Personal Commitment
I have been thinking about the Personal Commitment step for awhile now and how much personal reflection it takes to really make this decision. I am not just talking about personal commitment related to The Gathering, Nonviolence or Juvenile Justice but personal commitment to a cause, movement, or body of work that is important to you or the collective you. My grandfather passed a couple of weeks ago and he was commited to the moment that he had a stroke and landed in a hospital (of all places since he had never been to one or the western doctors for that matter) that his garden and the offerings from that garden would be his gift to his community and his family. The commitment that he had for that garden was unwavering regardless of the physical elements- rain, sleet, cold weather (abnormal in Pensacola, FL), family challenges, lack of money to buy seeds or fertilizer, or anything else that might come his way. He may have been an ornery old man but he taught me about commitment, believing in yourself and just saying what you have to say regardless (since he cussed constantly and everybody was a nigga that he came in contact with). His humility and grace were beautiful and the idea that I could be tying this in an online forum would have blown his mind since he couldn't have read it but the idea would have made him excitied. Reaffirming commitment to the process and to The Gathering is something that I am in the process of doing and I wanted to post this so if people read it and see that I am not following through on that commitment to check me which is what my grandad would have done. Unlike him we try to treat each other with respect at all times which I honor and wish that he could have gotten to but regardless the lessons from him I will carry with me always.
Tags: and, commitment, grandparents, personal
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The Gathering’s Mission
The mission of The Gathering is to build an Intergenerational, movement, rooted in history, cultures and non-violent direct action to heal communities, build collective strength and generate an environment of hope and opportunity.
Civil rights and social justice organizations have come to understand that collective action on a national basis is required to stop child incarceration and challenge the immoral process which perpetuates an unjust justice system. These groups are working under extremely difficult circumstances and many of them with little or no resources. The Gathering is a national movement that creates a coordinated space to 1) fortify relationships between regional groups, 2) support local endeavors and 3) enhance the ongoing organizing of non-violent direct action training. Central to its mission is strengthening our moral environment.
- “a project of tides center” -
"The Gathering" is a project of Tides Center 501c3
Civil rights and social justice organizations have come to understand that collective action on a national basis is required to stop child incarceration and challenge the immoral process which perpetuates an unjust justice system. These groups are working under extremely difficult circumstances and many of them with little or no resources. The Gathering is a national movement that creates a coordinated space to 1) fortify relationships between regional groups, 2) support local endeavors and 3) enhance the ongoing organizing of non-violent direct action training. Central to its mission is strengthening our moral environment.
- “a project of tides center” -
"The Gathering" is a project of Tides Center 501c3
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