Why care?

“Am I worthy of care?” is a question inspired by social justice activist Elandria Williams (E), who passed away in 2021. I knew E, like others, during a time that I was deeply involved in the cooperative movement and we reconnected to collaborate on a national food justice fellowship program. In all of my work, racial justice and love has been core to movement building. It was the same for Elandria. Throughout the pandemic I noticed how hard my allies were working, the toll on Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Pacific Islander, South Asian and people of color family and friends - yet Elandria and I talked for hours ensuring we were there in creative and supportive ways, leaning in, having tough conversations, privileging care and modeling it the best we could. So when she videoed herself in a hospital bed the day before she died, with one clear message: “Take care of yourself” I never forgot it. I had to look at my patterns more deeply. The extra hours of work I put in, the burnout - some of which I caused and allowed to happen - and the value of care. Do I know how to care for myself well enough to truly practice community care? I was not good at it. Not many people I know are, especially my friends - people on the frontlines who feel as if it is a choice they cannot make. We can be so used to serving others, being in community, but can we value and model it in a more powerful way to help shift movement culture?

That is WHY I do this work. I believe CARE IS THE CURE
#ElandriaTaughtUs