By Dylan Ce
In the aftermath of the election, my close friend GG Irkalla and I felt it was important to launch a project that would provide a space for hope, strategy, and positive news on Facebook. Burn out is real -- and reactive, despairing politics from the political left is one of the causes. Instead of just reacting, we wanted to build a space where people could share and build holistic strategies for survival and resistance. We would share victories and positive news as well.
The result is a Facebook group called Radical Hope: Exploratory group, where a small seed group is building the foundations for a positive, left-wing "think tank for the future." Why a "think tank"? The right wing in the US has spent millions over many decades on think tanks and policy planning, resulting in a long-term strategy that produces many wins. Meanwhile, the left has often used its foundation monies to patch up holes in the social safety net. As a result, we see a very reactive, not proactive, left. We believe this contributes to not only losses politically but also the loss of hope.
For me, self care today should also be proactive, and not just reactive. Crafting positive, exciting visions for the future is part of that proactive self-care.
If you'd like to be part of the Radical Hope seed group, find us on Facebook and send a request. You may also be interested in being part of the zine that generated the idea for Radical Hope, Up the Witchpunx, edited by GG. The next issue is called Radical Hope as well, and submissions and fundraising are ongoing. You can find Up the Witchpunx online at www.upthewitchpunx.com and at upthewitchpunx.tumblr.com.