Danza Organica in Melaza choreographed by Marsha Parrilla. Dancers Marsha Parrilla, Victoria Sagarda, Earnest Gildon, Etienne Hernandez, Dey Hernandez, Ella Wechsler-Matthaei, Fran de Paula. Credit: Shane Drummond
This past Saturday I attended a fundraiser for Puerto Rico: the premiere of Danza Organica's "Melaza", a dance theater piece exploring the relationship between Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, and the United States. At many points during the performance, the dancers would partner together and, with unconcealed effort, take turns lifting each other. Though they struggled, the kept going, taking turns one would we supported, and then support the other.
This act for me meant, yes, we will support each other with what we have. Yes, it is not enough, but we will not turn away from each other. Yes, so much has been taken from us, but still we give. In this simple act, there was rage, there was acceptance, there was pain, there was power.
Over and over in disasters, we see that the first responders are neighbors. To me what showed up was that we are complete, we are enough, we are what we need. How much could we do if communities were listened to, that when we ask for what we need something else entirely wasn't forced upon us? How much more could we be if we were free from the systems of oppression that bind us and try to assert control?
One Square World stands in solidarity with those in Mexico, Puerto Rico and elsewhere suffering in the wake of the devastating September 19 earthquake and Hurricanes Irma and Maria. These disasters are a tragic reminder that climate change is our new reality whose costs we are all forced to bear. The longer we delay in mitigating its effects, the more lives we put in jeopardy.
We also know that those on the frontlines-- the most vulnerable to natural disasters-- are most often the most socially vulnerable as well. Oppressive historical processes intentionally pushed marginalized communities into flood zones, urban heat sinks, and neighborhoods characterized by poor infrastructural investment. As we recuperate and rebuild it's important now more than ever to acknowledge that true resilience demands an approach that includes these voices in building solutions. That is why we are hard at work in Providence and Boston bringing an equity lens to future resilience planning.
Today, the most urgent thing is to support our brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico and elsewhere as they begin recovery efforts. Here are some way you can help:
This act for me meant, yes, we will support each other with what we have. Yes, it is not enough, but we will not turn away from each other. Yes, so much has been taken from us, but still we give. In this simple act, there was rage, there was acceptance, there was pain, there was power.
Over and over in disasters, we see that the first responders are neighbors. To me what showed up was that we are complete, we are enough, we are what we need. How much could we do if communities were listened to, that when we ask for what we need something else entirely wasn't forced upon us? How much more could we be if we were free from the systems of oppression that bind us and try to assert control?
One Square World stands in solidarity with those in Mexico, Puerto Rico and elsewhere suffering in the wake of the devastating September 19 earthquake and Hurricanes Irma and Maria. These disasters are a tragic reminder that climate change is our new reality whose costs we are all forced to bear. The longer we delay in mitigating its effects, the more lives we put in jeopardy.
We also know that those on the frontlines-- the most vulnerable to natural disasters-- are most often the most socially vulnerable as well. Oppressive historical processes intentionally pushed marginalized communities into flood zones, urban heat sinks, and neighborhoods characterized by poor infrastructural investment. As we recuperate and rebuild it's important now more than ever to acknowledge that true resilience demands an approach that includes these voices in building solutions. That is why we are hard at work in Providence and Boston bringing an equity lens to future resilience planning.
Today, the most urgent thing is to support our brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico and elsewhere as they begin recovery efforts. Here are some way you can help:
Introducing Our New Board President, Alexandra Garita
Welcome Alexandra! This month, Alexandra Garita was selected to lead our Board of Directors. She is a proud feminist, lesbian, mother and activist for gender, economic and environmental justice. She was born and raised in Mexico. Alex is a consultant on gender, human rights, and women's health, and has recently consulted for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the Angelica Fuentes Foundation. She is a natural fit at One Square World, where she has served on our Board of Directors since 2016. Now, we are thrilled that Alexandra will be expanding her role as President.
Equity in Sustainability: Providence in the News
Members of REJC present their recommendations to Mayor Jorge Elorza and the Environmental Sustainability Task Force. From left to right: Vatik Kumba, Lucy Rios, Paul Taveras, Monica Huertas and Jesus Holguin.
Three new community members joined the Equity in Sustainability Project Team as we continue our work to build power and transfer ownership of community processes to community members living in frontline communities. Monica Huertas, Vatic Kuumba and Paul Tavarez add invaluable local expertise to our growing network of community partners as we embark on Year Two of the project.
The National League of Cities interviewed Huertas and Leah Bamberger, Director at our partner Sustain PVD, on the process and what it means to bring racial equity to resilience planning.
The National League of Cities interviewed Huertas and Leah Bamberger, Director at our partner Sustain PVD, on the process and what it means to bring racial equity to resilience planning.
Building Community-Controlled Economies in Boston
Executive Director Andrea Atkinson represented One Square World at Boston Ujima Project's founding assembly this month. The Ujima Project aims to create a community-controlled economy in Boston by pooling local resources and making consensus-driven investments in local development projects. Bringing together local stakeholders including civil society organizations, workers, businesses, families and more, the assembly discussed unique assets and needs of Boston's diverse communities and the failures of the powers-that-be in government to address them.
By shifting power back into the hands of community members, the Ujima Project is ultimately a process of economic emancipation: emancipating marginalized communities from power structures that have long-excluded their voices from the decision-making process. One Square World is proud to contribute to and support that effort.
By shifting power back into the hands of community members, the Ujima Project is ultimately a process of economic emancipation: emancipating marginalized communities from power structures that have long-excluded their voices from the decision-making process. One Square World is proud to contribute to and support that effort.
RSS Feed
Updates via Email
