Self Love & Collective Care In Organizing

Dear Friends,

As activists and leaders, organizing to dismantle systems of oppression demands much of our time and energy. Being exposed to and working against the violence and injustice of these systems takes a great toll on us, and we often forgo taking care of our own needs to meet those of the communities we love. It is vital that we engage in both self love and collective care to sustain ourselves and our movements. As Audre Lorde said, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”

I have found that understanding our needs and limits is an important first step in healing and preserving our strength as organizers. This starts with prioritizing our basic physical and mental well-being by supporting our nutrition, hydration, and sleep to the best of our ability with the resources available to us.

Recognizing when we are failing to take care of these essential needs and experiencing burn out is key so that we can take a step back and devote the necessary time to care for ourselves.

Beyond supporting our fundamental well-being, identifying and engaging in activities that are healing for us can help us renew and restore our energy for organizing. Think about what reduces stress for you and brings you joy, and work to include these fulfilling activities in your routine and when you’re feeling overwhelmed. This can be anything from meditation, yoga, dancing, making art, writing poetry, cooking, or spending time with loved ones.

Caring for ourselves is not just an individual responsibility but a collective one. Recognizing when you need help and seeking it out along with recognizing when others need this help and providing it are both fundamental to creating a system where we can lean on one another for support. Creating these systems of support in our organizing spaces and communities is critical so that we can check in with those around us to assess their needs and help meet them. In the organizing that I have done, I have seen how powerful it is when people provide this care to one another.

Jessica Gonzales-Rojas Assemblymember, 34th District

New York State Assembly

I hope that through these processes, we can create spaces where we are able to take care of ourselves and others. Supporting our well-being and those we are in community with are essential to successful and thriving movements for change.

In Solidarity,