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Collaborative Insights

What we learned from our July 2020 convening

To learn from all that is being revealed in this current moment, the Community Engagement for Equitable Systems Change core group convened a group of systems change practitioners to reflect together this past July. Here’s what we heard.

To learn from all that is being revealed in this current moment, the Community Engagement for Equitable Systems Change core group convened a group of systems change practitioners to reflect together this past July.

Here are some of the most important answers we heard in response to our questions:

WHAT IS DIFFERENT THIS TIME AROUND? The high-level themes that emerged included increase in solidarity due to heightened awareness or acknowledgment, less resistance to chance, and complexity. - People are moving towards solidarity due to the heightened awareness and acknowledgment: The cycle of history and racism includes the murder of Black folks and the inequities due to COVID. White supremacy culture and being complicit in it, and connecting the dots to other movements are harnessing power in networks (locally and globally) across social media and solidarity of other marginalized groups working to undo anti-Blackness. - There is less resistance to change and the need for change, making momentum wider: People have hope and recognize the potential for youth leadership. - There is a lot of complexity to what is happening: There is an acknowledgment of no quick fixes and the need for long-term changes and flexibility.
WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS THAT ARE NOW PRESENT BECAUSE OF COVID-19 THAT WERE NOT PRESENT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC OR MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD? High-level themes included changing details of life due to COVID-19, reflections and awareness of existing systems, disruption to existing systems, organizing, and inspiration and hope. - COVID-19 has heightened or changed particular details of life: With COVID is affecting everyone (globally), the disparities between the wealthy and working-class have softened and primed the system for change. The elevation of racism has emerged as a public health crisis. - Reflection and awareness of existing systems perceived differently: The existing safety net is unable to do anything. Coming at this from a technical solution is not possible for white folks. We recognize work/life more fully and the liability that inaction is more significant than maintaining a system that does not work for everyone. The moderate middle is leaning into unlearning and learning about systemic oppression the perpetuation of harmful acts. - Existing systems are being challenged and disrupted: A disruption to white supremacy practices is motivating a run into discomfort instead of running away. The lines between work and home are normalized to show the full breadth of humanity. - Organizing: As organizing is happening on all fronts (self-organizing in neighborhoods, digital organizing, anti-racism, and abolition), there is an acknowledgment that the movement may lose white folks after the spotlight is gone. Things begin to go back to the way that they were. - Inspiration and hope: Yet, new daily values and shifts remain, and we continued to extend grace - value and welcome the whole person.

Download the PDF of our July harvest here:

REFLECTING ON THE CURRENT MOMENT WITH SYSTEMS CHANGE PRACTITIONERSDownload