Building at the Speed of Trust

 

Principles of Emergent Strategy by adrienne maree brown

Small is good, small is all. (The large is a reflection of the small.)
The foundations of everything lie in the smallest actions & decisions—master those to shape the whole.

Change is constant. (Be like water.)

Embrace shifts & transitions as part of life’s natural rhythm, adapting fluidly instead of resisting.

There is always enough time for the right work.

When you align with purpose, the necessary time & energy appear to bring it to life.

There is a conversation in the room that only these people at this moment can have. Find it.

There’s a potential exchange that only exists here & now—listen for it & lean in.

Never a failure, always a lesson.

Each stumble is a step toward greater understanding, shaping what comes next.

Trust the People. (If you trust the people, they become trustworthy.)

People rise to meet your belief in them; extending trust empowers growth & collaboration.

Move at the speed of trust. Focus on critical connections more than critical mass — build the resilience by building the relationships.

Relationships built with care & connection pave the way for meaningful, steady momentum.

Less prep, more presence.

Beyond meticulous planning, showing up fully engaged amplifies the impact.

What you pay attention to grows.

Wherever you direct your focus, growth will follow; nurture what truly matters.

- from Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds by adrienne maree brown

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A few folks have asked us what the focus of this collective is, & we believe it will grow & shift alongside us & the world, but at its heart, it's about collaborative solidarity, a way of working together that prioritizes the good of the group while respecting each person's interests & agency.

I know we're all feeling the urgency to build community. So much of what we do in this world operates at high speed, driven by extractive, exploitative, & relentless capitalism. We want to gather people to build meaningful relationships where we can be vulnerable with one another, moving forward at the speed of trust. This group will not have a board or committee. It is flat, with no hierarchy or centralized authority, ensuring everyone has an equal voice in shaping our direction. It is also autonomous, meaning it governs itself independently, driven by its members' collective values & decisions. For this approach to succeed, the core group of folks needs to be strong together, forming a solid foundation to sustain the work required for mutual aid & collective liberation, & hold space for one another as we navigate the challenges of building something new together.

Bell Hooks wrote, "To truly love, we must learn to mix various ingredients, care, affection, recognition, respect, commitment, & trust, as well as honest & open communication." We value open communication that feels safe & approachable, & that encourages trust instead of fear & intimidation. We envision coming together, sharing our unique gifts & projects, & realizing just how much of an impact we can create when we work collectively. Individualism is killing us & the planet, a better world is possible. It has to be because the alternative is grim.

These movements have been in motion for much longer than we've been alive by BIPOC. We are just joining in & want to continue to learn & honor their work. Some folks who inspire us are adrienne maree brown, Mariame Kaba, Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Grace Lee Boggs, Audre Lorde, & Ijeoma Oluo. While we are from a small town area: "Small is good, small is all. (The large is a reflection of the small.)" We believe in starting where we are & creating what we want to see in the world by building it successfully within our communities first. That doesn't mean we have to play small, though. We want to speak truth to power in numbers while staying in right relationship with one another & the Earth. The late Toni Cade Bambara, a Civil Rights activist & artist-activist based in Philadelphia, said, "Make the revolution irresistible," & that's the goal, creating spaces where art, joy, & pleasure activism can build lasting bonds & support transformative change. 💛