The Best of the Activist's Muse

The Very Best of

The Fruition Coalition

The Very Best of The Activists Muse 2015 Jessica R. Dreistadt Page 2

The Very Best of The Activists Muse

2015 Jessica R. Dreistadt All rights reserved.

The Fruition Coalition

Lehigh Valley, PA

www.fruitioncoalition.com


The Activists Muse August 3, 2012 When I dream alone, it is just a dream. When we dream together, it is the beginning of reality. --Brazilian proverb We are all muses. Through our intentions and interactions, we have the power to inspire personal and political change. The purpose of The Activists Muse is to: Encapsulate the various ideas that have infiltrated my heart and my mind Explore my ideas through writing and share them with the progressive community Examine my personal experience through a social and political lens Enhance critical thought with curiosity, creativity, and compassion Expand our individual and collective understanding of progressive ideas Connect progressives around the world to provoke conversations and promote

community Everything that I write is intended to be the beginning of a conversation, not an ending. Please participate by leaving a comment, taking a class at The Fruition Academy, and becoming a member of Le Salon Utopique. This blog is my playground and laboratory. I invite you to play and to explore with me. Every sentence I utter must be understood not as an affirmation, but as a question. -- Niels Bohr


The Tao of Social Change

What is, never was.

What never was, will be.

August 6, 2012


Defining and Realizing Success August 7, 2012 The Sociological Images blog recently posted an article referencing the Pew Research Center's report, The Causalities: Faith and Hard Work in Capitalism. The first extracted chart shows how people view the relationship between hard work and success. In the United States, 77% of respondents indicated that they believe success will come to those who work hard. My immediate reaction was to think of all of the other factors that influence the achievement of success such as education, opportunity, and access to resources. I have experienced first hand the superimposed barriers that have prevented me from seeing a direct relationship between my immense hard work and my perceived success. I have worked full+ time while pursing five degrees over the past 18 years -- hard work indeed. Yet, I have not reaped the financial rewards that one might expect to accrue to a person who has demonstrated consistent dedication to her professional field. In fact, my standard of living remains overwhelmingly simple. But then I started to think more deeply about this topic. I realized that my immediate definition of success was limited to economic return. Truly, I do not have such a myopic view of success. Rather, I define success as being happily engaged in work, feeling peaceful, experiencing loving relationships, feeling a strong spiritual connection, and having the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to my community. By these measures, I am truly successful and can choose to be at any moment in time. I further realized that my economic view of success was short term; perhaps this is influenced by our political system and instant gratification culture. Over time, particularly once I complete the doctoral program in which I am currently enrolled, I can expect some financial return based on my competence, experience, education, and -- yes --my determination and hard work. I can translate my inner self into material manifestation through my action. This is what it means to be a leader. I also appreciate that there are many people who have not seen the challenges in their lives through the same lens as me and those who have been systematically disadvantaged for many more reasons than me. Those barriers -- both personal and political -- must be removed so that every American, and everyone around the world, can realize her or his potential. Success will come to those work hard if we redefine the meaning of success, focus on a long-term perspective, and persistently pursue our individual and collective dreams. Starting now.


Rethinking Utopia August 8, 2012 In 1998, I lived in a 15th floor studio apartment in West Philadelphia. At my desk overlooking both lovely Fairmount Park and the city skyline, I created a never published website simply called Utopia. The vision for the project, according to the second home page I developed, was to empower and motivate young women and men to actively construct their lives and communities in order to exist more peacefully and harmoniously with themselves, others, and the environment. I promised readers to publish a quarterly journal entitled Utopia: An Overture of Peace and Harmony and to create a website that would: educate people about their rights, responsibilities, and human potential; distribute information that is helpful in cultivating compassionate, well rounded, and determined human beings; share experiences among each other so that we may learn and grow with each other; analyze psychological and social theories and discover how to apply them to get more out of our daily lives; enlighten with art, poetry, and prose; and provide an exchange for buyers and sellers of intellectually stimulating, ecologically sound, and socially responsible products and services. With the exception of the last statement and the nuances of naivete, I am struck by the similarities between the aforementioned forsaken website and the relaunch of The Fruition Coalition this summer. Something deep within my soul, which I have repressed and redirected over the past 15 years, is yearning to be set free. I am grateful for the many detours my life has taken since the initial conceptualization of Utopia: I have earned two and a half graduate degrees; helped to raise two lovely girls who are both now college students; and served the community as an executive director and in several other capacities. All of these experiences -- indeed, all of my experiences -- will inform the ongoing development of this and other projects. I am especially grateful for this opportunity to integrate my inner dreams, perhaps my soul purpose, with everything I have learned about myself and the world in which I live throughout my early adulthood. Still a work in progress, I look forward to reviewing blog posts from The Activist's Muse, posts on Le Salon Utopique, and recordings of classes from The Fruition Academy of Social Imagination and Action in another 15 years to reflect on my journey and the person I am becoming. Thank you for being a part of this journey. To Utopia we go!


Changemaker Chat: David McReynolds August 10, 2012 David McReynolds is lifelong Socialist Party activist, a pacifist who worked with the War Resisters League from 1960 through 1999, an author of essays, a speaker, and an organizer, with more than a few arrests during actions. He was also the Socialist Party candidate for President in 1980 and 2000 and the chair of War Resisters International for one term. You can learn more about David by visiting www.edgeleft.org. How did you first become interested in social change? I suspect I became interesting quite early, in high school, partly as a result of the teachings of the Baptist church I attended, and partly as a result of following events in World War II very closely, and the aftermath of the war. How do you define social justice? Social justice would be a society in which, without trying to "level everyone," there would be no massive concentrations of private wealth and the general population would have decent housing, medical care, and access to education. What has been your most exciting experience as an activist? Perhaps the demonstration in Moscow in 1978, opposing both the Soviet and American arms races. Our group demonstration in Red Square as the same moment as fellow pacifists walked onto the White House lawn and unfurled a banner. What is the most interesting project in which you are currently involved? Probably trying to sort through the thousands of negatives and prints in order they can be useful to pacifist and socialist historians (photography having been a hobby of mine). What is your vision for a better world? Less emphasis on "nation states," more serious work on disarmament to a police level. What are your plans for the future? At 82, there are no extensive plans for the future


Detachment from Dogma August 13, 2012 My perspective is to detach from dogma and to explore possibilities. I am not a 'pure' post-modernist, integralist, material-realist, etc.; rather, I float within and among various positionalities as a means to expand my realm of personal understanding. As a result, I may say things that seem to be contradictory. I like to think of them as complementary instead. Each idea is but one microscopic iteration of the reality that I have observed and absorbed. I revere this as a precious gift. I am able to review two opposing views about an idea and (usually) appreciate some kind of beauty and profundity in each. Of course, there are many things that I have observed which I have chosen -- consciously or not -- to not absorb. These things, real or imagined, may be outside of my compassionate heart (hate groups), my intellect (calculus), and/or my experience (parasailing) so that it seems disconnected from that which is already in me and therefore has little to no meaning or value. Written while barefoot in Bryant Park


Je Suis Libree August 14, 2012 And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. Anais Nin That day came and went for me, over and over again for several years. The bud began to rot inside, starved from light and unable to grow. This is one of the reasons why I recently left a relatively secure and stable job as an executive director so that I could launch an online school for my progressive friends around the world. That particular job was occupying too much of my intellectual and emotional space, distorting the boundaries and destroying the terrain. At the same time, I felt like the queen of a complacent little island while the whole rest of the world raged on fire. I realized within my soul a burning desire to more meaningfully serve humanity. And so I lovingly descended from my precious throne, only to swim through uncertain waters and encounter red eyed rabid crocodiles whose greatest pleasure would be to eat me alive. With the island further and further from view, I risk being burned and consumed; drowned and eaten alive. Goodbye, Family Connection. Hello world.


