I'm still waiting on a physical copy of Spade's Mutual Aid.
Meanwhile, thinking about the patriarchal saviorism of charity models and how not everyone deprograms that before getting interested in mutual aid. I've been guilty of it myself.
Also recognizing the people most likely to model how they're approaching mutual aid, including myself, probably have some deprogramming from those old ways? 🤔
I'm finally starting to understand what some people I really admire have been subtweeting about.
I was and am learning.
I miss some of the voices that have been taking a break to take care of themselves and their communities.
I'm starting to internalize some of what y'all have been trying to teach.
Sorry this is so meta! I do love logging paradigm shifting moments. 😊
Please DO NOT sign the petition from I Heart Downtown Seattle. They are a hate group, and very good at creating language that sounds like it's helping people, but it's actually calling for park sweeps without saying so.
Honestly, if you have a change.org account, one thing you could do is report a policy violation as this is definitely advocating for violence. You can also report a violation of the hate group policy.
Encampment needs an ongoing supply of 11-20 fl oz plastic lidded containers for hand sanitizer refills. Think shampoo bottle ish. Drop them at the Thomas Street Mini Park during mutual aid pop up hours in a bag/box labeled "for kim" and I'll pick 'em up weekly. #SeattleMutualAid
Check with @SeattleLabor for weekly dropoff hours! or if you have a bunch, i might be able to do a one off pickup.
@FreeFoodUD needs 'em too so will share what I can!
This has been a LONG learning curve for me. Charleena Lyles was also murdered (in front of her kids!) due to a failure to DEESCALATE a mental health crisis. That was my definitive, local WAKE UP KIM moment. I was too white and too liberal to enter in anywhere near where I am now.
That was 2017.
I literally googled "Seattle police accountability," started volunteering with i940 back when @RiallJohnson was still involved at the @WashingtonCAN office, & also attended a few meetings of the SPD's African American Advisory Council.
tfw you've 🤐 worked hard & long enough on racial literacy to start discerning Black ppl who say they're for Black liberation but are white audience brands with deeply mediocre praxis.
New level of racial discomfort! 😬
Not on my white ass to name or call out/in, just sitting fidgety with the awareness.
there's people I really admired & learned from 4 years ago. I see clearer how hard surviving whiteness is to escape. still admire all who navigate white fragility & do important work, & hitting a point where I have less to learn & need to be thoughtful in how I see their role.
Starting to find a groove / routine for visiting & responding to encampment requests. I'm wicked winter tired, but maintaining sustainable "what i can do." I don't feel great most days, so taking Saturdays away & some days i just bring water & gatorade & give space. 😋
This follows a very slow trust-building phase because we were new to the neighborhood and no one knew us. One thing I personally needed was to understand where folks were at with fire safety because I quickly understood 2oz hand sanitizer wasn't cutting it for needs.
so I think I'm ready to start learning about propane. not everyone has the means to use it, but a few do so I want to start by getting them what they need and get sustainable before improving access for others.