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~~Portland Cross-Pollination Project!~~
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Thank you for considering a contribution towards creative, locally-powered grassroots organizing!
I actually jumped around a bit, but it all makes sense: I initially went to Nairobi for the World Social Forum, then had a round trip ticket from Nairobi to Joburg and back... so I spent a few months in Southern Africa and thenI went back to Kenya for the Peace Caravan, but by that point I was in love with Zimbabwe, so I made my way back there for the end of my trip. See below (or my blog entries) for the details.
I am a cross-pollinator. On this journey I am seeking community organizers/activists to learn and share stories about grassroots social/ecological change. Our challenge and opportunity is to see ourselves as an ecosystem of change agents—many actions and relationships that build to create larger patterns/paradigms. Can we align and listen to each other enough to realize our collective power?
Contribute to the journey!
SLIDESHOWS ...because everyone loves a good story!
Every show is unique! Check out the shows I've shared. If you have attended a show, please share your feedback on my slideshow reflections page.
I am happy to make a custom show for almost any group or location -- please contact me at jennyleis@riseup.net to make a request. Check out my overview of subject areas, and pick and choose stories!
JourneydeJenny email archive
If you want to join my monthly-ish email update list, email jennyleis@riseup.net .
12/11/06: Announcements ~ Jenny’s Journey
1/09/07: I’m going to Nairobi next week!
1/22/07: Today at the World Social Forum
1/30/07: From the World Social Forum to the World
3/1/07: Journeying in South Africa
4/15/07: ZIMZAMZIM! Adventures in Zimbabwe and Zambia!
5/16/07: Blessings on flow
6/28/07: Full Circle on my Journey
7/10/07: Leaving Africa (for now...)
9/6/07: circles and cycles: back to Portland
10/24/07: Sparks in Portland
11/05/07: Movement of Movements Book Group
11/06/07: a correction... and asking for contributions for a collective letter of support
1/22/08: The journey continues...
2/25/08: Six Slideshows in March
3/12/08: Announcing: Community Supported Activism
04/23/08: reflections on challenges
05/12/08: Pt. 1: Introducing the Portland Cross-Pollination Project
05/12/08: Pt. 2: Know anyone in Eugene? Slideshow gathering Wednesday 5/21!
12/11/06: Announcements ~ Jenny’s Journey
1/09/07: I’m going to Nairobi next week!
1/22/07: Today at the World Social Forum
1/30/07: From the World Social Forum to the World
3/1/07: Journeying in South Africa
4/15/07: ZIMZAMZIM! Adventures in Zimbabwe and Zambia!
5/16/07: Blessings on flow
6/28/07: Full Circle on my Journey
7/10/07: Leaving Africa (for now...)
9/6/07: circles and cycles: back to Portland
10/24/07: Sparks in Portland
11/05/07: Movement of Movements Book Group
11/06/07: a correction... and asking for contributions for a collective letter of support
1/22/08: The journey continues...
2/25/08: Six Slideshows in March
3/12/08: Announcing: Community Supported Activism
04/23/08: reflections on challenges
05/12/08: Pt. 1: Introducing the Portland Cross-Pollination Project
05/12/08: Pt. 2: Know anyone in Eugene? Slideshow gathering Wednesday 5/21!
More about...
- * Grassroots organizing (5)
- * Great ideas (13)
- * Journey de Jenny emails (19)
- * More Cross Pollination ideas (7)
- * My personal experience as a cross-pollinator (6)
- * National Cross Pollination (6)
- * New Economy (10)
- * Portland Cross Pollination Project (9)
- * Slideshows and responses (6)
- * Superstar Changemakers (8)
- City: Tucson (17)
- Country: Kenya (8)
- Country: Malawi (2)
- Country: South Africa (15)
- Country: Swaziland (1)
- Country: Tanzania (3)
- Country: Zambia (5)
- Country: Zanzibar (Tanzania) (7)
- Country: Zimbabwe (22)
- ISSUES (7)
- Kufunda Village (7)
- REFLECTIONS (7)
- Uhuru Network (4)
Jenny’s Journey 2006-2007... and beyond?
