Post-fireworks, Pre-madness

Week 2 at NAPAWF was a short one, and because of that, it (obviously) went by quickly, and wasn't too substantial in terms of workload and productivity. Although, I suppose, considering it was a 2 day week for me, I did get a good amount of work done.

Last week was mostly about starting to help the LA Chapter's GOTV timeline materialize, and then contacting leg advocates and others both about bill statuses and collaboration work. Got in touch with OCAPICA and KGA as well, to ask if they might want to work together on legislative trainings for their members. Yay trainings!

This week will be much more productive I think - now that a lot of the initial contact has been made, we can focus on actually creating the factsheets for the following: Parental Initiative Notification 3, or Prop 4, the same-sex marriage ban, or Prop 8, and then depending on what Senate Appropriations decides, possibly AB 1930, or AB 2902. Only time will tell.

On a more personal note, this book that Lisa lent me - The Revolution Will Not Be Funded - written by Incite! Women of Color Against Violence, is AMAZING. I've only read the intro and the first half of the first essay, and I'm already captivated. And convinced.

In a nutshell, this book is about how, what they call the "Non-profit Industrial Complex" and foundation grants, i.e. "private sector funding," actually inhibits, oppresses, and distracts the progressive social justice movement. By providing money to nonprofit organizations, these grant companies are actually upholding white hegemony and hierarchy, by funneling money more towards status quo-type social reform, and away from "radical," progressive change. On purpose.

That's right, it's intentional.

It's like reading about something you've always kind of known somewhere, in the back of your mind, or have heard tidbits about, but can finally articulate and piece together with clarity.

I will update you as I make more progress in this book.

Mao, Lisa's cat, is looking up at the window because there are some birds chirping on the roof. Precious!

Yay NAPAWF, and yay week 3.