Jarvis Williams’ Post

For those who are curious, here’s more about Arnold Mindell, process oriented psychology and deep democracy.

Cornell Law School Professor Sabeel Rahman is coauthor of an important recent book, Civic Power, about the urgent need to revitalize American democracy with much closer links between government and those it's meant to serve. The only path to meaningful equity and true government "by the people" is to engage affected communities as genuine agenda-setting and decision-making partners. Putting the traditionally disempowered at the center entails a fundamentally new approach to reform. Sabeel and I discussed some of the traditional frameworks for reform such as civility or transparency—abstractions that skate right past America's longstanding power disparities. The only real answer is a shift where affected communities go from getting the policy short shrift (for instance as neighbors to all the worst polluters) to co-governing and actual authority. https://lnkd.in/gnymqmb8

Curious about the work of the National Civic League's Center for Democracy Innovation? We've got you! Learn how The Center is making democracy more participatory, equitable, and productive: https://ow.ly/2QCC50RyAje

HISTORY MAKES US WELL-INFORMED CITIZENS. Can we do our duties as citizens in a democracy if we could be duped by those in power? History teaches us to question and analyse data. So anything we hear or read, we intuitively question. Only then can we sift the truth from false narratives. Only then can we vote for the right leaders for our country. Remember! History makes you analytical citizens. History helps you be democratic citizens. #historymatterseveryday #historydebunks #rightnarratives #historyteachescitizenship Reposted from @sutapa57

Imagine a nation that values the humanity of everyone living in it. One where all people can participate, thrive, and shape their own futures. This flourishing multiracial democracy in the United States is ours to create. An in-depth series from our partners at PolicyLink explores how individuals and institutions can carry forward the work of generations before us to realize a flourishing nation designed for all of its people. Explore the series: https://lnkd.in/gbSznENz

Did It Happen Here? Perspectives on #Fascism and (US) #America by Daniel Steinmetz-Jenkins An essential primer for the thoughtful citizen. Since the election of Donald Trump, politicians, historians, intellectuals, and media pundits have been faced with a startling and urgent question: Are we threatened by fascism? Some see striking connections between our current moment and the tumultuous interwar period in Europe. But others question if these connections really reflect our current political moment or if they are another example of Eurocentrism and American provincialism speaking over a much more complex global political landscape.? ... https://lnkd.in/eCsYFZMq

Hope for the Future: Chief Don Tom Listen to Chief Don Tom from Tsartlip First Nation share his vision for reclaiming justice for Indigenous Peoples and the need to honour our Ancestors and breath hope into the future. “Their [colonial] laws benefit generally the Canadian population, and doesn’t particularly look at the interests of the First Nations. We want to see our people thrive, we want to see them have the best opportunities available to thrive in their lives and to be the people they can be, to speak the language, to…when we look at our own structures and our own systems it’s always meant to uphold us, to make us better people, making us closer to the Creator.” Chief Don Tom, of the Tsartlip First Nation shares his vision for reclaiming justice for Indigenous Peoples at the 3rd Annual BC First Nations Justice Forum. He expresses the importance of the opportunities First Nations in BC have to assert control over their own respective justice systems. Chief Don Tom brings attention to the need to honour those who were denied justice in the past and advocating for accountability while breathing hope into the future. He reflects on the crucial recognition of First Nations laws and legal orders and highlights the need for a productive partnership with the BC government. https://lnkd.in/dt9ZwCSP 3rd Annual Justice Forum What We Heard Report: https://lnkd.in/gnWzvwS8 #WhatWeHeard #3rdAnnualJusticeForum #BCFirstNationsJusticeForum #FirstNations #Indigenous #Law #BCFNJC #BC #BritishColumbia #ProvinceofBC #LawFoundation #IndigenousLeadersSpeak

Another excellent conversation on Anchored from the Classic Learning Test. How are you teaching your students to disagree civilly?

If you have any interest in democracy, the role of collaborative technology and the way the UK feels ready for real change in how we bring every citizen into shaping what comes next next I can’t urge you enough to make the time to watch this interview between Audrey Tang and Jon Alexander (start from 7 mins in as the early part of the recording is blank). It’s SO utterly inspirational but also really practical in how Audrey talks about re-framing things: prebunking instead of debunking, broad-listening instead of broad-casting, demonstrating (in the real sense of showing how something is done) instead of protesting, building bridges not to bring everyone over to one side but to bring people together so they can learn from each other, and then go back to where they came from with a better understanding of each other, not media / digital literacy but competence because literacy = consuming whereas competence = contributing, reverse mentoring – people under 35 mentoring government ministers and senior civil servants, humour over rumour, asking people what they feel not what they think, turning conflict into co-creative energy, using POL.IS for gathering, analysing and understanding what large groups of people think in their own words. And trust. "To give no trust is to get no trust". Those who hold the power need to trust those who don't have power and to build trust so that over time it flows both ways. And the questions are so good too! I especially like the first question (at 51 mins in) about the role of social networks ... What questions do you have about how we can use these great lessons in the UK? https://lnkd.in/eK3jNyY4

Many of you know about my climate mobilities and climate justice publications but for those who do not and want to hear some of my thoughts on this topic, you can listen to my discussion at the Princeton Climate Mobilities workshop on Justice, Data, and Governance. Explore the website for other fascinating talks and presentations from my colleagues Linda Shi, Katharine Mach, Simona Capisani, PhD Fussell Elizabeth, Ingrid Boas, Megan Mullin, Meg Parsons, Robin Bronen, Carol Farbotko, Dr. Kira Vinke, and others. These talks and presentations are an excellent resource for students and researchers working on climate mobilities, so please check them out. Here is a link to my talk 👇 https://lnkd.in/eGpHAxBc