November 25, 2024
Our network of RoadMap consultants gathered so that we could hold space together after the election. It was a powerful and moving hour of reflection, vulnerability, anger, collective resilience, and interdependence.
No one was shocked by the outcome of the election given the history of racialized capitalism and Indigenous genocide in this country. And, yet, the depth of the impact that these next four years will have on our people was heavy on everyone’s hearts and minds. In the words of our ancestor Grace Lee Boggs, our network knows “what time it is on the clock of the world.”
Network members shared how they were holding up personally. They also had the opportunity to share how their clients were holding up. We deeply explored why it’s important for staff and board teams to create spaciousness for the range of emotions, realities, and threats folks are facing, as well as for the strategic work that needs to be done to gear up for the fierce fights ahead.
We know there will be chaos, displacement, and profound threats. Not all of us will survive. These times require us to remain focused, interdependent, and principled in our internal struggles and disagreements with one another. We also have to stay grounded in the histories, legacies, and wisdom of movements and ancestors who came before us. We are the beneficiaries of “roadmaps” full of struggles waged and won.
My time together with the RoadMap network stayed with me all week. In fact, it not only stayed with me—it fortified me.
I learned throughout this call that some network members had plugged into other movement spaces to reflect and fortify while others had not had the opportunity to do so. They had been too busy holding space for/with clients. Yet, every person on the call was drawn to some reflection time with their RoadMap community even if they had other opportunities to connect. What this tells me is that our work to create interdependent and trusting networks is evergreen. We need to be doing this work in the “good times” and we especially need to be building community to sustain us when the going gets tough.
As we move towards January 20th and beyond, our RoadMap network will continue to convene and support one another so that we can be unwavering in our work to accompany the movement organizations we love. In fact, our plan moving forward is to double down on our collective commitment to flanking movement organizations and leaders with a deep bench of skills and strategy. We not only want to be there for one another but we want to be there for you.
Reach out. Tell us what you need to strengthen and fortify your organization, your leadership, or your foundation for the times ahead. Let us work together to build the world of liberation and justice we collectively long for.
Lisa Weiner-Mahfuz, Executive Director