Origin
The founder, Grace Carney, attended Michigan State University and was on campus when the shooting in February 2023 occurred. The gunman–who was mentally ill and off his medication at the time–had an encounter with several people prior to the shooting, including the cops. But despite clearly needing help, this mans mental state went unnoticed and uncared for until a community suffered the consequences.
Unfortunately, this is not uncommon in America. In such a virtual and individualistic society, we find ourselves drifting further and further away from one another. This means those who are struggling and without resources don’t have access to the help they need. Our systems of oppression further alienate them, putting those who don’t subscribe to societal norms on the outskirts. It is here that people will stay stuck until finding the resources to empower their identities and validate their experiences.
This is the intent behind Connecting Communities. We believe that by taking the time to listen to one anothers struggles, we’ll not only come together to fight all systems of oppression but find support in each other while doing so.
What we do
– Discuss the daily prompt. They’ll be different each week, but each will combine personal experience with a current event to encourage openness and communication among members.
– Educate one another when able. Sometimes the discussion may infringe upon someone’s identity. In these cases, it is the job of the privileged members of the group to call the perpetrator in. We will briefly cover this process at the beginning of every meeting.
– Validate one another’s struggles. Everyone has a struggle, regardless of their identity. This meeting serves as an opportunity to acknowledge those struggles and provide empathy when the opportunity arises.
– Destigmatize social identities. Most people–if not all–stray from the social norm. Acknowledging the false stereotypes that hurt us and those we love is a crucial step in overcoming those stereotypes.
– Demonstrate awareness. As more social issues arise, it’s important to be mindful of how they impact people differently. Note: it is possible to do this without invalidating ones own experience.
– Create connections. In an increasingly individualized society, we find ourselves more and more disconnected from others. This forum is an opportunity to bond with those interested in offering and/or receiving emotional support.
Guidelines
We find one another not in our similarities, but in our differences.
- Respect others and their turn to speak. When one person is talking the others should be quietly listening. Responses and additions to what was said are encouraged once they are finished speaking.
- Keep an open mind. Remember that your opinion is just that; your opinion. It’s going to look different from the opinions of those who have different perspectives and experiences. Think of those opinions as opportunities to learn, grow, and become more connected to your community.
- Be authentic. Your experience is invaluable. Therefore, we encourage members to be honest and open about their thoughts, opinions, and beliefs. It will be the responsibility of the moderator to make sure you and your fellow members feel comfortable.
- Do not speak for others. While we encourage people to address potential and existing social issues, there is a difference between pointing out injustice and speaking as the victim of injustice.
- Call in, not out. It’s important that when we address oppressive statements, we preface our response with an assumption of good intentions, then explain how the statement was hurtful. It is the responsibility of the moderator and those who are privileged to call perpetrators of oppression in.
- Respect the oppressed. It is not the job of oppressed individuals to educate those who are privileged. This means refraining from questions specific to one’s identity, respecting a persons choice to decline an interaction, and being receptive to feedback regardless of how it is delivered.
