Greetings! Since the last AAG (At-A-Glance) shared in the fall/winter of 2019 (feels so long ago), ELN has been pivoting its practice to support families locally and abroad through various mediums and would like to take this opportunity to share them with you through this newly adopted format! Before we get into it... In addition to ELN's consistent focus around ways to engage this work, over the past couple of months, life as we've grown accustomed, continues to shift. If the impact of a global pandemic wasn't enough, racial and social injustices are also being experienced and felt in greater numbers. Global pandemic aside, the current challenges that we're experiencing have existed well before lockdown and ELN views this moment, though unfortunate, as a needed wake-up call.. As a Black woman and a business owner who centers BIPOC communities, ELN stands with our global BIPOC communities to disrupt this harmful cycle of racial injustice in all its forms. How this work is showing up has been simultaneously beautiful and heavy. People are and rightfully so...
The damaging and long-term ways racism continues to plague society in all it's forms, impacts everyone. Again, this impacts everyone and it's our individual and collective duty to do the work, however it's respectfully showing up for you. To my BIPOC communities, I love you. Your voices, bodies, and brilliance are valued and appreciated. For generations, we've been feed this belief that our voices and bodies only matter when it can commodified, nah. That we are no different than the pets people collect and control, nah. These current times are overflowingly with loss and overwhelm paired with a heaping of tired. If you are familiar with Fare of the Free Child by Akilah S Richards, her words on those levels of tired that I'm personally feeling along with many others is beautifully and perfectly expressed in episode Ep 174: Not That Kind of Tired. These Racist Patterns Ain’t Pullin’ Me Down. To our non-BIPOC people who are feeling nudged to deeply question and explore ways to pivot away from these painful practices, this work is a life-long commitment from the inside-out. A kind reminder Ally-ship does not mean you're a direct benefactor. It can, however, bring awareness to the areas and ideas in your life that have been unconsciously or consciously taken for granted. Life from the peripheral provides a vantage point that can only be fully understood empirically. The option to move oneself from the center is a privilege not a hardship. With that stated, check out ways ELN is centering community, connection, and awareness to support families and folks about this life through and beyond these times.
As a monthly sustainer, you assist ELN in walking their words in this work. To continue to provide resources and offerings that center BIPOC communities and voices through workshops, training, and programs for individuals and groups who are committed to this work, without the unfortunate barrier that finances often bring. Plus, perks are dope!
As always, if you have any questions, email maleka@eclecticlearningnetwork.com
With appreciation, Maleka
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |