For 10 years ACRJ has been, well, ACRJ. But they’ve recently taken on a new name–Forward Together–for their organization as a reflection of where they hope the reproductive justice movement will go and how they hope it will get there. And while the name is new, their focus remains on Asian communities, reproductive justice, and building [...]
Occupy Media Grows
Written & contributed by Shepherd Bliss “Occupy.com, which means to occupy the commons, will go online later this month,” reported Michael Levitin, a 35-year-old founding editor of the Occupied Wall Street Journal. He spoke on March 16 at an event in Santa Rosa, California, hosted by the forthcoming Occupied Press—North Bay/Prensa Ocupada—Bahia Norte. “We need [...]
What We Owe Adrienne Rich
“The late poet was a patriot who wrestled for the soul of her country.” This tribute to Adrienne Rich reflects on the power of her ability to offer hope and wholeness through poetry. I know you are reading this poem listening for something, torn between bitterness and hope… I was 19 when I first read [...]
From Prison to Parliament | Aung San Suu Kyi Wins Seat in Landmark Vote
“After more than 15 years in detention, Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has won a seat in parliament, sparking scenes of jubilation among supporters. Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party had not participated in Burma’s politics since 1990, when it won a landslide victory in a general election but remained unrecognized [...]
Six Great Occupy Actions for this Spring
Though some of the following events have come and gone, there are plenty of big actions Occupy will be taking up in April and in May. For instance, the worldwide general strike on May Day. Occupy changed over the winter from outdoor camps to internal work and debates. But that laid the groundwork for a [...]
Stir the Pot, Recipes for Manifesting Change
Food justice activist and chef Bryant Terry has a new book out called The Inspired Vegan. Like his previous cookbooks it’s a compilation of good food, food justice, music, and healthful tips. One review on Amazon stated that, “This book is better described as a manifesto on how to re-imagine the growing, preparing, and eating of [...]
The Metrics of Movement Building, A Guide
University of Southern California (USC) has a report out that addresses the value of organizing especially as a way to build movements further and in substantial, transformative ways. In tandem, they look at how funders have begun looking to movements as ways to broaden their capacity to support social change. Their report, “Transactions – Transformations [...]
RE-Generative Somatics
Generative Somatics supports social justice folks in unveiling things that keep their limiting beliefs in place, things which interfere with the work they’re doing to change the world. Their programs are life changing and this year they are launching a new Web site (up on January 15th) that will include: “course descriptions, [Generative Somatics] papers and [...]
Brand New
Join new Rockwood Leadership or Social Justice Leadership trainings. Also, look for the newest edition of Randy Shaw’s The Activists Handbook. Fellowship for Death Penalty Abolition Leaders “Rockwood is launching the Fellowship for Death Penalty Abolition Leaders to provide powerful and effective training in leadership and collaboration to leaders within this important sector.” Beginning January 2012, [...]
Occupy Within | Take a Stand, SIT for Change
For four years Transformative Change (XC) has hosted SIT for Change, an event designed to bring inner awareness practices to agents of social change. This year, to support the many Occupy movements around the world, XC is asking folks to SIT, Chant, Center, Asana, Pray, etc. at an Occupy site near you. Come out, help [...]
The Happiness Institute in San Francisco
I met Leah Pearlman at Wednesdays, a meditation sangha, that meets (you guessed it!) every Wednesday in Santa Clara, California. During one of our shares, or maybe even after dinner conversations, I learned that she co-created a space in San Francisco called the Happiness Institute. Six months after Leah began to develop the idea, Jordan [...]
Soweto’s Legacy
Written & Contributed by Prachi Murarka When the word Soweto pops up in the popular consciousness, two things that are seemingly extreme can come to mind. Soweto is the place where students led protests against the Apartheid South African government in the late 1980s and early 1990s. A hub of revolutionary activity, it is also [...]