evolver equality: a soical movement for all...
— Apr 01, 2010
Isabella Stoloff
Thank u Tony for pointing us all in a direction of Evolver equality. It is, in a way, how I had been feeling when I commented on our topics and how many people we would be able to reach talking about things such as ways to expand our consciousness. This comment you made..."But if you have a Time Exchange like the one in Oakland, where it's bringing together groups that the media would like us to believe are traditionally violent against one another, then we're doing something to evolve the consciousness of our communities." is an important step in getting people together.
How do we EVOLVE the consciouness our communites?
By getting in the streets and bringing people together for a common goal. Now you are onto something!
Good points
— Apr 01, 2010
Hey Tony,
Thanks for this post. I wasn't on the call last night but think you raise really good points.
I love the idea of joining with other networks of all kinds. To me it's not about specifically focusing on one group or another but figuring out the most strategic way to make the Evolver message of interdependence and open mindedness go viral among ALL communities. I've seen other Evolvers mention how important it is to focus on what we have in common as opposed to what makes us different--a message that is as relevant for a kid growing up on the wrong side of town as it is for a Wall Street hedge fund manager.
Thanks Again for making me think and for all you do for Evolver.
Peace,
jp
I have a great Yes to share here.
— Apr 02, 2010
I have a great Yes to share here. With a story, of course. Attention is the key to the equation, I believe. In October of '08 when the economy 'shifted,' I was making ends meet by spending almost all of my attention tending to clients from my homebuilt quadcore. This is a luxury which avails an upper crema of the social latte. It's the the pirouette of dark and light bubbles, artfully delivered, at the exact temperature of desire. Now, I can hardly be considered rich or powerful by American standards. I just had some skills and a computer I still owed money on, and was making due, barely.
But after that October, I began learning to live on less than $50 per week for what, almost two years now? It had an effect, a rather profound effect, on how I spent my daily attention. I began tending to our house. I began to see my children anew. I remembered my deep connection to the forest. And now I'm growing sprouts to plant this spring, and design/building a chicken tractor with my fiancee with as much fervor as I used to hire out for.
I'm walking all over my town talking about Transition, and chit-chatting with everyone I meet, from mayors to street musicians. My attention has been liberated at last, and it is not idle! In fact, it's in overdrive. I feel busier now making nothing, than I've ever felt making money.
I'm glad the idea of joining with other networks has come up. I think this is very important. I mentioned in a footnote to someone else's blog once, that Evolver needed to contact, or at least think about Transition. Transition has gone WAY viral. And it is struggling with some of the same issues as Evolver.
I feel that once people embrace the rationality of Transition's central metaphor of Community Resilience, Evolver is there to facilitate the next level of understanding. Where attention goes, everything grows. Once attention arrives squarely upon our global predicament, It should be shown access to it's source. Namely, the uses and abuses of individual attention and whatever we choose to do with it.
I've read a couple of iamcaroline's blogs. And I'd like to offer support for her perspective! We are not in an either/or context anymore. We are watching the emergent properties of both/and together with 'bated breath!
commonality/difference
— Apr 02, 2010
Hey jp,
I don't think recognizing interdependence means ignoring difference. Not sure that this is what you're saying here, but the language of ignoring difference and emphasizing commonality is often used to mask social inequalities and to discount the experiences people have had with white supremacy, patriarchy, capitalism, heterosexism and other systems of oppression. In our movements, it's important to understand these systems and how they shape our experiences and realities in order to begin to work together to transform them.
Love,
stiney.p
New spore
— Apr 01, 2010
SpaceCamp: Hey Tony! I was wondering what town in kentucky you spent time in? I am thinking about starting a spore here, in northern kentucky this summer. It seems to me that evolver might evolve more if it were a non profit. These guys are trying to get paid, and as a 23 year old i can certainly understand this motive well. How does evolver transend a silicon wet dream/trip, into an evolution of global conscienceness. The expectations we are creating are valid, but more must be done on the individual level of commitment, for many years to come.
Hello SpaceCamp, I just felt
— Apr 02, 2010
Hello SpaceCamp,
I just felt something just happened as I was reading your comment that you needed to know about. As I was reading this someone I work with was joking around and said "I'm from the north side of Kentucky" which is strange, because he isn't. But he said it exactly as I was reading "in northern kentucky this summer." When you talk to other regional coordinators there is a lot o synchronicity that brought them to it, including myself to starting the Sacramento spore. What just happened struck me as some synchronicity that hopefully will help let you know that starting a spore is what you are supposed to do. If you need any help or advice don't hesitate to ask, and good luck.
-Chris
Some thoughts
— Apr 01, 2010
Howdy Tony,
I'm glad you're reaching out to different social classes. I don't think Evolver segregates between races. I have numerous ethnic groups come out to my events. Mind you I've never had a Spore with more then 15 in attendance. However we covered a large spectrum of ethnicities. Regarding folks who come from lower income communities, I agree they probably don't have access to computers outside of the library. So it is more difficult to reach out to them since we primarily promote via the internet.
I host musical events in Chicago and I'm planning n having an Evolver table set up at the Sphongle show next month. This sort of out reach will allow access to people who are not online. I'm also going to have an Evolver presence at a 3 day camping, music, white water rafting fest I'm hosting in northern WI. Called “Jammin on the Wolf”. July 8-10th. http://jamminonthewolf.com/
Of course people living in poverty will not benefit from these out reaches either as they probably can't afford to attend these events. In order to out reach to this demographic we would need to have representation with in their neighborhoods and community sponsored events. Or better yet we would need to host these events with in their communities.