My Dharma

My dharma is to feel the sunlight dance on my eyelashes. My dharma is to plant rainbow seeds in the earth and in my heart.

My dharma is to hear the birds singing. My dharma is to be, to commune, to become.

August 15, 2012


Alpha-Omega Testing August 17, 2012 You may have heard of beta testing. This is when software companies share their most recent developments with a select audience to uncover bugs so that they can be fixed before the products full release. At this stage, a team of developers has likely already invested a great deal of time conceptualizing, planning, creating, and refining the software. In a wolf pack, the omega wolf is the one who is most often hurt and excluded yet creates harmony within the group; she or he is submissive and may stray from the pack. I like to think of this blog as an alpha test for ideas. This is a space where I share my somewhat moderated thoughts and ideas so that they can be collectively thought through and tested. I do so with an omega spirit. Opening up myself in such a way requires humility, vulnerability, and risk of ridicule.


Progressive Macromovement Logic Model August 20, 2012 A logic model is a visual tool to conceptualize and communicate a program, organization, or initiative from its raw materials to its ultimate ends. I have created a draft of a logic model for the progressive macromovement. Creating this model helped me think through what I see as the ultimate ends of progressive activism and what it will take to get us there. This model is certainly not representative of all people who care about progressive social change; it is heavily biased by my own ideas and values. I would love to see how you envision the progressive macromovement. Please share your logic models with me and other blog readers!


The Illogical Model August 21, 2012 Yesterday I posted a logic model for the progressive macromovement. I truly do see value in using logic models to think through our intentions and goals. Yet, we live in an illogical world where there is constant change and uncertainty. An illogical world calls for an illogical model to complement the standard logic model. The illogical model suggests that we focus on those areas where we do have control, given that we live in a dynamic and uncertain environment: our values, intentions, and actions. These three areas are interconnected as they influence and/or reinforce each other both intermittently and over time. Our values are the core of who we are and what we believe. These shape our intentions, or our purpose for acting. Our actions are the place where we connect our inner selves with the outer environment, interacting with its intellectual, material, and emotional conditions. Because this environment is fluid and open to interpretation, our interaction with it can lead to both intended and unintended outcomes. The illogical model forces us to focus our work on the present moment. It does not project what will happen in three, five, or 20 years. It demonstrates that we have the power to change the world by integrating our values, intentions, and actions -- right now. By detaching from the outcomes and releasing illusive prediction and control of the environment, we might just realize lovely unimaginable surprises.


My American Dream

People don't deserve good jobs; we all deserve a meaningful vocation.

People don't deserve affordable housing; we all deserve a lovely home.

People dont deserve adequate nutrition; we all deserve plentiful healthy, whole foods.

People dont deserve access to health insurance; we all deserve radiant health.

People dont deserve a subsistence income; we all deserve a sustainable and

harmonious lifestyle.

August 22, 2012


Charting The Organization August 27, 2012 In an organizational behavior class last year, we were given an assignment to create an organizational chart for our place of work. I created the following chart to represent how I saw the structure of the organization.

At the time, I was working at a social service/education agency serving both children and families. I felt that program participants were at the center of the organization; everything that we did as an organization was centered on their needs. I therefore represented them as a large circle that overwhelmed the entire diagram. Surrounding the program participants was another circle representing the larger community; this includes foundations, neighbors, elected officials, etc. The executive director (me) was at the periphery of the program participants and community circles, holding everything together. That position was also connected to the board of directors and program coordinators (who were supervised by me). Direct line staff were placed next to the program coordinators as a link to the people served.

I would love to see how creative organizational designs or representations. Please share them with me and other blog readers!


The Leaves How easily individual leaves are taken for granted carelessly picked pressed too tightly between the fingers and thrown away. We sometimes dont see the forest for the trees but also the leaves for the trees. Each leaf is the promise of life and is filled with great beauty and is central to our ecosystem. Leaves need the trees, the trees need the soil, the soil needs the sun, the sun needs the air, the air needs the trees, the trees need the leaves. August 28, 2012


The Privatization Equation August 29, 2012 There is an ongoing movement in Pennsylvania to publicly fund private schools. Like other organizations, such as hospitals and the emerging fourth sector, for-profit organizations are touted as more efficient and more effective than their nonprofit counterparts. I am not able to intellectually process the efficiency argument. I envision the expenses of each entity as follows: Business expenses = costs + all taxes + profit Nonprofit expenses = costs + payroll taxes From my perspective, the nonprofit expenses are by default much lower than those of business. Perhaps I am missing something. In my experience, nonprofit or community benefit organizations are also more effective in the delivery of public and community services. Community benefit organizations are driven by community need. Businesses, particularly those that are shareholder owned, are driven by making profits. Isnt that a distraction? Let's look at a personal example. The Fruition Coalition is a social enterprise; a for-profit organization. When I first started the organization in 2001, I toyed with the idea of creating a nonprofit organization. Lacking scale and the technological capacity that is available today, it seemed simpler and less expensive - to stay a for-profit (although it has yet to be profitable). Today, as the Fruition Coalition is relaunching, I am grateful for this decision. Being a for-profit gives me the latitude to be politically open which is so important to the core of what The Fruition Coalition is all about. In addition, I can cover organizational expenses including my time through program service fees. This way, there is no need to compete with nonprofit organizations for limited grant funds. I can also proudly contribute taxes to the things that I value like public education (unfortunately I can't direct how all of my tax money is spent)! While The Fruition Coalition is technically a for-profit organization, its purpose and activities are fully community-driven. So, yes, there are times when a for-profit business is a better choice to meet a community need; The Fruition Coalition is just one example. But I believe that this is the exception rather than the rule.


From Anger to Love August 31, 2012 When we feel angry, we may also feel disconnected and stuck. As we come into awareness of this anger, we start to loosen up and open up. Things start to fall into place. Angst is the process of transforming anger into passion. Throughout this process, we continue opening up and aligning our life pieces. Ultimately, we find love in our hearts. We are free and wholly integrated.

At any moment in time, we can be in multiple parts of this chart depending on our interpretation of our experience, our perceived options, and our perceived capacity to change. Right now, I am writing this blog out of a place of pure love, integration, and freedom. Yet, I am living in a place where I am in the movement phase. It is much easier to change our inner countenance than our outer material reality; however, they are interconnected. By continuing to act with love, I will ultimately find the place to which I am going. In my lifetime, I hope to align and integrate all aspects of my inner and outer life having fully explored the possibilities and choosing what is best for me.


Intersecting Levels of Change September 4, 2012 I believe that social change is the result of both individual and organizational action. I further feel that social change is impossible without significant personal change within both ourselves and others. Organizations, formal or informal, can be a conduit for collective action, amplifying and morphing -- personal change. To move from personal to organizational to social change, three factors are necessary: passion, vision, and commitment. Passion motivates movement toward the vision and commitment sustains us along the journey.


