I had the pleasure of spending my Saturday morning with several dozen folx at a workshop on Preemptive Radical Inclusion. That’s not the subject of tonight’s diary because hey, it’s Saturday night and time for something relaxing and fun, but it WAS a fantastic workshop on being more inclusive not as a goal, but as a process that leads us further towards our ACTUAL goal, which is justice and equity. However, so I don’t leave everyone hanging wondering what it was that brillig spent three hours at today, here’s the part that mattered most to me, from the facilitator’s website:
Preemptive Radical Inclusion means that we intentionally position ourselves, before we know anything at all about anyone in the room, to presuppose that everyone is already, and always, in the room. We don’t wait for an individual to tell us what they need, and THEN meet their needs, we create experiences that preemptively involve them. The burden is on those in leadership to be aware of the needs of the people we are most likely to miss.
During our workshop, we did several small-group exercises. What I’d like to share with you tonight, after we all grab a beverage that appeals to us and in whatever way best suits us get across the story break and the plea from our sponsor, is one of those conversational prompts. See you on the flip side!
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We were practicing the concept of bearing witness, which we understand to mean being fully present in the moment of listening, focused on the person speaking. In small groups, we went around and were asked to share a story of an act of kindness you witnessed in the past week or whatever time frame you needed to go to to remember such an act. My group of three shared our stories, and realized that in that sharing we created a warmer, more hopeful space than we in general feel in our current social/political climate. And my first thought afterwards, was “OMG this would be perfect to share with my TC family!”
Here’s the story I shared: This past Monday it was about eleventy seven degrees below zero. Or, to say that another way, 5F with a windchill. I turned on my vehicle and the Low Tire Pressure indicator went on. Now given it was so freeking cold, I knew that was the reason BUT it had been intermittently on the past week when it was warmer, so I knew it was time for a top-off. I took it to the local business I purchased the tires from, as they’re nitrogen-filled. It was going to take a while, as I was NOT the only person in need of this! So off I walked the two blocks to Starbucks, to grab caffeine and not spend an hour in a cramped tire store waiting room.
It was, unsurprisingly, very crowded. The MLK holiday meant teens had no school, and more adults than usual were there too. It would have been very easy for both customers and staff to *encourage* people who weren’t actively drinking beverages to be on their way. I admit, as I scanned for a place to sit, I wondered who I could go stare at until they up and moved.
I noticed a gentleman sitting in the window seat. I’ve seen him there before. Like, a LOT of times. Morning or afternoon, it doesn’t matter when I go in, he’s there. He usually has a cup in front of him, but I have to say I don’t see him drink from it often, and I’ve NEVER been there when he’s finished and left. I’ve never asked, but my impression is that Starbucks IS his daytime warm dry safe Spot, and that in and of itself is a Kindness. But on this bitterly cold day when lots of people wanted to sit with Very Expensive Beverages & Food, our culture says it’s acceptable to send people who aren’t paying (or finished their paid item) packing. Not only didn’t the staff do so, *nobody* was casting sideeye at this man. I haven’t seen posts on the facebook community group page about him. What I saw was a community who recognized that this person NEEDED that spot, and gave him the space he needed.
That’s my story of kindness this week. I invite you to share your own story in the comments. I hope it does us all good to see that there is kindness in this world even when smirks, walls, and hateful rhetoric occupy the loudest portion of the conversation.
I also invite you to peruse what we find here each and every evening… the trio of Top Comments, Mojo and Pictures that bring us back time and again, and which cannot and does not exist without your help.
TOP COMMENTS
Brillig's ObDisclaimer: The decision to publish each nomination lies with the evening's Diarist and/or Comment Formatter. My evenings at the helm, I try reeeeallllyy hard to publish everything without regard to content. I really do, even when I disagree personally with any given nomination. "TopCommentness" lies in the eyes of the nominator and of you, the reader - I leave the decision to you. I do not publish self-nominations (ie your own comments) and if I ruled the world, we'd all build community, supporting and uplifting instead of tearing our fellow Kossacks down. Please remember that comment inclusion in Top Comments does not constitute support or endorsement by diarist, formatter, Top Comments writers or DailyKos. Questions, complaints or comments? Contact brillig.
It’s very quiet tonight in nomination and highlights. I can’t overstate how much we rely on YOU!!
From yours truly, brillig:
4CasandChlo makes a very important point, in Aldous J Pennyfarthing’s Former Trump campaign official: 'Democrats have Trump by the b*lls'.
From BeninSC:
I am submitting this comment by first time Daily Kos commenter, Richard John. It contains the story of his father’s experience trying to pursue his skilled profession as an indigenous Native American.
TOP MOJO
Top Mojo for yesterday, January 25th, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you mik for the mojo magic! For those of you interested in How Top Mojo Works, please see his diary on FAQing Top Mojo.
TOP PICTURES
Top Pictures for yesterday, January 25th 2019. Click any picture to be taken to the full comment or picture. Thank you jotter!