Triggered by one word

I was triggered this morning when I heard the term 'activist shareholder'. "Cool", I thought, "these must be shareholders who create social justice, or invest in the green economy or indigenous world views". But no, an activist shareholder is someone who buys shares within a company to force change within that company. What a missed opportunity.

And what a version of misappropriation of such a wonderful word that is rooted in bringing about real political or social change. Think Rosa Parks, who "stood in the back of the bus no more" or Ghandi who gave up food for radical systemic change.

But it got me thinking: What would a "research activist" look like? And how have we misappropriated knowledge in some spaces? How are we honoring knowledge and uplifting it in spaces that really matter? Spaces that have the energy to create radical political or social change. And if large bodies of research want to reach more community spaces, is this a reciprocal arrangement? What research activism is being created when you engage with those communities?

So, I'm turning my early morning trigger into an inquiry for my own role here at Community Research. I don't think I'll be giving up my wonton soup at Aunty Mena's across the road, and I don't ride on buses much anymore, but I will always make good use of my triggers.

Noho ora mai i te knowledge whānau. Tēnā rawa atu koe.