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?
Please note: While I see the focus of this journeydejenny blog to be mostly about my thoughts and experiences as an activist, I feel like it would be leaving out part of the story if I didn’t share some about my adventure as a traveler. Of course, it’s all related, but I feel like y’all could read any travel blog and hear about hostels and such, and I want to safe the time and space here for the “tofu” of the issues. FYI.
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!
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.
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.
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.
* 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
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