Ashe

Settling in home after the People's Climate March. Closing this chapter of the Journey.

Appreciation Circle

The Beginging of the End

Keeping It Real Honest

Nia

Bzzzzzz

A Practice in Directness

Welcome to Missouri

After a morning where I got 8 hours of sleep, a chance to connect with Michael, and time to hang out not work (all great), I ended up getting detained by the police for doing street theater/chalking! Getting detained always sucks! There's full video coming, and I'm fine and healthy -- Kim is awesome as support, I'm eating chocolate and about to take an epsom salts bath. But it was definite racial profiling. And as Trevor (the friend who's hosting us) said, "Welcome to Missouri."

In Jennings

For those wondering about where's the music been. Here's playlist we built together last night. I cried, laughed, and danced through it and love what folks shared "In Jennings."

I often use a tool I call a Music Intro when starting off conversations about race where folks each have to bring a song that speaks to/resonates/represents/expresses their race/ethnicity. It doesn't have to be all encompassing, but it does need to be a true attempt. Folks tend to take this on and when they get together we get to dive deeper fast. Last night, when group of us played DJ, song by song in two rounds. We went much deeper and this playlist helped guide the experience.

I'm Gonna Sing. . . And Conflict

A Very Me Moment

Day 9: Dinner with Kim

Kim (up from Houston) and I are both here from Training for Change and have been working together regularly. Both of us have been recording reflections, and now we're staying in the same place we decided to do one together....And yes, we finished the rest of that meal soon as the video recorder stopped. Can't waste a perfectly good bowl of fries.

Back On The Horse

The BBQ - Day 6

Day 5

No long post tonight. The quick was found more organizers, got a chance to support some facilitators, reminding me of how great it is to train folks by doing things alongside. And we found the spreadsheet of volunteers!! Also, Kim is fantastic. So glad to have a teammate. She helps me ground, reflect, and focus. Getting to tag team really helps spread out the supportive energy. Tucking in early tonight.

Here's the song folks here are calling the "we are the world" of this generation. Feeling true in many ways.

Day 4: A conversation with Irna

Arrival

Transition

The Beginning

Following the death of Michael Brown, so much has happened. For much of it I was not a part. My main role, beside acknowledging the tragedy that seems so routine to me, was sending out notes about successful people-powered movements to friends who seemed to be drowning the the media flurry and honest sadness that comes from this being so routine.  

My brain had no interest in going to Ferguson, MO, but after seeing some folks of faith on the ground, something hit me in my gut and I was left with the question, "Am I supposed to go to Ferguson?" After first avoiding the question, I was surprised to receive an call to support the work on the ground. The process of discern whether to go, created space for me to build a support team along with a network of folks providing assistance. I leave on Tuesday, and will keep a video blog during this Journey. Thanks for being witness and a part.