#local organizing

[direct-actions]

It starts with wearing a mask

We cannot build community if we're not masking.

We cannot do mutual aid if we're not masking.

We cannot support the most vulnerable people in our communities if we refuse to do the bear minimum to protect each other.

Mask bans are here and more are coming. Now is the time to build a rock solid culture of masking. The more people are wearing masks the harder it is to pass something ridiculous like a mask ban. Masking needs to become normal and harmless.

So mask up. Buy masks for yourselves and the people closest to you.

Look up your local maskblocs that gather funds to buy masks in bulk and provide to events, orgs, and people who cant afford to buy them. Donate to them.

I buy my masks here: https://bonafidemasks.com/

Feel free to add more resources in reblogs.

[votolatino]

Angelica and her friends started a resistance group called "Rise And Organize" in Nov '16. Read more:  http://bit.ly/2qWkMUh #VLGoingLocal

[votolatino]

We go local by nourishing and strengthening our roots and paving a new way for local participation and involvement. Read Carina's story: http://bit.ly/2rQr73y #VLGoingLocal

[votolatino]

Mary Ibarra wants to see more women of color running for office. Find out what she has to say about local organizing! http://bit.ly/2oQQt3O 

[direct-actions]

We don't need to like each other we just need to care

A friend of mine said something that I have been repeating in conversation over and over since then.

I am very generous with the word friend. We don't have to like each other, we just have to care about each other.

They also said that not trying to control the other person's opinions or convictions was a key to being able to have real conversations and develop those relationships.

I think in our hurry to debate and try to bring people over to our side, we forget that care is a pre-requisite for people to listen. We are even taught to disregard the opinions of people we don't care about or of people who don't care about us -- and for good reason. So why would we expect strangers to be convinced by our words when we've done nothing to show we care about them as people? That is no way to build relationships or community, we will only end up more isolated.

The way I picture this in my head is this: Even if my neighbor and I didn't agree on many things and didn't even like each other, if we had spent time together, shared meals together, and supported each other in any way, they would be affected if something were to happen to me. They would care.

If we are going to build or grow anything, we will have to focus on care instead of like.