Progress Isn't linear

In January of 2016, I began a post called, "On Star Wars, Hamilton and Embracing a New America." It was supposed to be about how much I appreciate seeing myself reflected in media lately. It included references to the new Mad Max, the new Star Wars, the new telling of the story of America through Hamilton, and the celebration of Eva Longoria and America Ferrera at the Golden Globes as the new Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. I felt so empowered, so much more a part of the fabric of our country than I ever had before. What a difference a year makes. This month's election makes the demographics that felt newly centered a year ago feel more marginalized than ever in my lifetime. We have to speak up just to declare that we will not tolerate hate. But looking back on this draft post reminds me to stay hopeful. We cannot rest in this fight for inclusion, equity, and liberation. As Ella Baker says, "We who believe in freedom cannot rest!"

Reframing Thanksgiving

• When I set up one of my online dating profiles, it asked what were the three things for which I am most grateful. I wrote:
• Having work that I enjoy and I know makes a differences
• Having friends who bring me joy and on whom I can count
• Having lots of love in my life

I would add to that list today that I am grateful for an empowering education. I am grateful to be surrounded by people who inspire me. I am grateful to have the courage of my convictions and opportunities to speak up and stand up. 

This year, given what is happening in Standing Rock, we cannot normalize Thanksgiving. It is appropriate to honor family and gratitude, but it is important to also honor the indigenous.  We owe it to them. Here's what I'm using to guide my action:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/help-standing-rock-sioux-dakota-access-pipeline_us_583480c9e4b000af95eca013

May Thanksgiving be a reminder of the American values with which Hamilton inspired us to connect.

Today I mailed my thank you note to HRC

Dear Hillary,

Being your Wellesley sister is one of the great joys of my life. You are a quintessential Wellesley woman with your intellect, confidence, and deep care for the world. I currently direct a social justice program at an all-girls school, and my students are primed to pick up the torch that you carried so powerfully. They, like you, are committed to love and justice and are willing to put in the hard work to build a more equitable world. In fact, when I was getting out the vote, I spoke often about how I support you because you have been working toward bring about the more loving and kind country that my students envision. Your work has been like a pebble creating a multitude of ripples beyond that which the eye can see. Your strength makes all of us just a little bit (and sometimes a whole lot) more brave. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

<3,

Lauren

Love Bullying

At work I have earned the nickname of the "Love Bully." What that captures is not only the fact that I love intensely, but also that I actively wield my love as a force (ideally for good). In the past couple days, I have deeply appreciated that so many of my friends have served as active allies, using their love as a balm for my pain. I believe in God as a spirit of love, and I have never felt more surrounded by that love. I have also been deeply inspired by my former students, true forces of nature for love, who shared messages such as:

• "I am trying very hard to focus on my energy on being motivated to continue fighting for what I know is right."
• "I will NEVER stop fighting against hate . . . and neither will you. We can do this!"
• "This troubling time in many of our lives gives us the unique opportunity to take this anger that we are feeling and instead be the positive change we wish to see in this world. Together we are very powerful, and we can never forget that."

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said that, "Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love." Let's unleash all of our love bully power onto the world. And let's keep giving each other the strength to do it. We rise up stronger together.

Where is our power?

I went to Debbie Allen's Freeze Frame . . . Stop the Madness show at the Kennedy Center this weekend. It offered a powerful glimpse into the pain and complexities of gun violence. Afterward there was a panel discussion on the power of the arts to be transformative. Here were some of the ideas that stuck with me:

Debbie Allen:
"Sandy Hook compelled me to use my gifts to do something."
We need to say "change is right now!"
John F. Kennedy would said that the artists are the truthtellers.
Creativity is spiritual, purposeful. It offers confidence, discipline, expression.
"We all have to move together." The abolition of slavery was accomplished by people of different backgrounds working together.
"Let's make this happen."

Phylicia Rashad:
Creative expression is important in human beings realizing their potential.
How can we guard against being scarred by the ignorance of others?
The greatest power we have is the moral authority of art and our voices.
The moral conscious is shaped in the form of a story.

Nicole Hockley from Sandy Hook Promise:
"My son is my butterfly."
Reach people at home. Policy will follow.
It's not just the NRA we have to fight against, it's our own apathy and complacency.

Whoopi Goldberg:
"If we don't, who will? It's just us, y'all."
How do we use technology to engage students in affecting policy?

Kayla Hicks from Education Fund to Stop Gun Violence:
The fund runs a program to turn education to action in schools
If policy doesn't change, everything stays the same.

Performers:
One 16 year old blew us all away when he talked about the similarity between Caesar Augustus, with his turning Rome into an empire, and Trump.

Students of color need to be taught a narrative in which they are more than an oppressed people, so that students can feel a sense of "You are somebody."
Everybody says somebody needs to do something about this. You are that somebody.