Liberate Wall Street Liberate Wall Street from attachment to abstract economics and material things. Liberate Wall Street from fear, insecurity, selfish thoughts, and short-sighted decisions. Liberate Wall Street from the self-deception that further marginalizes those who have been excluded from, and oppressed by, the predominant financial system. Liberate Wall Street from its limited interpretation of history that confounds present day choices. Liberate Wall Street from the destructive and divisive patterns of behavior established in the past. Liberate Wall Street from superficial responsibilities to shareholders with limited, narrow interests. Liberate Wall Street from social and geographic restrictions that diminish its service to humanity. Liberate Wall Street from insulation against engagement with the real world of billions of people around the globe. Liberate Wall Street to invest in building sustainable economies. Liberate Wall Street. Let us all be free. September 5, 2012


Illusory Immunity September 7, 2012 We live in a very superficial world. To cope, we design, construct, and reinforce artificial barriers to protect us from the dis-ease of making mistakes. By choosing not to fully experience and learn from our mistakes, we fail to build an immunity that is an integral part of our humanity. This immunity strengthens our resolve and enhances our understanding of self and others. We cannot be immune to failure; rather, our immunity allows us the space we need to be authentic and vulnerable with each other. Such immunity builds up by consistently challenging ourselves to take risks (intellectual, aesthetic, etc.) and by letting others know it is safe for them to do the same.


From Nail Files to Geraldine: The Emergence of My Political Identity September 10, 2012 My political identity is rooted in my social and cultural identities, my unique personal beliefs, and my lived experience. This political identity is emerging rather than fixed; over time it has evolved and expanded to encompass my deeper and broader understanding of the world in which I live. My first political experience was campaigning for Guy Kratzer, who was then running for reappointment to Allentown City Council. My job, as a very young child, was to hand out nail files sporting his name to voters as they entered the polls at Muhlenberg Elementary School. I believe this was 1979, but my memory could be mistaken. I suspect that one of my sisters was a student in Mrs. Kratzers social studies class at Trexler Middle School at that time. My second memory is my father running for school board in 1980. In Mrs. Helwigs kindergarten classroom that same year, I voted for Ronald Regan in a mock election. I didnt vote for him because I supported his platform, but because brown seemed to be the most presidential color to me at the time (it was a color matching game). For the next few years, my political memory is limited to the occasional whimsical wearing of one of my J.D. for Mayor buttons. In 1984, I feel that my political identity crystallized with the presidential election and my work to support Geraldine Ferraro for vice president. I was nine years old. In my elementary school class, again at Muhlenberg (apparently the epicenter of my political emergence), we formed teams based on who we would like to support. I chose Mondale/Ferraro because, despite the fact that most of my family is Republican, my parents were solid Democrats. I noticed generalized social and cultural differences between the Mondale/Ferraro group and the Regan/Bush group. This was the first time that I felt like part of a group, that I belonged somewhere in the social sphere. I felt as though I had arrived. I especially loved supporting a woman for this important political position, which seemed totally natural to me. It never occurred to me that a woman could not do whatever the heck she wanted to do, or that she would be discouraged from doing so by others. While I didnt appreciate the significance of this historical moment at the time, I am so grateful to have lived through it and to have been a part of it, even if only in a very small way. I cannot imagine who I would be if it were not for Geraldine Ferraro. By the way, I think the official presidential color should be purple.


Essential Existentialism September 11, 2012 Essence and existence coexist. Each existence and every experience is a representation of the whole, the essence, in which all can be located. Each existence and experience, along with those of others, contributes to and co-creates the whole. When all colors combine into the whole, their hue is overwhelmed by the black common area and differentiation is diminished. Yet, in the whole we can search for both our unique light and that which we share with others in addition to areas of difference and shadow. These nuances may not be immediately apparent given the reductionist reasoning of the whole. In the picture below, essence is represented by the large black circle and existence is represented by each small color circle.


The Princess The princess freely shares her love throughout her dominion. She recognizes the privilege and responsibility that has been entrusted in her by her G-d (unless she is an atheist) and by her friends. The princess loves power with all of her heart because she has the vision to see the good it can do and the passion to share that vision with the world. She knows that power is multiplied when it is shared and uses this wisdom to the advantage of all. The princess is inspired by truth and emboldened by righteousness. She rocks The New State with humility, compassion, pride, and grace. The princess is needed but never needy. She knows that everything she desires is already within her. The princess is flexible and cooperates with others. She always remembers who she is and never deviates from her true purpose. The princess seeks to open hearts and minds, especially her own. She sets them free so that they may rise and soar. September 12, 2012


Targets of Activism September 14, 2012 Activism can be directed toward three interrelated components: ideas, people, and systems. Ideas represent both unique expressions and the collective zeitgeist. People may include individuals and various kinds of groups (families, special interest clubs, neighborhoods, etc.). Systems are the political, social, and economic structures through which people interact. In activism practice, these three mechanisms are sometimes confounded. We often blame people without thoroughly investigating the structures and ideas that guide them. Sometimes we talk of changing the system without reconstructing the ideas that support them and without fully appreciating the ripple effects on the people who are involved at all levels. And if we attempt to change ideas without involving people or systems, they will remain disconnected from reality and immobilized. Because ideas, people, and systems intersect and interact, activism should strategically target and integrate all three in order to be effective.


The Only One September 18, 2012 No rock video girl touched my heart so deeply as Jayzik Azikiwe, who starred in Dire Straits Skateaway video. When I was a little girl, I so wanted to be continually imbued with the spirit that she embodied: vibrant; independent; carefree; and confident. Just listening to that song now makes me feel fantastical. This past summer, we had a Rock of Ages party the weekend that movie was released in theaters. After the movie, we went back to my house to overindulge in food and alcohol, perform karaoke (everything from the movies soundtrack songs to The Sound of Music), and watch old videos. I was a meticulous music video recorder for many years, and have a collection of nearly ten complete tapes full of videos most of which are now available on YouTube. One of my sisters, who also loved the Skateaway video, looked up information about Jayzik on her phone as we watched the video. I was fascinated to learn that her father was the first president of independent Nigeria. Like her father, Jayzik was also an activist in addition to being an artist. I learned that she really was very much like that girl in the video but so much more. Sadly, I learned all of these things by reading her obituaries. Jayzik passed away in 2008. I think I might write a book about her one day. Or maybe I could write something about her with one of my very favorite authors, Chimamada Ngozi Adichie. Jayzik makes such dreams seem possible.


Pride, Prejudice, and Politics September 19, 2012 In Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Darcy is greatly understood by those with whom he has not developed an intimate acquaintance. Elizabeth, in particular, finds him offensive until she falls madly in love with him and they live happily ever after. Our pride and our prejudice stand in the way of compassion and understanding for each other, leading to a breakdown of our political system. We lack political and civil intimacy; these relationships are shaped by manipulative tactics and reactivity rather than dialogue and philia. We sometimes feel detached, hopeless, and bitter rather than meaningfully engaged and purposeful. Lets fall madly in love with each other through a shared sense of community. Lets transform politics into a positive sum game. Let's let go of our pride and prejudice. Lets change the world by changing ourselves.


Typology of Activism September 21, 2012 Activism can be classified according to many characteristics. Based purely on anecdotal and intuitive evidence, I believe there is a positive relationship between the proactivity of a strategy/tactic (independent variable) and the sustainability of the change that results (dependent variable) Whether or not this is accurate, I do think that it is helpful to organize activism according to these variables as such:

Four quadrants are created based on whether strategies/tactics are reactive or proactive and whether the changes sought are short-term or long-term. I started to think of a name for each quadrant and fit examples into each, but this became problematic. It is difficult to "fit" complex activism into such neat categories. Nonetheless, this chart may be useful as we evaluate the fit between our actions and goals. Based on my earlier thesis, I placed proactivity on the y-axis and length of the change sought on the x-axis. This suggests a movement toward more proactive strategies to result in longer-term social changes.

In my experience, much progressive activism is reactive; it is based on an external stimulus rather than internally driven. Applying the Pareto Principle, perhaps about 80% of progressive activism is reactive and defensive. I think we should begin with the vision of the world we want to create and start building it - rather than erratically undoing the work of oppressive systems and the people who benefit from them. Let's shift 80% of our activism to proactive, offensive strategies to realize long-term, sustainable change.


