mapping transformation diana ballesteros
astudyinabolitionistpraxis published 2023
whatconditionsarenecessary forustotransform?
whatradicalizesaperson?
allthatyoutouch youchange. allthatyouChange Changesyou. theonlylastingtruth isChange. God isChange.
EARTHSEED:THEBOOKO
-Octavia Butler, The Parable of the Sower
becomingasocialworkerandthenaneducator,for me,hasbeenthemomentof"radicalization."being awareofandwitnessingthechallengesmy studentsfaceinoftenoppressive,violentspaces hasmeponderingaboutafewthings:
1)whatisthepurposeofschools?
2)whatifwecouldredefinethatpurpose?
3)whatcouldtheseinstitutionsbecome?
tacklingthesequestionsrequirestheactivationof ourcollectiveradicalimagination.
howdowe activateour collective radical imagination?
“HistorianRoxanneDunbar-Ortiztalksabouttheprocessof “unforgetting.”
Thedivisionsbetweenusareonlypossiblebecausewehaveforgotten ourhistory,forgottenourcreationstories.Forgottenhowto articulatetheknowledgethatisheldinunspokenways.Unforgetting istheprocessofreclaimingthatknowledge—ofmovingthesetruths thatoursocietyholdssilentlyouttowherewecanarticulatethem andexaminethem.Thenwecanseeiftheyreallyareacenterworth revolvingaround,worththeemotionalresponsetheyengender."
-Patty Krewac, Becoming Kin
howfarbackdoestheharmgo?
John Gast, Manifest Destiny, 1872
whatdowedowiththeharm?
The Morrill Land Grab Act, 1862
whenweareinconversationwithoneanother, weactivatepartsofourselves andourmemoriesthatmaybelyingdormant. it'sbeenthroughlearningandunlearningwithmystudents, thati'vecometotracethelinesbetweenseemingly disparateharm. questionsihavebeenpondering:
1)what strategiesallowustoengageinvulnerable,loving, liberatedrelationshipsthatencourage collectivegrowth?
2)howdowemovebeyondacknowledgementofinterpersonaland/orinstitutionalharmtowardshealing?
3)howmightengagingwith landsupportourhealing efforts? Whatrolecanschoolsplay?
everythingworthwhile isdonewithothers.
-Mariame kaba
Fractal:th
Resilience&Transformative Justice:howwerecoverand transform
Creatingmorepossibilities:how wemovetowardslife
the Adap In decentralizatiohowweshare
TheElementsof adrienne 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
whatyoupayattentiontogrows.
focusononethingatatime.
music will help you get through.
take risks.
allow yourself to rest. sleep fuels our dreams & vision.
communityiseverything interdependence is key.
moveatthespeedoftrust.
whenallelsefails...
be adaptive.
communicate in your own special and unique ways! dance!
be your own light.
trustyourpace.
whatpossibilities existbeyondthe structureswe know?
de Oliveira Andreotti, Stein, Ahenakew, Hunt (2015). Mapping interpretations of decolonization in the context of higher education. Decolonization: indignity Education & Society 4(1), pp. 21-40.,
wherelifeisprecious, lifeisprecious.
-Ruth Wilson Gilmore
comingsoon: www.abolitionpraxis.wordpress.com notes
