Community building is hard. We spent the previous Thursday working on our organization bylaws.
It’s boring and dry work, but I love the community that comes with every general meeting. You get to meet people from all walks of life, working class folks who are dreaming of a better world. I got to meet two folks who had moved back from Idaho, who were searching for new community in Richmond. I met another new person who had taken a break through COVID. Each of these people brought new stories and skills to our little community in the city.
Every person who joins our organization is a gift. Whatever amount of time, and skills that you have to contribute to this work is special. Each person helps shape our volunteer run organization. That Thursday, it was a few folks who were willing to sit down and help shape the organization. That’s power.
In our line of work we sometimes get caught up in seeking the flashy actions and big changes. It’s gathering 20 of your colleagues and community, and tending to your organization. In building socialism, it’s the commitments to the small things that matter. Attending a meeting. Greeting a comrade. Creating space for us to operate as the chief decision makers and drivers of policy, and not the 1%.
We’ve built an antizionist chapter, and are a pillar that holds our coalition for Palestine up. That took small steps and a willingness to struggle together. By taking these small steps, we now have a haven for antizionist jewry and Palestinians alike. We’ve helped to cultivate a pillar of solidarity in our city.
Community building is often done in the day to day work and how we help and treat one another. When we create a culture of comradery and shared vision, we can realize socialism for our city.
Will you become a part of our community and build a shared vision for Richmond?