November 2024

Written By Paul Fleming

Art by Roger Peet from the Just Seeds Artist’s Cooperative

Dear friends,

I’m writing to you this month with uncertainty. You might be opening this letter on election day, in the nail-biting moments afterwards, or having recently learned the election results. No matter what happens, this is a moment of upheaval and uncertain days ahead. But there is one thing I do know for certain: in the days, months, and years ahead we will need to build power with allies and push for change.

I just returned from a trip to Minneapolis where I shared space with many do-ers, leaders, and change-makers I deeply respect (including some newsletter subscribers!). During this trip, I attended a training with Doran Schrantz, an amazing organizer who led the power-building group ISAIAH in their efforts to pass a progressive legislative agenda in Minnesota. She shared many valuable lessons about how to build power for change that are relevant to us all.

First, she encouraged us to assess what our own relationship with power is. What power do you already have? How do you feel about using that power to build the better world you want? How can you build more collective power with other people? Making a better world possible is not something that can be done without exercising power. Reckoning with your own power—and how you can grow it through relationships with other people—is a vital part of changing the world.

Second, she emphasized the importance of putting on our ‘power goggles’ to critically examine a particular issue for opportunities to push for change. It is so easy to get mad or complain about a leader or politician who might stymie our efforts to build a better world. Why won’t they just do the right thing!? But Doran encouraged us to put those frustrations aside and put on our power goggles to look for opportunities to take steps forward toward the world we want to build. With our power goggles on, we can illuminate the selfinterest and motivations of a decision-maker to better understand where our interests might align and what might be possible. With our power goggles, we can also look at who else might partner with us to help grow our power to influence the decision-maker.

Finally, Doran emphasized the critical importance of relationships in order to grow power and make change. We need deep and lasting relationships with people to work in tandem towards a mutual goal. This means we need to form relationships where we know each other's motivations, influences, and passions. We can grow our power by connecting with other people who share our goals and work in unison to exercise our collective power. This is the core of organizing for change and it starts with relationship building.

So how can you do this? Think about a change you want to see in the world. Put on your power goggles and try to understand what power you hold, how you can grow that through relationships, and how you might influence a decision-maker. No matter what happens in the election, we are going to need to use our power to build a better world. Our future depends on it.

Take care and build collective power,

Paul

Today’s Key Point:

No matter the result of the election, we need to build power to grow our movements and make a better world possible.

Today’s Reflection Questions:

  • What is something you want to build in the world that you care deeply about?

  • What power do you already have to make it happen?

  • Who are your potential allies or collaborators? How can you build relationships with them to understand their motivations and passions?

  • Who are the decision-makers, what motivations do they have, and how can they be influenced?

Quote of the Month:

“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any.” - Alice Walker

Inspired reading/listening/viewing:

Paul Fleming
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