Progressive Activism and Cute Shoes: Mutually Exclusive? September 24, 2012 I was once a proud member of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU). While a student at Allentown Business School, I worked in two factories at night, along with other jobs, while also working two full days at a nursing home over the weekend. The first factory was a union shop. My job was to press collars for ladies suits. When that work ran out, my job was to use a seam ripper to undo bad work. After that, I was laid off. It was a fairly nice work environment. There was good lighting and even a snack machine. My supervisor was a little scary, but she rarely stayed as late as I did. It was usually just me and the custodian when it was time to lock up the building. But factory work is seasonal, and after just a few months I was laid off. I then got another factory job; this was not a union shop. My job was to cut apart knitted ski masks using a table saw. The lighting was terrible, it was extremely hot, there was no ventilation, and I felt lightheaded most of the time I was at work not a good thing when a saw is so close to your fingers! I quit after just a few days. I felt guilty about doing this, but also knew that I was not strong enough to do such difficult physical work. Both factories paid the same. It was a piece rate, which I was never able to make (which means I was paid minimum wage). But the difference in working conditions was amazingly different. Im not sure if it had anything to do with the union, but I am sure that helped. At the union shop, I would have worked for as long as I was able, or at least until I finished school. The pay was not good, but I was given flexible hours to accommodate my school schedule and the environment was pleasant. The other place was just awful. I really felt like I was going to pass out most of the time that I was there. Yet, I am sure that these working conditions were much better than those in offshore locations where workers, many of them children, are paid very little. It makes me feel sick to think that millions of people in the world have so few options for their life. It makes me even more sick to think that the reason these people are trapped in this economic system is a result of American demand for cheap clothing and lots of it. While it is no longer possible to find clothing bearing an ILGWU label, I do try to appreciate the hard work that people put into the clothing that I purchase. I am not at all against offshoring; in fact, I think as a privileged nation we have a responsibility to help other countries develop their economies so that they can be self-sufficient and sustainable. But this is not what we usually do. We take advantage of less fortunate countries and their citizens in order to strengthen our own economy. Resisting gluttony is hard, especially when everyone else seems to be doing it without question. But do I really need another pair of shoes?


Shoes are particularly problematic for me. I love them. I often say to myself that I am going to reduce my consumption of shoes and limit those that I do purchase to vegan varieties. I did good this summer. I didnt purchase the new Dansko shoes that I really, really, really, really wanted. But I know that one day I will purchase a pair of shoes, or some other item of clothing, that I dont really need and one that might have been created in a factory with deplorable conditions. As a consumer, I have a certain amount of power. I can vote with my pocketbook by only supporting companies that align with my values. But I am only one person, and my consumer power is quite limited. It would be far more effective for us to channel our energy that which might otherwise be spent perusing the new fall collection online into collectively influencing corporate practices and public policy. Wouldnt it be great if we could walk into a department store and know that everything offered for sale is made by a company that values its employees and the environment? I have actually thought about the possibility of starting such a store. I think it would be fun, but with other projects lined up I just dont have the energy to make it happen right now. In the meantime, I am taking a lot of notes to capture my most innovative ideas for this project. Perhaps one day you will join me at the grand opening of this store!


Social+ September 25, 2012 Being carbon neutral is great, but I would like to suggest that being social positive, which we might cutify by writing Social+, is even better. Social+ goes way beyond being carbon neutral. People who are Social+ also: - consider the human impact of every decision they make - are actively involved in their communities - express kindness and compassion toward others on a daily basis Similar to carbon neutrality, social positivity can be assessed by reviewing our daily, weekly, monthly, and annual activities to determine if our net social impact is, indeed, positive. I know that on some days, I may be Social-; this may even out if considering my activities over a period of time. What Social+ activity did you do today? Are you Social+ this week?


United We Stand We are divided and We are falling. America is in need of a new revolution. One that is peaceful, not violent; Selfless, not selfish; Unifying, not separatist. United we stand. September 26, 2012


Blue Glitter September 28, 2012 In the Allentown School District, there were very few Jewish students. When I was in 4th grade, I was very fortunate to have a Jewish teacher. She knew that at Christmastime, I would prefer blue glitter to red and green. When she gave me that blue glitter, it made me feel really special. I felt as though she understood and appreciated my difference. I don't always think to give people their metaphorical blue glitter. It can sometimes be difficult to sincerely express love of a person and her or his difference, especially when that difference is not shared. Blue glitter can make people feel singled out, objectified, and patronized. But, carefully applied, blue glitter can be very beautiful.


My Self-Sacrifice October 1, 2012 I am strangely fascinated, and easily seduced, by far-left politics. Yet, I have consciously chosen to detach from my most extreme political views for the good of our community, our nation, and our world. This doesn't mean that I automatically adopt the opposite viewpoint, most certainly not! Rather, I am becoming more open so that I can develop a deeper understanding of political complexities. I miss those ideas and I mourn for them; they have been an important part of my conscience and experience throughout my life. It feels as though a part of me - and one of my favorite parts - has died. I am working on shifting my thinking to what I have to gain, and the potential collective gain, from what I might be losing.


001111101001 October 2, 2012 Too often, we see life as black and white, as an either-or proposition, as a zero-sum game. Binary code should be used to program our computer, not our lives. Our life code is composed of breathtaking combinations of sweet sounds and brilliant colors that can only be revealed if we stop superimposing material scarcity on our mental, emotional, and spiritual expansivity.


Scholar Stomach October 5, 2012 A student colleague recently explained the tummy softening and bulging that often emerges through the course of doctoral studies using two simple words - scholar stomach. Looking around the room, and especially down at myself, I realized that this was truly a phenomenon. Naming the phenomenon gave it power; it transformed something from a personal experience to collective understanding. This helped me to develop an awareness that led to the critical conscience necessary to compel me into action. I committed to a daily Pilates practice upon returning home, although that commitment waned in a few weeks. Scholar stomach remains.


Infinite Resources October 8, 2012 Some resources are finite: coal; oil; gas. Some are renewable: sunlight; water; plants; wind. Others are infinite: power; love; compassion; wisdom; hope; sincerity. I'm not sure where money falls on this list because it is superficial; it represents odd combinations of the above items. Infinite resources multiply when they are used and they should frequently be used toward good ends. Finite resources are depleted when they are used and therefore should only be used in emergencies. Renewable resources should be carefully used to meet daily human needs. People should be treated as though they are infinite resources, rather than finite ones. The three types of resources should not be confounded. We should not have limited hope or love because certain resources are limited. Instead, we can shift collective understanding and sharing of resources by using the infinite resources of unlimited love, hope, and power.


Political Civility October 9, 2012 While it may have once seemed impossible, the content and context of political rhetoric is becoming more and more pathological. Im not sure if candidates and their staff grossly underestimate the intelligence of the American people or if their strategies are merely a reflection of their own capacity for communication. Either way, I have little confidence in any political leader who puts down another human being, especially a fellow American. Political candidates engage in negative reciprocal exchange that makes a mockery of our democracy. I would love to see candidates focus, or shift a significant majority of their focus, onto their own values, attributes, accomplishments, and vision rather than disparaging the opposition. That constitutes bullying, and we expect better from young children. Comparative analysis can helpful for rational, and even emotional, decision making. To this end, candidates can simply state: This is what I want to do (strategy). This is why (purpose). This is the expected outcome (vision). In contrast, candidate B wants to do this. This is what I see as the possible outcome of that plan. Such a synopsis would result in less clutter, more complete and concrete information, and a more compassionate political climate.


