Over the last several years I’ve been a part of countless groups, conversations, mini-efforts, organized around a hope for something different a particular system: perhaps more anti-racism work in a particular school, less racial disparity district wide, or opposition to a particularly problematic municipal hire.
Some initiatives have been clear about what they wanted to achieve; some haven’t. Some have achieved what they initially intended; some haven’t. Some of those outcomes delivered and moved the needle as expected; some haven’t. But all have helped to ripen the conditions for broader change, which is an important and often discounted outcome.
I’ve tried to become of the habit of better tracing ripple effects. Looking back and asking myself, what enabled this to happen? Looking forward and asking myself, how might this effort bring us closer to each other, help us reach further, or shift the playing field? The more often I do that the better I am able to appreciate what led to what, what leads to what, and what helps to create the conditions for further change.
In many cases ripening the conditions for change relies on:
Aggregating findable people...
Who can see interconnection between issues...
And are eager to learn and lean in, just a little.
Let’s break that down!
1. Aggregating Findable People
“Finding your people” is an important component of decreasing your own isolation within a system. It’s challenging and lonely to seemingly be the only one that cares about something or is impacted by injustice. Finding others who share your concerns or hopes helps. But sometimes these groups stay secret (perhaps understandably). What better helps shift the ecosystem though is being findable, not just found. How do others know to seek you out? Who knows to point them your way? How can a general member of the community see or know that there are people, groups, or efforts like you in their midst? Sometimes this means having an organized group is necessary. Sometimes this just means that folks need a more regular habit of publicly commenting in online spaces, or raising their hands in meetings. Sometimes this means declaring to authorized leaders “I care about this and I am not alone.” You don’t need to be overly formalized, but it really helps to be identifiable.
2. Who Can See Interconnection Between Issues
The conditions for change are also ripened when those engaged appreciate and see the interconnectedness of issues. Ultimately because it means that energy galvanized around one issue (police brutality for example) can be leveraged in service of another concern (such as eminent domain.) It is challenging to know in advance what issue is most moveable, especially when those engaged and being mobilized are not professional organizers and instead community members responding to the in-real-time concerns and challenges they are facing. Often times it is really, really hard to back a system up once a decision has been made. But sometimes those decisions are the very catalyzing events that serve to mobilize people. If there isn’t room to reverse course, there is opportunity to pivot or simply be more prepared and vigilant. The infrastructure and relationships built are an asset for the future so long as those galvanized aren’t single-issue, single-solution minded.
3. And Are Eager to Learn and Lean In, Just a Little
Not many people start out on an advocacy journey wanting to change their whole lives. More often issues become more important to them over time, as their experience and understanding deepens, and their confidence grows. Sometimes I think it’s easy to underestimate the value of little stretches and smaller hand raises. Showing up once makes it more likely that you’ll come again. Asking one question helps open up information for not just yourself but the others who were likely wondering too. Embracing the mindset that there is a lot we don’t know and need to find out in order to best plot a course of action, helps us excavate past efforts, tensions, and relationship dynamics. People won’t transform into professional advocates overnight, which is fine because we don’t need them to. And coalitions needn’t include only the most experienced. The conditions for change are ripened when more people have more opportunity to practice more skills. A collective and shared willingness to move inches can ultimately take us miles.
So before we are too quick to look at one slice of activity and proclaim it a success or failure, zoom out a bit. Ask yourself what made mobilization possible? And what might be more possible now that relationships and infrastructure are hopefully strengthened? These important by-products create the conditions for further change and might be more appropriately cultivated if we can better appreciate their value.