Activists get together all the time, but few meetings focus simply on what it’s like to be an activist, the experiences we share across all our diverse issues, movements, ideologies and constituencies, living in the belly of the beast we’re struggling to transform—and how this transforms us. An Activist Culture Salon provides an opportunity to share triumphs, conflicts, complaints, challenges and pleasures of living life as an activist, to help strengthen our community through greater understanding of our shared experience.
Why is this important, when there are so many urgent issues to deal with? You might call it collective self care. It is well known that self care of all kinds is tough for activists, who are focused on taking care of others and of the world in general. As things get tougher for us, and we come under increasing pressure and attack as activists, it becomes critical for our self preservation as a community, and for the health of our movements, to counter negative messages in the dominant culture and other forms of marginalization, increase our understanding of our culture, strengthen our connections, and increase our sense of being at home in the world we strive to transform.
The circle or salon format provides regularity and spontaneity, with opportunities to share on a variety of topics, eat and engage in friendly, supportive and incisive looks at our shared reality.
, for better understanding, unity, solidarity and for rituals and artistic activity which illuminate and affirm our culture, as well as to exchange ideas, practical knowledge, mutual aid and solidarity.
You are somebody who devotes your life or a good portion of your life, time, energy and psyche to making a just and democratic world, whether in a neighborhood, on a larger palette, or some of both. You go to meetings, marches, hearings and conferences. You write letters, sign petitions, attend or give teach-ins, make puppets, sing protest songs. Maybe you write books or poetry or do graphics for publications. You organize with unaccompanied immigrant minors, refugees from torture, incarcerated people, people whose faucets run with sludge or water that catches on fire. Maybe you are or have been among the folks directly facing these challenges, or maybe you decided to step up for other reasons.
Across the amazing diversity of people, issues, constituencies, modes of action and so many other aspects of our tribe of activists, we have many commonalities of principle, culture, language, outlook, social relations, expectations, and ways of taking on the world. Like all peoples and groups, especially those targeted by oppression and repression, we need to recognize and value our culture. The more we and others do so, the better we are understood and the more enjoyable and sustainable our lives can be. Not to mention increasing the effectiveness of our activism.
Life in the Liberated Zone invites folks from our tribe (which embraces everyone who devotes some of their life’s work, energy and passion to bringing justice to the world) to gather and explore our culture together.
on alternate Sunday afternoons. Yes, we know, any day and any time will conflict with many things for us, because we’re active by definition, always out doing stuff. But it is worth it to carve out time to sit and reflect on what it’s like to be an activist, and how living in the belly of the beast we’re struggling to transform transforms us.
Here is the general format of our get-togethers:
• Schmooze and nibbles (brief).
• Gather and intro, with brief summary of what we mean by life in the liberated zone.
• Culture—a song, poem, book, food, clothes, other manifestation of the culture of Our Tribe
• Who’s here? Share something of yourself, activity, and why you came.
• Exploration Topic on an aspect of the lives, times, challenges and adventures of being part of Our Tribe. For instance, “joys and challenges of activists raising children.” Or, “surviving financially as a revolutionary.” Or, what does it mean to “be the change you want to see?” Or, “living in community, share your experiences, observations, rewards and drawbacks.” Etc. This exploration is the heart of our gathering, and will be a combination of talk or teach-in, discussion. It could be an author or story-teller talking about activist culture, or a participatory activity such as interviewing each other, or doing creative writing, story-telling, drawing or poetry… using diverse means to allow folks with different strengths and inclinations to participate in ways that suit them best.
• Another brief culture break—a song or even a dance, to get the blood flowing after the main activity above.
• Solidarity. Each participant shares an achievement, a current challenge, a hardship, asking for solidarity of whatever variety might be needed from those present. Networking and follow-up encouraged.
• Closing culture offering.
• More schmooze and nibble.
• Clean up!