From Debate to Dialogue October 10, 2012 In political debate, there is a tendency for one candidate to criticize the ideas of the opponent, if not the opponent her- or himself. What if we shifted from no, because debates to yes, and dialogue? At best, we could have some of the most passionate and committed people collaboratively creating innovative solutions. At worst, the candidate with the guts to try this method will totally throw off the opponent while exhibiting desirable characteristics desperately sought in our political leadership. Divisive political debate can transform into generative community dialogue. What is more important, winning an election or succeeding as a nation?


Bifurcated Bipartisanship October 12, 2012 I love being part of bipartisan organizations, such as the League of Women Voters. It fills my heart with joy to experience Americans crossing political lines to achieve common goals. Such was the intended spirit of the Pennsylvania Ballot Access Coalition. Many years ago, I attended a fundraising dinner for this organization at the Shady Maple. At the time, I was a member of the state executive committee of Socialist Party-USA. I felt it was important to support candidates in my party, and others who were marginalized by the petitioning process in our commonwealth, to promote political participation. I put aside my personal political beliefs so that we could all focus on our common belief that all citizens, regardless of political party, should have access to the ballot in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, others in attendance did not pay attention when the introductory speaker reminded us of the need to put aside our political beliefs for the evening. I sat at the table with a few members of the Constitution Party and one woman went on and on about her feelings on various political issues some of which I found to be offensive as a Jew and a Native American (not to mention as an American). I was given literature by another political party; I cant remember which one because I recycled it upon returning home. While these experiences did provide some amusing conversation on the ride home, I was deeply saddened that it was so difficult for people to resist the urge to promote their party at a nonpartisan event. I am grateful that I have never had such an experience as a board member or volunteer with my local League of Women Voters. I have had some other interesting experiences, but that will be another story for another day.


Acceptance October 17, 2012 Accepting someone for who they are does not take away from who I am. In fact, it makes me more of who I am. In addition, I do not feel that I have the right to tell another human being who they are or ought to be as they do not have the right to impose their beliefs and ways on me. Unfortunately, we do not always understand or remember that we have the opportunity at every moment to become and be our true, authentic selves. We become lost as our experience leads us down paths that are rigid or gilded. The sunlight above us casts shadows that temporarily eclipse our view. We find ourselves in unknown, undesired places and don't know how we got there. In my work in the fields of human services and education, I was often offended by colleagues who attempted to change the values, beliefs, and behaviors of people served. I think the best way we can support people is to help them reconnect with their true miraculous selves, rather than imposing our limited beliefs on them. Perhaps we can even learn from them.


Criticism without Cynicism October 19, 2012 As a social critic, I often respond or react to current events in nonconstructive ways. While I dont shout at the TV or contemplate retribution, I do sometimes feel angry, hurt, overwhelmed, and disgusted. These feelings lead me to pick apart ideas, and the people who espouse them, in an effort to deconstruct and discredit. This perpetuates my negative feelings, and the cycle continues. Other times, I open up my heart and my mind so that I can fully absorb and understand the event. I allow it to penetrate my psyche and infiltrate my intuition. Then I let it go, allowing it to float away and disintegrate. I create space for new ideas to emerge. I imagine what could be possible. Then I get off my meditation cushion sitting ass and do whatever I can to make my beautiful vision a reality. We can critique our world in constructive, rather than cynical, ways. Emergent history can shift our conscience from pessimism to possibility. We can hope rather than hate, and love instead of languish.


Structuralizing Possibility October 24, 2012 On one hand, articulating a theory excludes 99.9999% of the possibilities. Representing reality in a specific form intellectually negates the possibility of conflicting interpretations. On the other hand, articulating a theory opens up new intellectual possibilities by reimagining the way reality is understood. This may lead to additional theories, and greater understanding, that may not have been possible without the introduction of the catalytic idea. The key, then, is to not become attached to our representations but to see them as part of an expansive, evolutionary process.


Political Ambidexterity October 26, 2012 When I was a little girl, I was ambidextrous. My mother advised to me choose a hand. Not knowing which to pick, I asked her what her preference was. She told me that everyone in my family was right handed. My choice to conform to this only confirms that I made the right choice for my life at that time. I often wonder how my life would be different if I had chosen my left hand instead, or if I were not presented with the mandate of choosing and was able to remain ambidextrous. I actually think it served me well, as using my left brain has prevented me from being too out there as to relate to other people and the real world entirely. I love that I am at once rational and insanely creative. So often, we are put in a position of having to choose sides. Election time is once such instance when we are presented with this opportunity to align with something greater than ourselves by veering to the left or to the right. While we may need to choose in the polling booth, we do not need to pick a side in our daily lives. We can be politically and socially ambidextrous. Being ambidextrous doesnt mean choosing our left or our right hand; it means consistently using everything that weve got. We can still take a stand, but it is one that is in a position to see and appreciate the entire landscape. Political ambidexterity gives us the freedom to explore ideas and re-create the world together.


Class, Cherries, and Cooperation October 29, 2012 While I strongly prefer to eat in season and support local farmers, more often that I care to admit I purchase off season from the supermarket to indulge in what de Tocqueville might have referred to as the American need for bodily comfort. At the end of last summer, I purchased some cherries at my local grocery store a few weeks after the local season had passed. I almost placed a cherry into my mouth when I noticed that there was a long, black hair wrapped around its stem. After a short moment of disgust, I felt a strong sense of connection to the people who work so hard to plant and harvest the food we (middle class Americans) eat. Too often, we take for granted the accessibility of a variety of relatively inexpensive food without considering where it comes from. America is still dependent on slavery and miserable working conditions, even though much (but certainly not all) of it takes place outside of our borders. The economic system, and its commercial branch with which we interact on a daily basis, is designed to pit those who have a genuine need to minimize expenses against those who are truly destitute by limiting our options and manipulating the truth. And why? It should be unnecessary in a world where global cooperation is possible. Cooperation that leads to sharing, rather than commoditizing, hoarding, and overconsumption. Cooperation that leads to harmony, rather than discord. Cooperation that leads to environmental reverence, rather than degradation. Cooperation that leads to love and peace, rather than hatred and war.


From Revolutionary to Visionary October 30, 2012 In my activism, I have transformed from a revolutionary, to an evolutionary, to a visionary. As a revolutionary, I was reactive. My focus was on destroying unjust hegemony. As an evolutionary, I was complacent. My focus was on going with the natural flow. As a visionary, I am proactive. My focus is on creating the world of my dreams. Perhaps the next step will be for me to effectively integrate all three paradigms of activism, easily moving among them as called for by the situation.


Unmask Me October 31, 2012 You're still hiding in a mask, you take your fun seriously. No, don't blow this year's chance. Tomorrow your mold goes back on. Halloween, Dead Kennedys In the opening of The Madman, Khalil Gibran thanks the thieves who stole his seven masks and revealed to him the sweet kiss of the sun for the first time. I, too, long to be madwoman and yearn to see the light of day, yet I sometimes hide in the darkness cast by my seven masks. By unveiling my masks, I offer them to the thieves in the night so that they may be stolen and I may be set free. They are: 1. The mask of my former selves 2. The mask of desires and that to which I think I aspire 3. The mask of my expectations for myself and others 4. The mask of fear of the unknown 5. The mask of shame and guilt 6. The mask of perfection and control 7. The maskless mask, or the illusion of not wearing a mask