My intention is that this journey both reflects and serves grassroots social movements in Portland and afar.
I am building upon my five-year foundation of active involvement in community projects in Portland, OR, working with two grassroots non-profits (The City Repair Project; Tryon Life Community Farm). During this time I have addressed a variety of issues including innovative solutions to urban growth and planning, public involvement/civic engagement, transportation, regional governance, the built environment, fundraising, neighborhood associations, non-profits and grassroots organizing.
I just took a year to step back and ask how local- and global-scale efforts can meet. My goal was to "cross-pollinate" (network) with grassroots organizations / people / movements and simply take the time to learn and listen to each other's stories, issues and strategies.
I started in the fall of 2006 in Tucson, AZ, testing the idea of being a full-time "cross-pollinator." It was a fabulous experience, which you can read about here.
Then I left for Africa and the World Social Forum in Nairobi, ready to challenge and open my understanding of local/global activism, grassroots movement building and make (activist) friends in other countries with whom I can continue to work with throughout my life.
Ecosystem of change?
It’s really quite simple: we are all so busy working on our main issue of choice that we don’t think we have time to get involved with “someone else’s” issue. “I’m glad they’re working on that because I need to work on this.” But what I’m finding is that if we simply take a moment to listen to each other’s stories, or attend “someone else’s” meeting or event, we would find quite a few opportunities to learn from and support each other, and see how the underlying issues truly are closely connected. If every activist checked out just one meeting/event of another group each month, all of our work would integrate on its own! It's about seeing ourselves as an ecosystem of change rather than in isolated "issue silos."
It's the web!! Live it!!
It's the web!! Live it!!
“From below & to the left”
My perspective stems from grassroots organizing; I believe in education and action at the most fundamental level – our neighborhoods, communities and day-to-day lives – as the foundation for sustainable culture as a whole. I am interested in any and all social/ ecological issues because they are all leaves from the same tree, and I focus on our common roots. I am interested in all strategies, tactics, modalities for social change, and how to see each as an important piece in one big life puzzle.
Lingo and Language
Some words perform a service as a shortcut for complex concepts, so here are some explanations of my lingo… if you can offer me a more refined word, please do!
Activist: anyone working in any way to bring the world closer to social and ecological harmony--broad definition!
Organizing/organizer: Anyone working to focalize or create resonance for a person or group to do something (an event, a project, a meeting, a campaign)
Human-scale: doing things at an understandable, accessible, graspable scale; part of a direct or small enough feedback loop where effects of actions are apparent in relatively short time and/or directly to the people who make the actions; human-scale can be different for each person!
Sustainability: the concept of the human species finding ways to live in harmony with each other and the natural world
Grassroots: “The People”; a place-based or issue-based community or individual working directly for that community and from their own personal experiences
“Movement of movements”: not a formal organization but the concept that all social and ecological movements are part of a larger movement, branches of the same tree; anyone working for sustainability (social/ecological harmony); some people call this ‘The Great Turning’
Issue: the particular concerns or passions of a person or group that spur from the challenging dynamics of human beings’ relationship with each other and the earth, i.e. the “bad stuff happening in the world that we want to do something about.”
Strategies, Tactics, Tools, Modalities: the ways we are trying to make change happen, the infrastructure with which we organize or educate. Examples include: experiential education, demonstration centers, policy change, “green” business, direct action, celebratory events, teach-ins, etc.
My route
I actually jumped around a bit, but it all makes sense: I initially went to Nairobi for the World Social Forum, then had a round trip ticket from Nairobi to Joburg and back... so I spent a few months in Southern Africa and thenI went back to Kenya for the Peace Caravan, but by that point I was in love with Zimbabwe, so I made my way back there for the end of my trip. See below (or my blog entries) for the details.
Six months in Africa - general overview
January: World Social Forum, Nairobi, Kenya
February: South African social movements; housing and homelessness
March: Zambia and Zimbabwe changemakers and cross-pollinationApril: Peace Caravan in Kenya; much needed rest in Tanzania/Zanzibar
May: Permaculture movement in Malawi; returned to Zimbabwe to work with Kufunda Village and the Uhuru Network
June: Zimbabwe!!
