Upholding a shared desire for healing, dialogue, and opportunity for all

Dearest community:

Elections bring a unique energy, sparking a range of emotions—hope, disappointment, fear, and the relentless question: where do we go from here?? No matter which candidates you voted for, we feel the weight of these times, and see how deeply it affects each of us. This is a moment to hold close what we cherish, to remember the values and people that ground us, and to know that even when it feels overwhelming, we are far from powerless.

Across social media, many have mirrored sentiments that reflect the pain that is being felt, saying things like “unfriend me” or “unfollow if you voted for…” These posts highlight the divides that have deepened over time. In a polarized environment, it’s likely there are people in your orbit who may not agree with you—maybe even close friends or family. Expect to have those difficult conversations, and if needed, set boundaries about when and where you have those discussions, even with family.

A friend recently shared Rebecca Solnit’s words, and they resonated deeply: “They want you to feel powerless and to surrender and to let them trample everything, and you are not going to let them. You are not giving up, and neither am I. The fact that we cannot save everything does not mean we cannot save anything, and everything we can save is worth saving.”? Many feel grief and rage - and we honor both. This moment may call us to scream, to rest, or to grieve. And, it also calls us to gather our strength and our principles and remember that love and solidarity are more powerful than despair.

We are in an era where values that celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion are under attack. Some policies proposed by the incoming administration aim to undermine protections for LGBTQ individuals and roll back programs intended to create fair and inclusive spaces. Education, too, is under threat, as these efforts may reshape what is taught, how it’s funded, and who gets access. And, as Hannah Arendt cautioned, “The aim of totalitarian education has never been to instill convictions but to destroy the capacity to form any.”? This is why truth still matters, and our work includes protecting it in all the ways we can.

Many people have noted the real fear that they have been experiencing, rooted in narratives about job security, gender roles, and personal safety. It may have been hard for many to have empathized with, and instead we may have belittled their concerns, which only heightened the divide. We discuss this at VISIONS as the personal scripts we were taught or caught along the way: overt messages like “immigrants are stealing your jobs” or “trans folks are grooming your children” or more covert ones.? The outcome of this election is a stark reminder of the power of fear and anger, and yet it also reaffirms why our mission is more crucial than ever. We play the long game, as difficult as it often feels. VISIONS has been here for 40 years, and some of you have been in this struggle for decades longer. Presidents may come and go, but our values—justice, compassion, belonging—remain constant.

When it feels as though division, hate, misogyny, and racism are tightening their grip and celebrating diversity, equity, and inclusion are under attack, we must look to one another. Take care of yourself, and remember that taking care of others can be a part of that. When we come together to protect, uplift, and support each other, we become stronger. Solnit reminds us that, across history, people have carried on in the face of great adversity—organizing, building solidarity, writing poetry, creating art, and refusing to surrender their hope. We are woven together in a “single garment of destiny,” one that may be torn or stained, but one we continue to weave and mend. Our connections, care, and courage are the threads that make it whole.

As Maya Angelou encouraged us, I hope each of you can “continue to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness. Continue to put the mantle of your protection around the old, the defenseless, the least and the lonely. Continue to let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel.”? We are woven together in a “single garment of destiny,” and our connections, care, and courage are the threads that make it whole.

Many of us have been working toward mending structural inequities, including racism and misogyny, and trying to build a more inclusive world. Our work has not been derailed; instead, I feel it has made me more steadfast in our work and in the belief that VISIONS has a model that can support both the healing and the restructuring of our world, even as I confront the pain this moment may bring. I cannot help but also reflect on Malcolm X’s words that “progress is healing the wound (not merely pulling out the knife that stabbed you)…and they haven’t even begun to pull out the knife." Acknowledging the root causes of pain is just the first step toward liberation and toward any chance of restoring us as a society—and maybe it’s also an opportunity to reimagine what is possible and try something completely new. Either way, I am invigorated in my righteous rage and sadness about what our world looks like today.

We invite you to join us on Friday morning (10 am PT / 1 pm ET) for a peaceful post-election healing and processing circle, led by Dr. Haley Sparks, VISIONS’ Director of Mental Health. It’s a chance to come together, to share, to process, and to find strength in one another.?

VISIONS will continue, with your partnership, to foster compassion, justice, and belonging. We may not control every outcome, but in every choice, every gesture, every connection, we have the power to shape the world we hope for. May the work of your hands and the strength of your spirit remain strong (even if not steady) as we continue, together.

I want to also express so much gratitude to every one of you who showed up in various ways (especially over the past few years) - to every community organizer giving it all they got, every poll worker ensuring votes were counted with care and integrity,?everyone who stood in line (or mailed in) to ensure their voices were heard, the caretakers who held others' anxieties. Thank you. You showed up. And I am sure you will continue to show up, no matter how hard it feels to do so right now. I hope you can take time to grieve and mourn, as you need, first...and then we get to work.

The world needs VISIONS, Inc now more than ever. Together, we will uphold hope, strive for justice, and ensure equal opportunity for all.

In solidarity,?

Elika

Topic: VISIONS Post Election Processing Circle

Time: Nov 8, 2024 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88127697602?pwd=Jb7qBBxsCowUgqo0hluhaALeOeEifD.1

Meeting ID: 881 2769 7602

Passcode: 405795