(Not) Dressed to Impress November 2, 2012 I served our local League of Women Voters as the Voters Guide editor for two years. It was a volunteer position for which I was ill suited, but I did my best. My volunteer service in this capacity had a tumultuous ending. With a bundle of at least 100 Voters Guides in my arms, I could not see the stairs below (not to mention I was probably a bit high on a newly prescribed cocktail of Elavil + Lamictal + Lexapro + Neurontin) . Down I went, and a nine month recovery followed. Toward the end of my recovery, I was able to drive and walk with a brace on my leg. In order to accommodate the brace, I wore long skirts or stretchy pants with sneakers. This also helped to accommodate the forty fresh pounds on my frame which resulted from a deadly combination of daily ice cream and the inability to walk. This did not stop me from participating in a lobbying day at our state capital. When I arrived at the PA Bar Association office for the pre-meeting meeting, I saw the convener stop mid-sentence as I walked into the room and look me up and down as if to say, 'didn't you read my email which specifically stated that you should be professionally dressed.' I felt humiliated. Of course, it may have just been a projection of my insecurity. There were many times during my recovery that I felt as though my appearance was scrutinized. Especially during those months that I was not able to walk, I developed a strong compassion for people who have permanent disabilities. At the time of the lobbying day, I was an experienced advocate who could find my way around the capitol building with my eyes closed. I am certain that my fantabulous state representative and others (who, by the way, were elected in no small part because of the great work of the League of Women Voters and my Voters Guide - thank you, very much) were more interested in what I had to say than in my appearance. Ill talk a bit more about the staging of legislative visits and other forms of activism in one of Decembers workshops, Theatre of Change.


Cookie Cutter Correspondence November 5, 2012 "When a person takes time to write you a letter, you've got to pay attention to that person." -- My grandfather in The Morning Call, January 26th, 1985 I care deeply about many issues, and I have the email log to prove it. I think Harrisburg and Washington have had to upgrade their email servers just to handle my correspondence. In fact, my state representatives chief of staff, who sadly passed away almost two years ago, once offered to make me a certificate for being the constituent who sends the most frequent email communication. In retrospect, I wish I had not succumbed to false modesty so that I could have something from him. I would have loved to have it, but could not publicly acknowledge my vanity. I have since learned that it is selfish to not accept gifts offered by others, and I truly regret if I hurt him in any way. More recently, I was at a workshop about lobbying at which a state senator, not from my district, audaciously told us to not even bother sending email form letters to his office because they dont read them. They dont count. When I receive a call to action by email, I often use the online systems created to generate email correspondence to legislators as this is an efficiency that saves me time. While it may be able to send my emails with ease, my intentions for doing so are anything but casual. I thought deeply about what this senator said, and possible ways that I could change my behavior to be a more effective advocate. I considered limiting my areas of interest and focusing on just a few critical issues. But then I realized that doing so would result in poor citizenship, as a legislator doing so would result in poor public service. I considered going to the legislators website and submitting my letters directly there, and I sometimes do this. I now pay more attention to the content of the suggested language provided by organizers to make sure it is aligned with my values and intentions. I dont demand, I educate. While I am grateful that he provoked this line of thought within me, I still kind of think he was too brazen about it. Elected officials should welcome correspondence from constituents, in whatever form they are able to produce. Many people do not have the ability to write effective letters or the time to do so because they are raising families and working multiple jobs. They still need to have the opportunity to genuinely and clearly express their opinion. How dare someone being paid by taxpayer dollars denounce the good intentions and engaged citizenship of those whom she or he was elected to serve. I also spoke to a friend who works for one of my U.S. senators. She told me that many senators use a computerized system to categorize letters and tabulate the wishes of


constituents. Perhaps state legislators do not have the resources or capacity to organize correspondence in this way. Yet, I am reminded of the sincere kindness and dedicated service of my friend Leon. I wish all other offices had the same respect for constituents that he did. I am grateful to have known him, and will remember his example as a model of public service and leadership.


The Cookie Code: Life Lessons from the Feline Phenom November 6, 2012 I share my home with two cats, both of whom teach me a lot. Although he is just five-and-a-half years old, Cookie has filled my life with tremendous wisdom. Rule #1 Do what you love Cookie has fun every day, all the time. His life is pure joy. Rule #2 Go belly up Cookie isnt afraid to be vulnerable or to expose his underbelly. Rule #3 Resist containment Cookie hates to be confined; he needs to be free. Rule #4 Approach conflict with curiosity Cookie doesnt react with anger; he watches, listens, and learns. Rule #5 Serendipitously surrender Cookie knows when to give in and doesnt hold a grudge. Rule #6 There is no time like the present Cookie truly lives in the moment. Rule #7 Snuggle What is the purpose of life without innocent hugs and kisses? Rule #8 Retreat, rest, and reflect Cookie spends most of his time in a contemplative, meditative trance. Rule #9 Carefully plan your attack Cookie never pounces before crouching, waiting for the right moment, and wiggling his behind to rile up his victim (which is usually a stuffed bird, fish, or mouse). Rule #10 Forgive and forget Cookie easily moves on. Every moment is truly a new beginning. Rule #11 Never overlook an opportunity to play When Cookie isnt contemplating the meaning of his existence or eating, he is usually playing.


Balancing Continuity and Creativity November 7, 2012 Continuity connects us to our past. It makes us feel secure and grounded. It adds an element of familiarity and predictability to life which is reassuring. Creativity is our future. It is the unknown emergent possibility. It is surprising, fun, and exciting. The present is the fulcrum that balances continuity and creativity, balancing the weight of each. We experience continuity and creativity in our lives both separately and simultaneously. They both support and oppose each other. The new cannot be understood without the context of the old. The old holds spaces for the new to materialize through disintegration or disconnection.


Expanding Understanding November 12, 2012 It is possible for us to expand our understanding of the world without abandoning our core or our current range of beliefs. Lets say that person A and person B have opposing views on an issue. Their field of understanding may be disconnected, adjoined, or overlapping. As they engage in meaningful dialogue, the understanding of each may grow so that there is both additional area of overlap and new, unexpected areas of possibility. Each person can absorb the view of the other and integrate it into their own knowledge and being without shifting their center or losing their current realm of understanding.


Reverse Redlining November 13, 2012 I often hear Allentown expats emphatically say that our city has changed. By hearing this repeatedly and carefully examining the context in which those words are uttered, I have found that this is a racist and classist code pointing to the increased number of Spanish speaking people and the increased visibility of people who are economically fragile who now occupy the city in which many decent white middle class people have chosen to no longer live. Saying that Allentown has changed is an attempt to preserve white middle class privilege. When things change, we often feel compelled to selfishly judge the circumstances according to our own values, beliefs, and needs. Why can't we just observe, learn, absorb, and embrace rather than judge and distance ourselves? I have many fond memories of center city Allentown. My grandmother owned Zipfs candy and gift shop on Hamilton Mall. One summer, I stayed over at her house and we rode the bus to work together. It was the first time I felt really grown up. I loved to help out in the store and to be downtown amidst all of the interesting people. My sister had her first apartment in that building and I had fun visiting her and her boyfriend (then husband, now ex-husband) there. When I graduated from high school, I went downtown and opened my first checking and savings accounts at one of the banks at center square. It was the second time that I felt really grown up. Going downtown was always exciting to me, and it still is. While I no longer spend a significant amount of time downtown, I do like to go there often, usually to visit Symphony Hall or the Allentown Art Museum. Each visit leads me to recall many fond childhood memories and creates new ones. I, too, am an Allentown expat. I left involuntarily while a high school student in 1991 and, while I did attend Allentown Business School and worked in several locations throughout the city, I have not lived there since. I am planning to move back as soon as I am financially able to. Many people who would like to live in Allentown are warned not to buy a home there particularly because of the high rate of crime and the perception of the public school system. This is exactly why I need to move back home. Rather than excluding myself from the blessed pain of life, I plan to become an active citizen and to find ways to share what I hope to become a contagious sense of pride in our community. I could never wish for my child to have something relatively better than another mothers child. I would rather intentionally bring people together so that we can work for the future of our community than further exclude and divide people based on arbitrary demographics. Yes, Allentown has changed, and thank goodness so have I.