July: South Africa, reconnected with social movements and innovative projects... and then home to the U.S.
Six month journey details!
Nairobi, Kenya
* 1/16 * Flew to Nairobi
* 1/18 * Camel Peace Caravan
* 1/19 * Kibera Slum with David Driscoll's class
* 1/19 * Leah, AIDS orphans
* 1/20-1/25 * World Social Forum
* 1/20-1/25 * Milimani informal settlement bulldozing
* 1/26-1/29 * Lake Naivasha
* 1/29 * Kenny, the Maasai journalist
* 1/30 * Nairobi sparks: Eric, James
* 1/30 * Fundraising workshop
Johannesburg, South Africa
* 1/31 * Flew to Joburg
Capetown, South Africa
* 2/1 * Flew to Capetown
* 2/2 * Began Pangaea work
* 2/2 * City Councilor: Smile-A-Child
* 2/4 * Zillarain informal settlement
* 2/4 * Anti-Eviction Campaign
* 2/4 * Plastic tent family
* 2/5 * ILRIG and Community House
* 2/5 * The Big Issue
* 2/5 * Shack Dwellers International
* 2/6 * City of Capetown Vryground
* 2/6 * Homestead, City Mission
* 2/7 * Educo
* 2/7 * People's Env. Planning
* 2/7 * Ma Tembo's funeral
* 2/8 * Khayelitsha, Mandela Park
* 2/8 * QQ protest in Khayelitsha
* 2/8 * Eco-village in Khayelitsha
* 2/8 * Soraya neighborhood group
* 2/9 * Robben Island
* 2/9 * Dizu
Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
* 2/10-2/11 * Garden Route and Wild Coast
* 2/12-2/14 * Bulungula Village
* 2/16 * Mzamba Community
* 2/17 * Social Movements Indaba
Swaziland
* 2/18-2/21 * AIDS related projects
* 2/22 * lunch with Mac Maharaj
* 2/23 * Alexandra Township
* 2/24-2/25 * Motsoaledi, Soweto
* 2/25 * Maureen, Landless People's Movement
* 3/1-3/4 * Motsoaledi
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
* 3/4-3/5 * Bus to Bulawayo
* 3/6 * Radio Dialogue
* 3/6 * Bulawayo Agenda
* 3/7 * National Constitutional Assembly
* 3/7-3/8 * train to Vic Falls
* 3/8-3/10 * Victoria Falls
* 3/12 * Zambia Homeless People's Federation/Shack Dwellers International
* 3/13 * ride to Lusaka
* 3/13-3/15 * sick in bed!
* 3/16 * Chamanyazi's tour
* 3/17 * School arts fest
* 3/17 * Chamanyazi music
* 3/18 * Patricia Phillippe show
* 3/19 * Mutuna and Qfm
* 3/20 * Zambia Homeless People's Federation/Shack Dwellers International
* 3/21 * bus to Harare
* 3/22 * Dialogue on Shelter/Shack Dwellers International
* 3/23 * Vusa's studio
* 3/24-3/30 * Kufunda Village
* 3/25 * Comrade Fatso and Chabvondoka
* 3/25-3/31 * Uhuru Network
* 3/28 * Permakulture Kollektive
* 3/31 * Book Café poetry slam
* 3/31-4/1 * ride to Johannesburg
* 4/1-4/2 * Motsoaledi, Soweto
* 4/5 * flew to Kenya
* 4/6-4/14 * Sick!!!!
