Eric Garner ~ Deepening the Conversation around Police Violence ~ Dialogue to Action!

[Jason Harris]

Hello Friends. 

We've received an invitation (an offer) to hold our next meeting at a new group members home on the 21st. Exciting stuff! Location will be forthcoming.

ALL! --- Please feel free to comment, add and lend your voice and ideas to this email... It matters!

Weaving people IN >>> For folks who weren't able to attend our last circle up (our 3rd), summing it up is challenging. As to be expected, conversations centered on such intentionally broad and reaching questions like these: (Question for the 21st is at the bottom of page)

"""What do we see as the NEED to forward intentional, independent, community led work in Eric Garners death?""" 

"""Why aught WE take responsibility for DEEPENING the conversation around the killing of Eric Garner now?""" 

"""What do we see as our Purpose?""" 

and others (see last email) are hard to sum up. As a NEW group, we're intentionally creating space for inquiry, discussions of what we are noticing, searching different points of view within our/the group and inviting emergent and divergent thinking. Having the courage to go there, together! During our LAST meeting, one of our members created real pause (lol, a long actual pause) when she introduced a powerful suggestion, idea, concept - ASKING us ALL to find a willingness to "Challenge or Question our long held Systems of Belief in these discussions". A powerful statement (I thought) that seemed to shake people a little and set the tone for the discussion.  

We also discussed and acknowledged the idea that we're entering an expected "GROAN ZONE" (see attached photo). A term sourced and passed down by friends "in the work" (with us but not) who design and host large, potentially sensitive/tense thought provoking meetings.... Its said that entering the "GROAN ZONE" is a sign of growth where complexity, tense and sensitive issues are being raised, that a possible shift is happening and that its uncomfortable. The "GROAN ZONE" is used to describe "Where the Rubber Meets the Road" so to speak, where LONG HELD ideas, thoughts, beliefs and practices are held up to questioning, test, scrutiny, even criticism. Pushing ourselves with the hopes of making room for new, emergent and visionary thinking. Intersections around our beliefs about CLASS, RACE, POVERTY, VIOLENCE --- and --- POLITIC, SYSTEMS, ORGANIZATIONS and INSTITUTIONS are sensitive and challenging. Of course they are.

We will continue. We are activists. WE ALL felt we made great headway. Getting us closer to trust, growth, able to MOVE to ACTION together, wisely. There will be challenges...

QUESTION for the 21st:

"""What inherent dangers reside in allowing a small number of community leaders, advocacy groups and political leaders to name the issues, set community focus, course, direction and response to the killing of Eric Garner and Police Violence???""" 

Looking forward to being together again...

--

Jason M. Harris
347-393-7977 -c-

“I know there is strength in the differences between us. 

 I know there is comfort, where we overlap.”

― Ani DiFranco.