We made the decision to launch our updated website on President’s Day, not in recognition of the office it represents, but as an act of loud and proud resistance and defiance. A clear, strong and public statement of our continuing commitment to work with and for ALL girls, young women, and gender expansive young people of color who have a human right to enjoy justice, safety and respect. The attempts to erase, silence, exploit and degrade the power and value of their true and complete selves is an outrage that is a slap across the face of freedom, civil rights, democracy and the rule of law. At Justice and Joy National Collaborative we are very clear – our values, self-respect, honor and dignity are not for sale. We know that this stance is not without risk but if we are true to ourselves, we know that for us, there is no other choice to make. We will take each day as it comes moving with fierce will, love, determination, flexing our strategic genius with clarity that comes only from fighting on the side of justice.
Some thoughts on how to get through this:
– Channel your rage into action. Find your resistance comfort zone. Figure out ahead of time what you are willing to do and say or not, and don’t compare it to the choices others are making. Set your limits ahead of time and it will help you to feel more secure and in control. Financially supporting organizations and campaigns in the privacy of your home and staying healthy so you can do the work is resistance.
– Find opportunity in crisis, rather than focusing only on the danger. The danger is the instability, chaos and loss of hope. But listening during the crisis can also reveal new possibilities and new directions. If the current crisis centers the dismantling of systems that weren’t working, can we imagine what new systems should look like for our collective future?
– Set benchmarks. Don’t think about the next four years of this administration’s term – it’s overwhelming. Focus on one day, one week at a time, one year at a time…whatever is manageable for you or your organization, and set reasonable goals.
– Stay informed AND take care of yourself. It’s important to know what is happening, but that doesn’t mean we need to be online or watching the news 24/7. Here are a couple of tools to help:
- The National Organization of Nonprofits has an excellent tracker that continuously updates, summarizes and links to original texts of executive orders and provides updates on legal challenges to Executive Orders.
– Spread the truth by sharing vetted, accurate information. The decisions being made have real impacts on your community. Rise above the hype and incendiary language on all sides, and translate it all into terms that are concrete and understandable.
– Regularly call your congressional representatives as well as state decisions makers. Calls matter more than emails and letters, and they are paying attention to the number of calls they’re getting. To make this easier try https://5calls.org. Choose the issue areas closest to you; a script is provided, and it will populate your local representatives.
– Seek out community. It’s easy to want to hide away, but we need each other now more than ever before. Whether it’s personal or work-related, lets share the load and the laughter, reminding ourselves that we are stronger together.
Finally, be kind and patient with yourself. In the midst of the chaos just getting up can feel taxing. You feel tired because the world is an exhausting place to be right now. You find yourself doom scrolling and then get upset with yourself for doing it – these are all normal reactions to an abnormal situation domestically and globally. Find ways to tune out and create moments of love and joy.
Enjoy our new website…we hope it makes you smile and remember you are not alone.
In solidarity and with love and respect,
Jeannette