* 4/12-4/18 * Peace Caravan organizing
* 4/15-4/17 * Peace Caravan
* 4/19 * Milimani bulldozing 2nd visit
* 4/21 * Kibera slum 2nd visit
Tanzania
* 4/23 * bus to Arusha
* 4/24-4/25 * Karatu
* 4/26 * Moshi and Mt. Kili
* 4/27 * bus to Dar Es Salam
* 4/28 * Zanzibar Stonetown
* 4/29 * Spice Tour
* 4/29 * Martin, Zanzibar International Film Festival
* 4/30-5/8 * Nungwe
* 5/9-5/10 * Stonetown
* 5/11-5/12 * TAZARA train
* 5/12-5/13 * Mbeya
* 5/13 * travel to Malawi through various means
* 5/14-5/16 * meeting of permaculture project group
* 5/15 * permaculture school visits
* 5/16 * Kande Care School
* 5/18 * travel to Lilongwe
* 5/19-5/20 * Stacia and Chris's home
* 5/20 * bus to Blantyre
* 5/21 * permaculture school visits
* 5/21-5/23 * Glass House
* 5/22 * Tea Factory
Note that this six weeks in Zimbabwe was a flow between visiting the Uhuru Network in Highfields Township and Kufunda Village outside of Harare… below are some specific events
* 5/24 * Bus to Zim
* 5/25 * Africa Day Uhuru Slam
* 5/30 * Chiwonizo show
* 6/1 * Kufunda Open Day
* 6/3-6/8 * Zvimba and Mhondoro at Kufunda
* 6/9-6/10 * Zvimba visit, Bira ceremony
* 6/13 * Barr Learning Journey (LJ) at Kufunda
* 6/14 * Barr LJ at Uhuru
* 6/15-6/16 * Barr LJ at Rusape
* 6/16 * Day of the African Child Uhuru Community Slam
* 6/16 * 10 year Anniv. Book Café
* 6/18-6/21 * Kufunda Herb and Health workshop
* 6/30 * Permaculture Day
* 6/30-7/1 * bus to Johannesburg
* 7/1-7/2 * Khanya Winter School
* 7/4 * Apartheid & Workers Museums
* 7/5 * GreenHouse Project
* 7/6-7/7 * Khanya Winter School
* 7/7 * Horror Café
* 7/9 * Motsoaledi, Soweto
* 7/10 * Khanya College building
* 7/12-7/13 * Flew home
Important friends
HELP ME COMMUNICATE!
Please share feedback about how to link my stories with the “bigger picture” and with YOU! How can I do this better?
jennyleis@riseup.net
24 comments:
Jenny,
If anyone can do this its you! I have seen you in action in several capacities and am so impressed and inspired with the extra lengths you go to keeping us all cross-pollinating and opening our eyes to new ways of collaboration and living. Good luck, learn lots, and keep the blogs coming! Hope to meet up with you again at some point in your journey and know you will continue to do great things. I am certainly a richer person for having met you as are we all, for the positive energy and legacies of hope you leave with all those you encounter.
Kerri Hill de Cantero-Portland, OR, US hillk@pdx.edu
HI JENNY!!
Ben wants me to tell you how amazing you are. he's right.......and he says he's jealous. maybe he should go visit you. i loved your posts, keep em coming, and talk about your feelings. rachmana liba bayey, god wants the heart. (by the way, we have a picture from the sonogram of our little "lulav" (palm frond used at a jewish holiday) it wriggled and jiggled inside me on the screen! ben is going to post it on our new blog shabbat shalom! love, sister shosh
thanks jenny: with your life and thoughts, your lessons and perceptions we are woven closer to communities far away in space and experience. thank you! this is an experimental investment in a truly democratic politics, worth every minute.
-brush, portland
Quite and interesting way to spend your birthday, eh?
I have been so moved by your inspiring journey and continue to read, with great interest.
The story of your journey reminds me of a quote from a true hero, Dr. Mahatma Gandhi :
"In the beginning there was discovery, the first snowfall of impossible change, lives undone. Strange faces made familiar … New friends to feel safe with. Only then, the need to impose order onto chaos. Through determination, through study, through struggle all in defiance of a thundering truth – They’re here and the earth shudders."
Jenny,
You are a great writer and observer, and you continue to impress me with how deeply and quickly you connect with people and get involved with what is ocurring around you.
Don't worry about not posting more frequently, although I love to read your thoughts, I am also busy with so many emails.
Your blog is a bit hard to navigate -- hard to figure out where the most recent post is and to find the previous posts.
It appears your guest book is getting spammed, that's too bad.
