Adrienne Maree Brown

In the tradition of Octavia Butler, here is radical self-help, society-help, and planet-help to shape the futures we want. Change is constant. The world, our bodies, and our minds are in a constant state of flux. They are a stream of ever-mutating, emergent patterns. Rather than steel ourselves against such change,Emergent Strategy teaches us to map and assess the swirling structures and to read them as they happen, all the better to shape that which ultimately shapes us, personally and politically. A resolutely materialist spirituality based equally on science and science fiction: a wild feminist and afro-futurist ride! adrienne maree brown, co-editor ofOctavia's Brood: Science Fiction from Social Justice Movements, is a social justice facilitator, healer, and doula living in Detroit.

Shaping Change, Changing Worlds

Emergent Strategy

Rebecca Lum

I suspect that to really transform our society, we will need to make justice one of the most pleasurable experiences we can have

Small is good, small is all (The large is a reflection of the small). 

There is always enough time for the right work. 

There is a conversation in the room that only these people at this moment can  have. Find it. 

Trust the people. (If you trust the people, the people become trustworthy).

Move at the speed of trust. Focus on critical connections more than critical mass—build the resilience by building the relationships. 

“Biomimicry is basically taking a design challenge and then finding an ecosystem that has already solved that challenge, and literally trying to emulate what you learn. There are three types of biomimicry—one is copying form and shape, another is copying a process, like photosynthesis in a leaf, and the third is mimicking at an ecosystem's level, like building a nature-inspired city."

One indicator that things are off is when impacted communities and people of color get involved and they are put in the role of "performing the action," for ex- ample, having their photos taken, being spokespeople, or being asked to endorse or represent work they don't get to lead, etc., while most of the background organizing is still dominated by the folks who aren't impacted and won't be around long term to sustain the campaign or to be held accountable. 

At its worst, this approach builds up hope and encourages local communities to take risks, and then abandons them with the results.

At its best, there is a moment of victory. But too often, in spite of their best intentions, those who aren't directly impacted only see the surface layer(s) of the impact, and thus come up with surface solutions that don't address the deep-seated multi-pronged need in the community. We learned that in organizing and relationships, accountability is key for building a lasting base; when folks see change, they feel their own investment is worthwhile. We need actions that build our base, because we must reach a tipping point of folks who are on the side of justice before we reach the peak of what our planet can provide.

"Transform yourself to transform the world." —Grace Lee Boggs. We aim to be an organizational model of the change we call for in the world.

Impacted leadership (the leadership of communities directly impacted by cconomic and environmental injustice); 

Privileged support (the intentional support for impacted leadership from communities/people that can identify their privilege and want to see a rebalancing of power;

Feminine leadership (not just women leaders, but leaders who shift our understanding of how power can be held).

Where are we now? Who are we today? Where do we want to go? Who do we want to become? How do we get there? What I love about this is that where we are going and who we need to be to get there are married. We can't get to a new destination without shifting who and how we are.

Jodie: I have a commitment I repeat to myself in key leadership moments throughout the day. "I trust myself in he face of the unknown." While I say it, I focus on my breath, ground through my heels, feel my back, and remember that all of my skills and experience are available and have prepared me for just this moment. I have my woes, who know what I am aiming for, are tracking my situation, and will support and challenge me. Having peers who share the work of becoming the ones we have been waiting for is essential. And when things get turbulent I reach out for specific supports like acupuncture, therapy, and somatic bodywork.

Emergent Strategy quotes

Join the club