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movement moments

i don’t have long but i wanted to say hello to you all – we are past the halfway mark today and things are going beautifully. i have to reflect with you on the movement moments i have been having, and what i have been learning.

movement moments happen in small rooms, or from stages – in one on one interactions of solidarity and in the logistics of taking care of people.

in the past few days, i have gotten to help a woman named cecilia whose wheelchair broke on the first day, learning to care for her in ways that protect her dignity and independence.

i had the honor of facilitating a 7am conversation in which the us social forum national planning committee, through the coordinating team, made the historic decision to cancel a workshop which violated our principles. i got to see the look on the face of persecuted people when we choose solidarity over safety.

i have gotten to watch barriers fall down as the ruckus team supports action after action for local detroit communities.

i have seen people step up to take care of children, water, confusion – watched folks shift roles in order to resolve crisis.

i have seen grace lee boggs be celebrated for her 95th birthday – and i got to sing to her! her idea that every crisis is an opportunity for something new to be created, for solutions, that idea has helped us make it through this event.

and we have made history through our logistics. we have had a plastic-water bottle free event, and even got the cobo convention center to agree not to sell bottled water, to be in alignment with this vision. we have also learned a lot about the practical ways to move that strategy better in the future.

we have had all gender bathrooms and made it a clear policy and commitment. we also learned how important it is to have signs up.

i have been humbled by how much people want to support this effort, and how tirelessly people can work when they are believers in a larger vision, a something beyond capitalism, a something beyond profit.

i have also been held and healed. i particularly want to thank susan, who gave me a craniosacral treatment last night, and charity, anjali and cara for making that possible. i want to thank mike and jenny and diana for making the overwhelming pile of recycling in my home disappear. i want to thank ashindi for bringing me cookies, sharon and megan for being so fucking incredible at leading ruckus, ruckus for being MVPs to all the folks in this city i love.

it’s not over yet – today i get to be a part of more history as i co-facilitate the ecojustice people’s movement assembly. our intention is to hold the full length of our ancestral lineage in the room with us as jump the broom towards a whole thinking approach to planet, people and justice. i am ready.

love to everyone i have interacted with, whatever my state was at that moment.