a reflective journal about social action from JustDane
IF NOT THEN, WHEN? IF NOT NOW, WHEN? BY LINDA KETCHAM, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The following is an excerpt from remarks I shared on December 14, 2013 on the one year anniversary of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School: “One year ago today, as the horror unfolded we held our children to our chests, we wept, we prayed. We called for an end to this country’s fascination with guns. We thought, surely this will bring about change. Surely the massacre of 20 school children will bring us to our senses.
Community vigil to end gun violence
ACTION ITEMS FOR GUN CONTROL MEASURES IN WI Universal background checks Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO) keep guns from those at risk to self/others
Community violence intervention funding Reasonable permitting process for carrying firearms Contact your elected representatives Elections matter: VOTE!
Daniel Barden, Josephine Gray, Chase Kowalski and Grace McDonnell were seven years old when they died on December 14th, 2012. My daughter Minna was also seven years old on that day. This year my daughter learned to ride a two wheeler, to swim with confidence, she went to Girl Scout camp, she ran her first 5k, tonight we will decorate our Christmas tree. In the last 12 months our family has shared moments that Daniel, Grace, Josephine and Chase and their families will never again share. One year ago today many of us sat together in quiet, huddled conversation wondering how to talk to our kids about the 20 children who never came home from school. At that same time powerful forces were already working on strategies to silence our calls for an end to unfettered access to guns. We were told not to politicize the deaths, that the time to talk would be after the funerals, but as we have learned, the funerals never end, one after another. Every time there is a mass shooting the media asks “what was wrong with the shooter?” The truth is, only when we ask and honestly answer “what is wrong with us as a society?” will we ever begin to understand the change required to end gun violence goes far beyond the need for stricter gun laws. Change can come, change must come. It will come through sustained action and effort. It will come when we join our voices together and demand change."
Summer 2022
JustDialogue • a reflective journal about social action from JustDane
There have been 3,500 mass shootings in the US since the massacre at Sandy Hook on December 14, 2012. During that time gun laws have changed very little. I am writing this on June 3, 2022 and since the massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on May 25th there have been 17 mass shootings in the U.S. The vast majority of U.S. residents support changes in our gun laws. Elected officials, motivated by campaign donations from the gun lobby have ignored the calls for change, offering instead their “thoughts and prayers.” At an interfaith vigil held on May 31st here in Madison, Rev. David Hart reminded members of the faith community gathered that the purpose of prayer is to ready us for action. Therefore, policy makers who say that they are “praying” but who refuse to take action are pretending to pray. Elections are on the horizon at the federal and state level. There will be opportunities to volunteer for campaigns, to donate to campaigns. On election day let’s not pretend. Let’s use our ballots to “work to be worthy guardians of these young lives, to build a community in which every child grows old surrounded by beauty, embraced by love, and cradled in the arms of peace.” May it be so.
“We commit that we are ready to dedicate ourselves to all those children living and dead who have been affected by gun violence and to all those who will be affected by gun violence.
Thank you to our generous supporters!
We are prepared. We will dedicate our minds and hearts to the protection of these children.
You help us transform individual lives and social systems to create a just and equitable community.
Sponsors
We will strive to love and cherish them, even though we do not know them. We will love them and cherish them always. We will acknowledge the divine spark within each child. We will work to be worthy guardians of these young lives to build a community in which every child grows old surrounded by beauty, embraced by love, and cradled in the arms of peace. May it be so.” Adapted from Robert Eller Isaacs' blessing for the Unitarian Universalist Service of Child Dedication.
JustDane • Changing Lives, Changing the Community
Supporters Advent Lutheran Church Bethany United Methodist Church Covenant Presbyterian Church Madison Community Foundation
Madison South Rotary Foundation National Guardian Life Summit Credit Union Wisconsin Council of Churches
Partner Spotlight
YAFA MAKES A DIFFERENCE! Yoga Accessible for All, or YAFA for short, brings the health benefits of yoga to more people beyond traditional yoga studios. YAFA is dedicated to the 3 core values of yoga : Building Self Awareness, Self Compassion and a sense of renewed Self Agency. YAFA offers trauma informed yoga that acknowledges that practices should meet people where they are and offer choices for how to rebuild their own sense of Well Being. YAFA teachers, Iris Mickey and Akiwele Burayidi, have offered a weekly yoga class to our Just Bakery students for the past year. They also offer optional classes that offer breathing and movement practices, Sound Healing practices, and introduction to meditation. Each class is tailored to meet the interest of the current cohort that is going through the Just Bakery training program. YAFA's intention is to offer teachings about how one can have self agency to deal with the stressors of normal daily life and for re-entry into life after experiencing complex trauma. YAFA teachers are aware that trauma lives in the body and science is now showing that the best way to address trauma is through somatic based, embodied practices. It's often not enough to just talk about trauma, but moving and breathing can help restore a sense of connection to our innate sense of of our own Healing Potential. Iris and Aki love guiding people to be present in their bodies, and think that too often life stressors us away We are push so grateful for from the being connected to our own bodies! invaluable gifts each one of our volunteers brings to our agency. Please visit our website at Iris is a 20 plus year long yoga teacher and Akiwele just completed a B. S. double major in justdane.org/volunteer/ to check cofounder of YAFA. Iris loves creating beauty in Health Equity and Dance from UW Madison. out our volunteer opportunities her garden and being in nature. Recently Iris Besides being a YAFA yoga teacher, she is and apply today. We look forward completed Sound Healing training and is working as a Childbirth Educator is a Doula to you being part of and our team!
learning to sing without fear!
in training.
What is your favorite book? I am currently reading about Vibrational Healing.
What is your favorite book? I just read and loved White Teeth by Zadie Smith.
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? I would travel to India to learn more about Sound Healing with Tibetan bowls and chanting with the Harmonium!
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? I would love to travel to Portugal! What are you really good at? I am good at being non-judgmental in my practice.
What are you really good at? Offering practices with no expectation.
justdane.org
Madison-area Urban Ministry, dba
Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Madison, WI Permit #1991
2115 South Park Street Madison, Wisconsin 53713 (608) 256-0906 justdane.org
STAY CONNECTED WITH US!
Just Bakery Summer Highlights Visit us at the HIlldale Farmer's Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 to 1! Find us at Taste of Madison on the Capitol Square Labor Day Weekend!
Delight in our yummy ice cream cookie sandwiches back by popular demand!
Visit our website at https://justdane.org/just-bakery/
Order online and schedule a pick up or delivery Monday thru Saturday.
JustDialogue is a reflective journal of social action printed by JustDane staff. The positions expressed here are the opinions of the authors and not necessarily the board of directors or funding sources of JustDane. Please mail contributions to our address or visit JustDane’s website at justdane.org.