This of course will bring us back to the capital issue. There's a lot to think about here. But it seems we have a lot of talented individuals with in our movement.
I quote Bob the builder when I say "Can we build it? Yes we can!!!"
We will our reality,
Timothy "SMU" McCarthy
diff. parts of town/ segregation
— Apr 03, 2010
SMU,
thanks for your thoughtful response.
i dig what you're doing in chicago...a very segregated city, in terms of economic status (which also subsumes race in many cases)...sometimes, it's a matter of location...where do we have our spores, and are they accessible? we keep our spore on a donation basis, so that anyone can attend, and i am pretty sure most spores do this...so that's a great start.
i am thinking more about the projects we may want to launch, and how we need to learn how to reach out and include more individuals who are typically excluded (both intentionally and NOT, due to segregation within our cities), so maybe having a street team that hits up different areas of the city (even if it's just two people taking the bus around town), and inviting people (especially with the "local resilience" spore coming up, to be part of the discussion.
I'm glad to hear that white
— Apr 01, 2010
I'm glad to hear that white privilege is something that's being discussed withing the E+SM
Thank you, it's awesome that
— Apr 01, 2010
Thank you, it's awesome that the call inspired the same exact thought process for me as well. I'm so glad that you wrote it down.
I'm an aid worker with one of the biggest budgets per capita for an individual below the poverty level, and it has been a most excellent experience. It's the place I've worked to be and I am more grateful for it every day.
I love my folks and I give them the tools to pursue any life they wish. I'm not allowed to give up on them until they reach their goal: completing a training, or securing full-time employment that renders them self-sufficient for family size according to state poverty guidelines. The program is working and it's such an important component of the future.
I am employed by a Community Action Agency which is non-profit but federally funded, every city or county in the US belongs to one. The call got me thinking of sustainabilty and urban gardening classes with personal warehouse subsidies (thanks for the idea Monte) for low-income home owners and housing projects (which we work with and would welcome any project that helps the tenants.)
Since there is a system in place, we should use it to the people's advantage, and community action agencies are a great place to keep in mind as future partners for our efforts. My employer's motto is "Empowering Families and Individuals to Acheive Self-Reliance". How great is that?
So is working within a project like this socialism? Big government? Sure seems like it. But it's such a small percentage of the (our) population that needs an intensive level of assistance, and giving them the tools to feed themselves in an urban setting sounds fun and also like it would make the world a more beautiful place to be. Which is my personal motto!
P.S. - Is anyone an expert on the aid system in the UK or another country? I'm curious to how the social net works in other places.
“An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come.”-Victor Hugo
Common goals
— Apr 02, 2010
I am involved with a worldwide organisation, currently with links to over 80 countries. We have one thing in common - our children were born with a rare, non-hereditary and disabling genetic problem. It affects all races and all cultures, and is no respecter of class either. We work hard to inform parents and doctors about the best ways of treating this problem and we share new knowledge between ourselves. Yet there are cultural barriers to overcome - between countries and between classes, language difficulties, misunderstandings, and so on - even when we have this one, very particular, common goal. And there are still many people and countries we do not reach.
I applaud and support what Evolve is trying to do - and I hope it can be done - but it can only work if individuals are willing to learn, to keep open minds, to learn to understand where others are coming from and to teach by example. So I agree with Daniel's suggestion that we speak to people at their level - that is after all, what all the great religions do - they tell stories, which can be understood at many levels, but all of those levels lead to personal development and higher consciousness.
thanks everyone...
— Apr 03, 2010
overall, Evolvers, I am thrilled with most of your comments...
typically, when white privilege is brought up in a group that heralds some of that privilege (in our case, being largely white and internet-based), people get very defensive. that is not happening here, and that is a sign of great progress.
as for my part in this, I will continue to research, discuss, and find ways to break down barriers that the failing system has set up to keep us from building alliances across socio-economic boundaries....so long as we ardently avoid the trap of "colorblindness", and make a real effort to include diversity as we build our movement and core group, we are on the right track...still, we are behind on this effort, and should make it a focus.
The Rights of Privilege ... Trickle-Down Ergonomics
— Apr 03, 2010
I remember reading one time, how people in the ghetto, {mostly Blacks} who were living off only rice, greens and beans were more healthy than the so-called more affluent class, in a Nationwide study.
So on a deeper level we must try to see class as an illusion from the get go. We all have to greatly simplify our lifestyle, and those of meager means {meekly inheriting earth} will be more likely to survive without excessive complaining as any true global change of resource ingenuity takes place.
Also, no matter what social group one looks at there will always already be a propoprtion of select individual people there with more natural, organic "spiritual" intuition and sensibility despite any/every condition ... rich and spoiled .. poor and destutute.
Again we should not have our global vision of integral communication tinged with such self perpetuated duality .. as we all must get down to the "pre-class" / pre-fig-leaf ... naked before God, level of communication.
Does it really matter if it starts from the top and works it's way down .. or starts and the bottom and works it's way up ... or starts in the middle and works both ways ...
Or more likely the actual reality ... has souls "ready" in different capacities at all levels simultaneouisly ... already there .. ready to "relate" to others who are ready ... regardless of "station"
As such will never really be limited to a "Sociological" perspective, as we spend way too much time telling ourselves who we are already ... just drop the charade from the get-go .. and we all begin to look "classy" in our own right.
