“To build community requires vigilant awareness of the work we must continually do to undermine all the socialization that leads us to behave in ways that perpetuate domination.” – bell hooks
We seek to have conversations about institutional racism, unjust systems of oppression, and our accountability to BIPOC folks. Our aim is to cultivate accountable relationships in community and foster collective liberation.
Imagine a scenario where:
There IS a collective sense of WE; each of our lives and lived experience is honored; shared truth is rooted in the collective and not the individual; and we “hold each other accountable (another word for supporting each other to be our best selves), [develop relationships and agreements,] set boundaries when people have not learned yet to take responsibility for themselves [and do harm], apologize and take responsibility ourselves when we cause harm, and continue to grow and learn how to be with each other even when we are getting on each other’s last nerve.” (Tema Okun)
What holds us back from living this vision? Come along with us as we explore in Community the barriers that we experience in making this vision reality; fear, capacity, and risk for example. What does it mean to be accountable to ourselves and one another? What steps are we willing to take to get there?