5 Things Friday
This Is The Moment We’ve Been Waiting For.
Words and image by Dr. Akilah Cadet of Change Cadet and REP CO.
I don't know about you, but major tears of relief and joy were shed yesterday.
And while that moment was well earned after the last 4 horrendous years, I believe yesterday was actually the sounding of the starting gun. It was actually this moment that REP CO and 5 Things Friday were created for: The moment folks (especially white folks) suddenly have a whole lot less to be enraged about; the moment the injustices aren't front page anymore; the moment we are able to retreat to the status quo without the constant alarm bells going off reminding us of all that still needs fixing. But there is SO much that still needs fixing.
This is when sticking with the work matters more than ever. Here are your 5 Things.
SEND THIS. This one is for my Bay Area folks. On January 20th, during an Anti-Racism lesson facilitated by Lowell High School in San Francisco, students were asked to share their thoughts and ideas via a public platform called Padlet. Rather than follow instructions to share positive, constructive ideas, students posted pornographic images, racial slurs, and other hateful comments. Many Lowell students waited eagerly, hoping that the administration would issue a statement acknowledging the racism and anti-Blackness so rooted in the culture at Lowell. Instead, they were met with formulaic, copy-and-pasted email responses. Send this email to Mayor Breed, Supervisor Malgar, and Superintendent Matthews demanding real action and accountability from the school now.
CALL IN YOUR MAN. Anyone who watched the attack on the Capitol on January 6 couldn't miss who made up the majority of the mob: white men. And while the white men in your life may not be on the verge of joining an alt-right hate group, they are most likely to be targeted for recruitment (and they are on a recruitment frenzy), and least likely to be actively advocating against white supremacy. This Sunday, January 24th, bring the white men in your life to White Men Rejecting Violence & Hate, a mass meeting led by SURJ and Organizing White Men for Collective Liberation (OWMCL) to discuss patriarchy, whiteness, and how we organize white men into our movements for justice and away from the Right. Register here.
WELCOME HOME. Michael Thompson served 26 years in prison just for selling weed, which is now legal in the state of Michigan. It took thousands of us making phone calls and sending messages and so many partners and friends advocating for his freedom before Michigan commuted his sentence. In just six days, Michael will finally be free. Re-entering society after more than two decades behind bars will be challenging to say the least, so a few words from you could help make his transition a little warmer. Write a quick note to welcome Michael home here.
SHARE THIS. Or sign up yourself if you're new to social impact or non-profit work but passionate about making a difference. The San Francisco Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2021-2023 Multicultural Fellowship Program cohort. The fellowship is a transformational two-year, full-time program that offers opportunities to enhance skills in grantmaking, stakeholder convening, strategy development, research, and project management, all while navigating the civic, political, and economic contexts of the Bay Area to support the foundation's equity agenda.
READ THIS. If you don't know about the incredible, important work being done at Dream Youth Clinics at Roots Community Health Center, now is the time to change that. Dr. Aisha Mays heads up a program that serves Oakland’s most vulnerable adolescents dealing with the repercussions of homelessness, foster care, sex trafficking, and the juvenile justice system. The Clinic incorporates visual art, music, technology, and now, gardening, thanks to a brand new community green space. Read the inspiring story right here. Then be sure to click that button at the bottom of the story to donate and support the transformational work being done there.