Reclaim the Transformative Power of Community
Organizers of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee
In the midst of growing polarization and a crisis of leadership, it is time for us to confront the systemic flaws that plague our political landscape and hinder true progress. For too long, we have witnessed the erosion of trust in our institutions, as party politics and corporatist agendas overshadow the voices and needs of the people they are meant to serve.
Diversity, while important, does not automatically equate to inclusion. Likewise, inclusion does not guarantee access to power or resources for at-attack-communities. We have seen people of color ascend to positions of “power,” yet they hold no power, and systemic oppression and inequities persist, reminding us that representation alone is not enough to dismantle oppressive systems.
HisOURstory serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative potential of community-centered leadership. Our greatest victories for civic advancement have been rooted in grassroots movements, driven by the collective power of ordinary people united in pursuit of justice and equality.
Take, for example, the youth-led movements of the past. The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) played a pivotal role in advancing the Civil Rights Movement, challenging the status quo and demanding change. It was the courage and determination of young activists that helped push through landmark legislation such as the Civil Rights Act, reshaping the course of hisOURstory.
As we look around the country and witness the mobilization of youth and student leaders in their communities, it serves as a powerful reminder that our understanding of leadership has been built on faulty premises.
We have been programmed to subscribe to the notion that leadership is reserved for the few, dictated by those who stole power and engineered their own influence.
This emphasis on national leadership and institutions has minimized the significance of local struggles and obscured the invaluable contributions of ordinary people in forcing change upon America. It is time for us to return to the principles of community-centered leadership, recognizing that
no leader is coming to save us – we are the leaders we have been waiting for.
We need a movement that is rooted in the communities most impacted by injustice – a movement that centers the voices and experiences of those on the front lines of struggle. This means building coalitions across lines of difference, amplifying silenced voices, and prioritizing the needs of the most vulnerable among us.
Our success depends on our ability to come together as a unified force for change. It is only through collective action and solidarity that we can overcome the challenges that lie ahead. Let us draw inspiration from the legacy of those who came before us and commit ourselves to the hard work of building a more just and equitable society.
In the words of Ella Baker, a fierce advocate for grassroots organizing and community empowerment,
"We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes."
Let us heed her call and march forward with courage and conviction. Let us rise to the occasion and reclaim our rightful place as the architects of our own destiny. The future of our nation depends on it.
LEAD THE WAY is launching WE WHO BELIEVE IN FREEDOM a workshop series for everyday concerned people ready to align their personal mission in life to a rediscovered purpose of community and freedom fighting. Join the waitlist!
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