Finding the Helpers
This isn't one of my usual word-heavy posts. I hesitated to post it at all because part of me said, “well, that's not Writing.” But I write to help, to share, and to connect and maybe clarity is more important than Writing today. And also maybe the self critical teenager in me is just talking a little too loud.
Speaking of Writing… I am working on a piece on Inside Out 2 (and my own internal system) and also one pondering whether I should be doing something with (or for or to or about) my dreams when I wake up. Subscribing will make sure those pieces (or one about something else entirely if my ADHD has anything to say about it) come straight to your inbox. All of my work is free and it's free to subscribe. A paid subscription just supports me in doing more of it (and partaking is less waged labor to support my creator habit! Huzzah!)
It’s hard for me not to feel like the world is looking a little bleak lately… to put it lightly. On top of all of the “usual”(?!?!!!!) war, poverty, racism/sexism, suffering, shootings and tragedies, prevalence of mental health issues, school bullying, etc etc etc, there’s a relatively new (or the lack of subtlety is relatively new at least) eeking movement of defunding of arts and community services. Libraries (which are also a source of AC in the heat wave) are closed on Sundays in NYC now. The University of the Arts closed suddenly and permanently, leaving all of its students and staff in a lurch.
As a believer in the power of art to heal community and as a sign of a functioning society, it feels… foreboding.
And at the same time, because of my recent Alice-ism, rabbit holing into community and mutual aid and social constructivism, I'm also being fed hope by the algorithm lately, which is never a thing I thought I would say, but the Instagram algorithm has figured out that it won't keep me addicted with the fear and toxic comment sections anymore so it's started feeding me hope. It's started featuring the helpers. (There's still plenty of puppies too, don't worry.)
I'd like to say that this hope algorithm is evening out some of the panic and creating balance for me, but no, instead, it just creates wild oscillation between pits of desperation; fits of hope, research, and planning; and sunny days where I admire the breeze and my dog and ignore everything else. But it's better than just being in the pit all of the time. Besides the pit offers some rest and rest is needed for hope to drive.
Today I just wanted to share some of the hope that has happened upon my feed in this last few months.
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”
―Mr. Rogers
Makers 4 Mutual Aid, a group of makers donating the money from raffles of their work to mutual aid organizations.
Operation Hope, a nonprofit providing free financial literacy information and programs.
Starts With Us, resources to overcome toxic polarization. I love the beer ad pinned on their profile.
Project Beloved, a woman who has so far transformed 100 rooms in local police stations into soft interview rooms for victims of sexual assault victims.
Samaritans NYC, 24/7 emotional support for NYC crisis.
Anderson Foundation, empowers and educates girls in order to help them rise.
The Possibility Project, empowers young people to share their stories and impact their communities.
We are Man Enough, trying to change the dialogue around masculinity.
This is How We Care, imagining a world rooting in collective care
Girls Write Nashville, a songwriting program for kids in Nashville
The Global Play Brigade, performance activism!
All Stars, using the power of performance, youth see new possibilities for themselves and their communities.
Sidewalk Talk, local groups organizing free listening events.
Public Libraries! I am blown away by all of the online and in person resources I am finding at the NYPLs.
Who have you noticed helping? I’d love to hear about them.
An Addendum to Community
In my last post, I mentioned that I’d found all sorts of people trying to find new ways to connect and create community. I promised, Allison, one of my brilliant founding paid subscribers and friend, a list, and since many of these people are helpers too, it feels like it fits here. The magic might be in here somewhere.
Day Breaker, a global community and social experiment that includes sober dance parties during the day.
Time Left, Take a quiz and then sign up to be paired with 5 strangers and a local restaurant for dinner on Wednesday evenings.
The Dinner Table, dinner parties with strangers. While Time Left looks like it could go either way (which I’m all for), these look so elegant.
Creative Lunch Club sets users up with two other creatives for lunch once a month.
Lean In Org, online community spaces and support for women.
Reading Rhythms, structured events where you socialize and read when live music playing throughout.
Book Club Bar, a bar with books and lots of events!
NYC Drawing Room is a living room-esque third space with open hours, all of the art supplies you can imagine, and curated events.
Foster Writing Circles, free writing circles.
The Narrative Method, also free writing events on zoom. I’ve attended one of these and it was great.
Secret Message Parties at The Lavaux, where they encourage strangers to send each other anonymous notes on Tuesday nights.
City Girls Who Walk, a walking community that meets on the weekends. This page is NYC’s, but they have them in many cities.
Her Workplace, a work focused networking community for women.
Tavern Community Coworking, a whole lot of social events centered around a co-working space.
Matinee Social Club NYC, events that end by 10pm
The Gathering Spot, a private membership club with the mission of creating “a world where opportunity is the byproduct of community and collaboration.” Only in Atlanta, LA, and DC.
A Third Place NYC non-alcoholic pop-up bars.
Our Kinship Co., open virtual conversations on a variety of topics.
Gaia Music Collective, one day community choirs, open mics, collaborative songwriting events and more. (There are some other variations on the community choir in NYC and elsewhere too!)
SongHouse, sometimes I wish I lived in Nashville, though from the website it looks like this place has exploded.
Brooklyn Brainery, “community-focused, crowdsourced education”
New Day and All Souls NYC are both interesting NYC churches.
I’ve also found community in climbing gyms, at music events and open mics, and online in Facebook groups based on neighborhood, interest, and even just geography. I met a bunch of really cool women in San Francisco through a social facebook group and I also felt like part of the hiking community there because of an active Facebook group.
I’m probably always chasing the communal high of creating theatre in a run down black box with nothing to lose.
Have you been to any of these events or communities? Tell me about it!
Got one to add to the list? Your favorite community? A space you’ve been meaning to checkout?
I'm still in search of the helpers and the community builders, still learning, starting to percolate, and trying very hard to be okay going slowly. Thanks for being here with me.
when will you start writing again sweetie?