Monday’s America, You Got This? was live from Nashville, where Lauren is on day 3 of the 1000 Miles to Memphis March, a 36-day journey to register 100,000 voters and amplify the grassroots organizers already doing the work. We learned a lot in real time about what it means to activate and build community, not just in the lead-up to the midterms, but at all times. Watch the full episode to learn along with us because there are so many more takeaways than listed here: * There is a roadmap, and the organizations that have it are underfunded. Antricia Gordon organizer and Deputy Director of The Equity Alliance said it plainly: “Black organizations especially are the least funded historically.” These organizations have the strategies, the community relationships, and the on-the-ground experience that no national campaign can replicate. The underfunding of Black and brown-led organizations should be viewed as a crisis because it means the people with the most expertise have to work harder just to reach the people who need them most. And this affects everyone. People often ask, “What can I do?” You can share their work, donate, and/or volunteer your skills. All hands on deck! * Showing up means answering hard questions first. Lauren said she is learning to earn her place in the spaces she travels through. Just some of the questions she had to answer while building trust: “Why are we here? What’s the intention? Is this a grift? Are we highlighting the right things?” There is a fine line between healthy allyship and riding into town on a well-funded white horse to save the day. It’s important to talk about it directly. These are hard conversations. They are ongoing, and that’s an essential part of the work we have to do to strengthen these muscles. * White men are starting to get it. I asked Don, aka AngryMaleVet, directly if white guys are finally getting it, and good news…Yes! "These things are starting to affect them, even as white males who kind of lived in a cocoon. Their eyes are starting to open up. And then when you see people being executed in the streets, an unnecessary war — I think people start to wonder, hey, those are my kids that are going to war." Income inequality, unaffordable healthcare, kids going to war for the ultra-wealthy aren’t new problems; the question is whether they direct that anger at immigrants and trans kids or at the people actually responsible. Don is making sure that anger is pointed in the right direction. * Generational trauma works both ways. Lauren on why she’s there: “That generational trauma is not going to stop for our neighbors and communities who are the ones being harmed unless folks like us decide we need to play a part in stopping that harm too. Frankly, we’re the ones who generationally have caused the harm. My ancestors caused the harm. And I sometimes cause the harm. And I need to be willing to understand when that happens.” Generational trauma can be experienced, but it can also be inflicted. If we’re not examining that, we’re not going to get anywhere. * It starts with organizing the people close to you: Shani Glapion of Stand Up Nashville is organizing rallies, forums, and marches through the South. She's also the first one to say: "You don't have to jump off the porch immediately and come do what I'm doing. Just send the text messages, make the calls, make sure your people are straight." Relational organizing starts in your phone, with the people already in your contacts. With voting rights constantly under attack, a simple text reminding them to register to vote and check their polling location (to make sure it hasn’t changed) can make all the difference. * Media coverage and funding are connected. It’s a circular problem. If local media only shows up when there’s a spectacle, and national media only covers what local media validates, then the organizations doing the unglamorous daily work of registering voters, fighting data centers, and educating communities about redistricting are invisible to the funders who rely on coverage to find them. As Shatika Davis of The Equity Alliance put it: “I think it depends on what is interesting to them and what would make newsworthy headlines to them.” Which brings me back to point one. We must attract media attention to ensure that the organizations with the roadmap also get the funds to do the work. Hearing from people who are doing the work is always inspiring. You can help keep the energy going by getting involved. Get involved: * Support The Equity Alliance: equityalliance.org * Support Stand Up Nashville: standupnashville.org * Follow and fund the march: 1000milestomemphis.com See you next Monday. Maya & Lauren This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mayaonstage.substack.com
