In addition to the general nonviolence trainings I've been offering, this fall I'm leading seven trainings specifically for people volunteering at the polls for the mid-term elections. What I'm doing is a little different than many of the trainings larger groups are offering. Mine is less about telling people exactly what to do and more [...]
Recently, I spent two rejuvenating days participating in an annual prayer ceremony for the Earth. It was led by Penobscot visionary Sherri Mitchell (Weh’na Ha’mu Kwasset), along with Indigenous people from around the world. I won't quote any of the profound things that people said since I do not have their permission, but I [...]
Last Friday morning, I went down to the Philadelphia ICE office to support the Interfaith Clergy Coalition, which has been organizing weekly vigils there. I found them where I expected, on the sidewalk holding a special prayer vigil for Good Friday. It turned out that another group I support, No ICE Philly, was around the [...]
Dear friends who are coaches: I've been thinking about you lately. You are experts at helping people to overcome their fears and find their purpose. That is why you are so essential in this time when many people are afraid about the state of the world, the erosion of democratic norms, and the elevation of [...]
The New York Times observes that the “resistance” is quieter this inauguration day, foregoing the pink hats and large marches of eight years ago. For some, this may be a sign of acquiescence to the agenda of the second Trump administration. For me and many I know, I sense something less fatalistic—a desire to be [...]
It's not just me, is it? I am a faithful attender of Sunday Quaker worship, but this morning I skipped worship at my meeting and walked in the woods. That’s because I knew that walking alone amid the gorgeous trees in autumn would be grounding, and I feared that hearing other people’s anxieties about the [...]
Thanks to everyone who sent prayers or funds for my two recent trips to northern Minnesota. (If you missed the story of why I went, check out this video by Winona LaDuke on Line 3.) I felt very supported and grateful for this community! I'm also grateful to the community that took me in, the Red [...]
Whew! What a month it's been. Those who read my October newsletter know that I became the Trainings Coordinator for Choose Democracy, a start-up effort that in a matter of weeks trained nearly 10,000 people in How to Stop an Election-Related Power Grab. I'm enormously proud of the work this group did and believe that we played [...]
Shareholder team photo by Rachael Warriner Yesterday morning I put on my nicest business dress, a little bit of mascara and joined Earth Quaker Action Team in Wilmington, DE for the annual shareholder meeting of Exelon, the parent company of our electric utility, PECO. We came to disrupt business as usual with the [...]
“Strategy is so hard,” said a young activist leader I met with recently. She then listed several challenges she thought should be considered when coming up with a campaign strategy, including what her group might be willing to try. It struck me that she was starting with potential limitations instead of where she wanted to [...]