Education: information Factory or Creative Laboratory? November 14, 2012 As a student, I was taught that the goals of education were to acquire knowledge, make fewer mistakes, approach the illusion of perfection, conform, and adopt the beliefs and practices of dominant groups. As a teacher, I am learning that the goals of education are to open up, explore, understand, and become my unique self. What do you see as the goals of education?


Fiscally Efficient and Effective November 16, 2012 I see a tension between efficiency and effectiveness directly related to economic control. Centrally controlled resources are (potentially) efficiently distributed through economies of scale and coordination of planning. Locally controlled resources are (potentially) effectively distributed through relevant targeting and proximity. In the United States, our public and private systems tend to combine both centralized and decentralized economic control; however, I am not sure it is done in a way that maximizes both efficiency and effectiveness. Driven by both selective political agendas and individualism, our system of resource allocation simultaneously leads to waste and accumulation as well as human and environmental degradation. How can we better provoke and manage the flow of resources so that there is efficiency, effectiveness, and justice?


The Unlearning Organization November 19, 2012 In the unlearning organization, everything we have ever taken for granted is questioned, dissected, or discarded. Our knowledge, assumptions, and beliefs are in motion. In the unlearning organization, there are no bad ideas and mistakes are inevitable. There is continual creativity, ingenuity, and risk. In the unlearning organization, there is limitless possibility. People are liberated from the past, from the future, and most importantly from themselves. In the unlearning organization, satisfaction and complacency are unknown. The ultimate goal is to fully experience the joy of each moment as it unfolds.


A dar, not yet a DAR November 23, 2012 Despite being heavily recruited by my vulture like (but very sweet) relatives for the past 15+ years, I have declined an open invitation to join the Daughters of the American Revolution. My resistance to joining, along with repeated requests, had led me to evaluate the reasons that compel me to join an organization. Before investing my time and money in a community group, I ask myself the following questions:

Does this organization align with my values? Does this organization align with my personal priorities? Will participating in this organization help me accomplish something that is

important to me? Will I enjoy the company of other members/volunteers? Is the organization ethical and does it act with integrity? Will I be able to make a meaningful contribution? Will I be able to change policies, processes, etc. within the organization that

do not fully resonate with what I know to be true and good? Will participation contribute to my legacy?

It is that last question, one that has only come up for me since reaching a certain age, that is leading me in the direction of more seriously considering joining. The DAR is very important to my family, and it is a part of who I am. For now, I am keeping my options open.


My Coloring Book November 26, 2012 Professors have often criticized my writing by reminding me that I need to unpack ideas. My writing tends to be dense, leading to grey, shaded areas that await discovery and illumination. I like to think of this blog as my coloring book. I present a framework of ideas which you can color in using the palette of your thoughts, experience, and emotions. Each rendering is unique, yet united by a common understanding. Your picture adds new dimension to mine. I welcome your questions to clarify what I mean, but I also love to see your interpretations and extrapolations of the ideas in The Activist's Muse. I would like this blog to be a dialogue resulting in a community mural of progressive social change.


Leader: Sun or Nebula? November 28, 2012 When I left my job as an executive director, I went from being a sun -- albeit of a microscopic universe --- to a nebula. I thought I would feel liberated, but I felt a bit lost at times. Through entrepreneurship, I am loving the freedom of creative expression and learning to honor the accompanying mysteries and complexities of life. In my nebula heart, all things are possible.


The New, New Counterculture November 30, 2012 The new, new counterculture is shifting our focus From dialectical to cooperative From material to spiritual From critical to creative From confrontational to compassionate The new, new counterculture does not forget the old ways, but rather incorporates them into a greater whole.


Playing Smart December 3, 2012 When I was about 12 years old, I wrongly, but subconsciously, believed it was socially advantageous to minimize my intellectual capacities. This led to abhorrent behavior that drifted away along with adolescence. Yet, a part of me has retained this damaging belief about myself and the world: that it is somehow better to be less than I truly am and that it serves the world to downplay my unique abilities. While this makes little intellectual sense, this myth has manifested itself in my daily interactions with others, primarily in work situations (which ironically is how I spend most of my time). With some space and reflection, I realize that I have dumbed and numbed myself down so much, little by little, in order to survive that I feel as though a big part of me has died. It has become a bad habit as well as a negative way of being in the world. For the past five months, detached from official external organizational affiliations, I have allowed my true self to start emerging. I have felt overwhelmingly isolated, rejected, and misunderstood. Yet, I also realize that this resistance is an important part of my growth. From now on, Im playing smart (hence the new Fruition Coalition mottoes Wisdom is Bliss and Radiate Brilliance) regardless of the outcome. I am going to enjoy the process of being me.


Unfreeze and Release December 4, 2012 One of my favorite social scientists, Kurt Lewin, developed a theory about the process of change. He suggested that change consists of three steps: unfreezing, changing, and refreezing the new social understanding or condition. I think social change work is the process of intentionally and continually unfreezing ideas, assumptions, myths, and practices through inquiry and dialogue and then letting go to see what naturally unfolds. Through this process, we can cooperatively live open-ended lives with no right answers. No dogma, no power struggles, just peace.


Whisper December 7, 2012 In the mid -1970s there was a perfume commercial in which a woman said, if you want to get someone's attentionwhisper. It always woke me up out of a sound sleep. The fragrant mist of mystery surrounding stillness is alluring. And it is unusual today, where in your face tactics seem to overwhelm the media landscape. Gentle whispers are all around us, but are too often drowned out by noise. Yet, it is from within this clutter that silent space is most needed, most comforting, and most welcome. Sometimes my absurd fear of being irrelevant makes me think it is best to scream when my true nature is to whisper. I will continue to whisper, and I hope it will someday lead to someone waking up or to something shaking up in the most peaceful way possible.


From Contingency to Consistency December 10, 2012 Too often, I find myself making decisions based on conditions. This includes waiting for a when to happen before taking action and wondering what if something goes wrong. When I become aware of this, I recognize that living in this way negatively distorts the sense of wonder and possibility in my life. It also leads to limited expression of my needs. Rather than making decisions based on conditions, I think it is more effective to consistently integrate my truest, deepest desires into my every thought and action. By doing so, I am living in alignment with my life purpose rather than reacting with fear.


Interactive Taxonomy of Capital December 11, 2012 I love Karl Marx and his work has greatly influenced my political views and my understanding of the world. As I mature, I find myself becoming more uncomfortable with his emphasis on materialism. While the material conditions of our lives impact us in innumerable ways, so do other forms of capital such as intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual capital. Each type of capital is critical to our well-being on its own; they also interact and build upon each other. They are interdependent to some extent, though not necessarily in a linear or measurable way. When any one of these is deficient, the others lose relevance. Material capital, which is the emphasis of much political thought and organizing, is perhaps the least important of these five forms of capital. While the other forms of capital are often neglected or overlooked, sometimes implicit or explicit assumptions are made about their existence and importance. In creating a taxonomy of capital, I am not sure how I would order the other four types of capital. It seems that relationships are important, but they are based on intellect and emotions. Perhaps it isn't important or helpful to place them in order, but rather to recognize that they are all present. And maybe it is inappropriate to use a capitalist word to describe these other resources. What do you think?


