**Crosspost from GD to AA Group**

[OneGrassRoot]

Last edited Sun May 1, 2016, 04:38 PM - Edit history (1)

I just created a long post in GD. The TL;DR version of the background info in that post is this:

Anyone resonate with the Coalition for Good and/or Wishadoo! and want to be involved in some capacity? If so, you can contact me here: http://coalitionforgood.org/contact/ -- or, if you're a DU member still (there are always a lot of readers-only), please message me.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027794928


The reason I'm creating a separate post here in the AA forum is two-fold:

1. My fairly recent realization about the lack of diversity and inclusivity in many of the movements and organizations I follow.

2. Learning about the history of the cooperative movement in the US being steeped in the AA community, out of sheer necessity, the same necessity that is leading to segregated ventures (businesses, projects, organizations) today. It was this research which has led me to "rebrand" Wishadoo! as a Mutual Benefit Community, a h/t to the mutual aid societies of old when they were truly about community.

Here is part of the GD post

I stepped back to see the bigger picture as it concerns the movements and projects and organizations I resonate with and long to collaborate with and support, and saw what was to me an appalling lack of diversity. In many key areas, segregation has gotten WORSE over the last 8 years, not better. (The "new economy" movement is a case in point.) In fact, there's a growing trend in some circles to negate the need for diversity and inclusivity -- similar to climate change deniers. Inclusivity is hard, so it's being dismissed as being necessary when something is in the early stages. "We'll deal with that later. We need to get this off the ground now."

It is my very strong belief that, without diversity, nothing can be built on a foundation of true integrity and thus cannot be sustained, nor will any project or venture be meaningful in the long term. Without diversity the same inequality in power dynamics continue.

The founding members of the Coalition must reflect diversity, and the issues of diversity and justice and equity must be kept front and center. Perhaps one of the features at the Coalition site could be a tool to help member organizations move toward genuine diversity. We can show there is Unity in Diversity.

(Please see the Othering-Free Zone)

And, yeah, trying to cultivate meaningful relationships with various marginalized groups is really hard, especially because I'm not a public figure. I can imagine people may think, "Why should we trust her?"

The only thing I can say to that is that I'm grateful to have earned the trust of people who have followed me for these last nine years, and see what I'm about. I completely understand the lack of trust and don't judge it nor blame anyone who is skeptical; I'm just trying my best to be worthy of everyone's trust.

If I can't gather a diverse group of founding members/businesses/organizations, I don't intend to move forward. It is THAT important.

The Coalition is for people who care ABOUT issues which include but are not limited to the following, in no particular order:

Healing and transformation; climate change; ‪#?BlackLivesMatter‬; Syrian & other refugees; marriage equality; LGBTQ rights; immigration reform; ending all forms of oppression, exploitation and terrorism; the role of police officers, military personnel & veterans; civil disobedience; civil rights; workers’ rights; human rights; democracy; separation of Church & State; a living wage; rational gun control measures; animal rights; reproductive freedom; non-radical religious freedom; ending worship of money & profit; legalization of marijuana; universal healthcare; the right to quality education; environmental activism; No Othering; more caring institutions & systems; unity in diversity; cultural transformation; social, racial, economic, environmental justice, equity & transformation; disrupting apathy, reducing suffering, increasing joy; and the Common Good.

If anyone here may know of people or organizations/groups that may be interested in being part of the founding of the Coalition for Good, please share this info or point me in the right direction if you are so inclined.

I would post this in other groups but the Race & Ethnicity related groups don't have much activity, nor do some of the others involving marginalized groups in our society.

Thanks very much. I appreciate you reading this.




P.S. -- My feelings aren't going to be hurt in the slightest if no one acknowledges this. Just sayin'. Same for the post in GD.