One pillar of RoadMap’s theory of change focuses on how we forge, maintain, and invest authentically in relationships. It’s one of the reasons I love working at RoadMap — in solidarity and care with our staff, powerful network of practitioners, and beloved movement clients.
Investing deeply and authentically in relationship building is also fundamental to the life that I lead outside of RoadMap. In fact, relationship building in a very local and immediate way is helping me not only find joy, but stay grounded and fired up for the fight of our lives in these times.
Even though the holy month of Pride has come to a close, co-organizing almost a week of local Pride events in my community in Maryland truly filled my cup. Amazingly, even though my community has a sizable queer and trans community, we have never really been able to sustain an annual Pride event or weekend. This year, a group of local queer and trans folks decided that enough was enough and our local “people-powered Pride” was organized in record time.
Though my spouse and I have been involved in our local community for over a decade, we have forged so many new and wonderful relationships through this organizing effort. The best part is that many queer and trans folks in our community are now starting to build or deepen meaningful connections. The text threads since our local Pride events have been fierce!
As we settle into the summer months and prepare for an intense Fall, I’m holding tightly to this latest organizing effort. In addition to the development of new relationships, a lot of powerful local movement-building conversations and plans are starting to emerge. These newfound connections can and must deepen our local efforts to organize around immigration, economic, environmental, gender and racial justice issues. I think we’re just getting started!
In the meantime, I hope all of you find joy, resilience, and connection in these summer months.
In solidarity,
Lisa Weiner-Mahfuz, Executive Director