But -- given how busy you are -- these are minor issues. Keep on learning and sharing, it is a joy to see the world through your soul.
O
Hi Jenny! I've just now caught up on your whole trip, and I am truly blown away. The optimism with which you're confronting the harsh realities of the Global South, and the sheer joy with which you've always --for as long as I've known you-- dived into the world, are incredibly inspiring.
This is important work you're doing: the connections you're making between activists in different parts of the world; the gifts you're sharing from your experiences in Portland; and most especially, the experiences you're having and the relationships you're forming -- these are adding to and transforming the already amazing foundation you've built for your life's work. Many people talk about "changing the world," but you are one of the few people I know who really just might.
=)
Daniel
daniel [at] riseup [dot] net
(PS- on a more business-minded note -- please let me know if you run across any folks who are working on peak oil issues or on producing electricity and biofuels locally; the groups I work with, www.relocalize.net and www.energyfarms.net, are trying to build a global network of grassroots groups working on these issues, and we absolutely want to connect with more groups in the Global South.)
Jenny,
What an amazing journey! You never cease to amaze me. I can't wait to read more. Happy Birthday. Best wishes!
Jen
Thank you for sharing Jenny. Poly-central grassroots organizing... planting good seeds in different parts of the world and foster grow there and in between theme until they eventually... touch.
The water issue being a gender issue... hard... auch!
Take care Jenny, grab tight to your heart. It's so liberating to know that you are enabling those great wings of yours take you to the places you are meant to go. Thanks for sharing the legacy.
Today was a sunny day in town... No rhinos or giraffes here.
: )
LOVE YOU!
Judith
Jenny
Wonderful writings...your "wanderjahr" aims to empower individuals and communities to achieve a better world....attending to the environment of the planet, the environment of our relationships and the environment of our own interiors...keep up the good work
peace
tom
happy birthday sister i am inspired by your writing and travels and so approecitate your creative initiative!
love
david
Hi Jenny....just wanted to let you know that I was thinking about you. The updates have been amazing! Also, Brian and I got engaged! Thought you might like to know. Keep up the amazing work!
Hi, Jenny!
Just wanted to let you know I'm getting your updates. (and sometimes even reading them ;-)
Ernie is here, too. We're living in N Portland with another friend named Matt.
It's sometimes disconcerting how enthusiastically you write about such potentially depressing stuff. We keep waiting to hear "today sucked," but all you write is "I'm so passionate about this! This is great!"
I hope it's true -- and that you're very consciously having the time of your life. Just don't forget that it's OK to say when it sucks, too.
Thanks for being out there and putting yourself in the path of all these new experiences. Best of luck, and safe travels!
Love,
Erica
KA-POW!
bless-ed is the journey of Jenny!
I keep reading and becoming more inspired. good work sweet pea!
I got a hug from Deb as if from you, at the anti-war march here on sunday.
meow meow! Big big love and hugs to you dear one.
hiya kiddo,
i'm so happy to see watch this project unfolding. your descriptions of people, place and events are rich and compelling... i feel like i'm there. that's a great thing for an activist to do- putting a real face on people and giving a personal point of view to things that often seem so remote or abstract.
and as always, your enthusiasm is infectious and your nerve is inspiring! keep up the good work.
love,
joel
Wow, what amazing Africa photos. I LOVE to travel & I'm really impressed, what an accomplishment.
There should be more people in touch with the planet like you are Jenny. I respect your traveling accomplishments...& there should be more travelers like us in the US.
We are a rare bunch.
Cheers,
Rich
Houston, TX
Jenny,
Jenny Pell, in Port Townsand, mentioned your name. I use to live with the Bullocks on Orcas Island, met Jenny at a Permie course in Hawaii, etc. I am designing and constructing a farm and malnutrition program in Burundi, and trying to network as much as possible to bring what resources I can to the area. The project will be part of a new hopital being built in Kigutu. (www.villagehealthworks.org) I would love to talk with you about your experiences in Central Africa.
Enjoy today,
Justin Hanseth
hansethj@seattleu.edu
206.849.1980
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