I was (ironically) taking some time to reflect & collect my thoughts around the #PenpalsForProgress project when I learned about the terrorists violently storming the Capitol on Wednesday. It further has me reeling on recommitting and evolving my role in the realms of social justice & anti-racism work.

Last June, I used Deeper Iyer’s “Social Change Ecosystem Map” to help clarify the role I felt I could best mobilize into action. I’m grateful to have had several dynamic conversations w/ folx around this map & the various roles. a major personal takeaway was that though in several other settings I can identify as a “storyteller,” “guide” and “visionary,” I could not identify as such working in the spheres of anti-racism and social justice in 2020 (nor now 2021). but I could identify as a “builder” – someone who develops, organizes & implements ideas, practices, people + resources in service of a collective vision.

#PenpalsForProgress was created firmly rooted in knowing my role as a builder. I sent 104 snail mail starter kits to 52 sets of penpals spanning 49 cities in 21 states in an effort to share perspectives, advocate, learn together, and write + fight for justice via a reflective letter-writing practice.
Participants were expected to write 2 letters their penpals, 2 letters to elected officials (templates + contact info was provided). the goal was for these exchanges to happen during the peak of election season.

Though I’ve found excellent resources and inspiring activists to follow via IG, I’ve overall found this space to be unproductive when it comes to connecting on a deeper level in having the conversations that are desperately needed. And so it became even more important to create an opportunity for more meaningful one-on-one communications around social justice & political engagement.

It was lovely to learn some beautiful bonds were formed in this process, disappointing to hear some never got a letter back from their penpal, uplifting to find out people wrote to officials in office for the first time ever, fun knowing people sent everything from stickers, origami cranes, leaves, & dog photos, & awesome knowing people felt overall empowered to use their voice in a big way they hadn’t before. Yet I’m still hanging on to those who didn’t receive letters back w/ feelings. I know there are a multitude of reasons some people couldn’t write that does not reflect their care for progress in our country. but what it comes down to, and what I can’t stop thinking about is this larger theme of commitment.

How can we (white people) continue to commit to becoming stronger advocates for an America where we can create new systems & practices NOT centered on white supremacy?

How can we (white people) better commit to holding ourselves accountable?

How can we (white people) commit to evolving our roles so that our work is more actionable?

I’m going back to the social change ecosystem map to realign and recommit and hope you will too.