Intersecting Visions December 14, 2012 Organizations mediate the relationship between our vision for our life and our vision for the world. Through organizations, we can both realize our purpose and change social conditions. Too often, organizations focus on the later at the expense of the former. In other words, the twin visions of the founders or current leadership does not intentionally include space for that of the majority of people who invest their time in the work of the organization. It is assumed that recruiting processes ensure alignment of vision; however, this does not allow for the organic emergence of new possibilities based on the passion and purpose of everyone who is involved. This was brought to light in a recent training and development class that I took as part of my Ph.D. studies. The authors of our textbook emphasized the achievement of organizational objectives but overlooked the engagement of employees and nurturing their gifts. Organizations, in this view, are more mechanistic than humanistic. Yet, it is the people who perform the work of the organization that are most critical to its success. Employees are not means to an end, they are people to be loved and celebrated.


Laws Were Made to be Broken December 17, 2014 Many spiritual teachers, and social constructionists, contend that we create the world around us through the language we use, whether or not it is intentional, in both our minds and in our conversations. In accordance with this principle, we gain weight when we obsess over how overweight we are and we lose lovers when we jealously obsess over other potential mates. Of the Ten Commandments, 80% of them tell us what not to do (I am not sure of the percentage of the 613 commandments but if you have this information please share!). They are negatively stated; for example, do not kill and do not commit adultery. Every law of which I am aware is similarly structured: they forbid specific actions. It doesnt seem to be working, because people break laws every minute of every day. Do negative laws beget negative acts? What if laws articulated what we should do rather than what we shouldnt do? Rather than do not kill, we would say honor the sanctity of all people and living things. Wow. What kind of world would be possible if our formal and informal laws were based on doing right rather than not doing wrong? I can think of two reasons why our laws are negatively stated: tradition and efficiency. Are these our most important values as a society? While we may not have the authority to immediately transform all laws to the affirmative, we can make changes through our everyday experiences. In our own lives, we can make decisions based on possibility rather than limitation. In our families, we can create shared understandings that dignify rather than criminalize. In our organizations, we can develop policies that truly reflect our values. Doing so might transform our lives and our world.


Why Do You Ask? December 18, 2012 Questions are a powerful means of exploration and discovery. When you ask or are asked a question, think about its purpose. Is it to...

express sincere curiosity? make irrelevant conversation? make a statement (rhetorical)? expose others' ignorance? pry into the personal lives of others?

How can we be more intentional about the questions we ask to build stronger relationships, organizations, and communities?


Front Porch Communities December 19, 2012 Some of my best childhood memories took place in the front porch of our home on Congress Street-- listening to echoes of concerts at the Allentown Fairgrounds, gossiping with friends in our pajamas during sleepover parties, drinking sun spoiled milk on a lazy summer day. When I moved back to the Lehigh Valley in 2004, I noticed a deterioration in our communitys front porch culture. I attended an NAACP dinner downtown soon after relocating back home. When driving home through the summer streets that evening, I noticed vacant porches. Most people had become afraid to be outside at night. In my current home, I rarely sit on the front porch for two reasons. The first is relatively benign; as an adult juggling multiple responsibilities, it can be difficult to find the time for such leisure. The second is more malignant: my mother and I have been harassed by one of our neighbors and we no longer feel physically or emotionally safe on our porch and in our yard. For the past several years, I too have felt trapped in my home. I no longer enjoy gardening or outside home maintenance as I feel somewhat threatened whenever I am outside my home. I usually do these chores during dinner time when I am likely to be unbothered. We quickly walk from the car to the house whenever this neighbor is out and about and he usually is. Perhaps we are too hypersensitive, but we sometimes feel like prisoners in our own homes. In the past, I have enjoyed walking through my neighborhood often with Cookie in his cat strollerwhen the weather is pleasant. This summer, I did not walk very often due to the crime in my neighborhood and my perhaps somewhat irrational fear of my next door neighbor. The day after Thanksgiving, the weather was just lovely and I decided to take a walk. At quarter to six that afternoon, a man was shot and killed about two blocks from my house. In the middle of that night, more mysterious activity unfolded just in front of my house. I feel disconnected and detached from my community in many ways. I am not from Easton and have never felt as though I belong here. I feel great animosity from my neighbors. I feel unsafe and insecure. Like those front porches in Allentown during the summer of 2004, I feel vacant. I long for a sense of home and a feeling of community.


Exposure Composure December 21, 2012 In the community where I live, there has surprisingly been a huge controversy over students reading Nickel and Dimed in their high school English class. The conservative parents leading this initiative feel that it is teaching students how to cheat on drug tests, that it is anti-Christian, and that it promotes a progressive political agenda. For my seventh grade Sunday School class, I was given an assignment to write a book report about Mein Kamph. I borrowed the book from my synagogues library. While I found the book repulsive and terrifying, it was important for me to have the opportunity to confront and attempt to understand all of history. I feel very grateful that I was nurtured by adults at my synagogue, many of whom were politically conservative, who believed that I and other children had the capacity to understand complex topics and to distinguish between right and wrong. Being exposed to the full human experience helps us to better understand who we are and our place in the world both individually and as part of a community.


Censored! December 24, 2012 The first time I published an article in an academic journal, I worked with an editor whose political views diverged from mine. He used his power as an editor to attempt to censor my thoughts by excluding sections of my work and suggesting rewrites that changed the meaning of what I wrote. I begrudgingly compromised in some areas and firmly stood my ground in others. It was an ongoing battle with several rounds of edits on each side. The topic of my paper was something that to me seems very politically benign, almost common sense. My analysis was balanced, thorough, and fact-based. Yet, it provoked a power struggle that led to a diminished message. I think it would have been more constructive to include my fully flushed out thoughts as a beginning point for dialogue or even debate. I welcome challenge. It helps me to affirm my core while expanding my range of knowledge and understanding. Editors should challenge, not censor. I am currently working with the best team of editors at least from the perspective of this writer as an artist. They have yet to suggest content changes, only stylistic (capitalization, abbreviations) adjustments. It is wonderfully unique for my voice to feel trusted and valued.


The Othering of Me December 25, 2012 As a Jewish student at an evangelical Christian university, I have learned a lot about myself. This experience has both strengthened my Jewish identity and increased my understanding of what it truly means to be part of the outgroup. During my first residency in September 2010, I sat in my car and cried during lunch. It took all of the strength I had not to drive home, abandoning my dream of pursuing a doctorate. Because of one bad experience that day, I continued to interpret every experience in the program through the lens of being a Jew rather than as a complete multidimensional person. Being the outsider heightened my sensitivity, and I had difficulty bonding with other students in the program. Today, I consider many of the students in my cohort and the program overall as some of my most valued friends and colleagues. I hope that we have learned from each other over the years, and that we continue to see differences as opportunities to learn about each other and ourselves. To them, and to you, I wish a Merry Christmas.


Feedback or Critique? December 28, 2012 Feedback represents audience response. It consists of statements through which participants or spectators take responsibility for their thoughts, feelings, and actions. Critique, on the other hand, consists of complaints about comparisons with unmet expectations. Through critique, participants or spectators assert their power over the artist or teacher by instructing her or him regarding what to do differently. Different actions require adjusted thoughts and feelings. I love feedback. I despise critique. I have tried and tried to accept the advice that constructive criticism is helpful. I do not find it so. In fact, one negative critique of my first Fruition Academy class broke me down for four days. Four precious days of my life were wasted because I allowed someone else to have power over me. While I am open to accepting constructive criticism when I am in the role of apprentice or student or when it is specifically solicited, I otherwise find it distracting, demoralizing, and dehumanizing. If I were to attempt to accept such critique and to allow it to change me, I would diverge from my true self both in concept and in countenance.

The Very Best of The A

The Best of the Activist's Muse

Documents

activists muse

dreistadt page

perceived success

achievement of success

immense hard work

myopic view of success

progressive community

political change