Your responses to the interest form gave us so much to work with. It was a great feeling to talk about all the things we can do and how much interest there is in collective power.
An uprising during a pandemic means we must go about organizing differently than in the past, but really, in the way great work is always done by those who effectively resist the systems in place. Centering whatever needs a voice, taking time, and opposing burnout culture. Some things might happen slower when we have less capacity, and others will happen faster when there’s a pressing need or a lot of interest.
We’re starting with a few offerings to see where they lead.
Readings on transformative justice
For people who want to explore some of the powerful work already being done towards transformative justice, Anna is offering one-on-one virtual conversations to talk about key texts in a low-key way. (Anna is an amazing anti-oppression social worker who works at a mental health drop-in center in addition to practicing liberatory care work off the clock). She wants to create an accessible space for talking about whatever is most interesting to folks. For this first iteration, she suggests Ejeris Dixon and Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha’s book, Beyond Survival: Strategies and Stories from the Transformative Justice Movement. You don’t have to have read the entire book to participate, or have any familiarity with transformative justice whatsoever. Anyone is welcome. If you are interested, reply to this email to let us know. Also please let us know if you need a copy of the book, and we’ll get one for you. If interested, email mentalhealthinstruggle@gmail.com.
Transformative conversations in the African Diaspora
Black people in North America have a long history of fighting for true justice in a political context of extreme oppression and violence. In this moment of uprising for Black lives, there is a need to address the harmful divisions among Black communities that undermine unity in struggle. Mzenga Wanyama, associate professor of literature with a specialization in African American and Post-Colonial fiction, is offering one-on-one virtual conversations to Black folks who want to talk about any aspect of this. If you’re interested, email mentalhealthinstruggle@gmail.com.
These first offerings are all one-on-one because that’s what felt more doable for Anna and Mzenga.
For the next phase, we’re thinking of setting up a time for folks who want to work in a group setting.
Joaquin Munoz, assistant professor in American Indian Studies is offering group practice in circlework, a powerful tool for transformative justice and healing that is used in a wide variety of contexts including intra- and inter-community dialogue. If we want to take him up on this, we’ll see if we can get a group together at some point. It might take a little while to figure out a date, but if you’re interested, feel free to email mentalhealthinstruggle@gmail.com and we’ll see what we can put together.
We are wishing you strength in whatever you are doing for justice right now, whatever that means to you. The justice struggles underway are against police violence and the racism that underlies this entire society, and that is the most transformative work of all. The term “transformative justice” may be useful for organizing and getting on the same page, but everything done with the goal of liberation is what is most vital.