Hi ya. You hanging in? I’m here to tell you that whatever you said last night while under the influence of one too many eggnogs is okay. Forgive yourself. Forgive someone else. Being a person in a family is hard. Lean back into the unconditional love and lots of humor. Take the piss out of someone else and be a good sport when it gets dished back. Put on that ugly sweater your aunt got you. It’s all going to be okay. (I know many of you don’t celebrate Christmas, but chances are you know what we’re talking about.)
To get the good vibes back, why not do a little last minute end-of-year giving? Here are five organizations I whole heartedly endorse sending your money to:
I-MAK: fighting for a reform of the medicines and patent systems, including vaccine equity (which is not only a moral imperative, but epidemiologically necessary to keep any of us safe); run by a badass woman of color who has spent twenty years as a human rights lawyer, obsessed with elevating the next generation of leaders
Thousand Currents: funds genuinely grassroots global movements who are working on solutions to climate change, food systems, poverty, and justice; an organization that lives the wisdom that sometimes depth, not scale, is what the moment calls for
Uncommon Law: provides access to healing, excellent legal representation, and viable pathways home from prison for people serving life sentences in California; I’ve learned so much from this organization and its leader about how short-sighted we are in our thinking about “violent” vs. “non-violent” crimes, trauma, and so much else.
Participatory Budgeting Project: it might sound nerdy, but our work to heal democracy has so much to do with our ability to make everyone feel included and truly empowered; this organization is re-imagining what it means to be an engaged citizen because, as Shari Davis says, “budgets are moral documents”
LiberatED: a liberatory approach to social emotional learning, racial justice, and healing by my dear friend Dena Simmons
LOVE the photo, Courtney! I'm still smiling :) Enjoy these Days of Christmas.