Author: Kim

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Why Can’t We Care for Our Neighbors?

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An agency with the County obtained a grant to supply water to unhoused people over the summer. The grant is likely running out in a couple of weeks unless additional funding has been secured. The distribution is handled by enlisting community groups to each collect up to 10 cases of water per week and bring it to people on the streets. I’ve been bringing water to three communities in West Oakland. People are very thankful for the water, but often hungry and ask  hopefully if I have food. Sometimes I do, but often I don’t. I’ve met people who are… read more

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4. Love Creates

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If not resistance, then what? We are not forced to live between binaries: fight or flight, resistance or passivity. People often frame situations as this or that, yes or no, either you share my views and are in my group, or you are immoral, insane, or stupid. Many accept a dualistic worldview as the way life is. But love is by nature creative. We are creative beings who can imagine, name, grow, nurture, tend, and shape something new. Your choices are not between acceptance and resistance. You have a third way, and a fourth and fifth and sixth and seventh…… read more

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3. Reframing from Resistance

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“First do no harm,” is a concept often applied to medical practice. It’s important to the practice of active love also, and truthfully, is not easily done. Often, renunciation of harm while seeking justice is called ‘nonviolence,’ and related actions are described under the term, ‘resistance.’ Reactions to threat Fight, flight, freeze or fawn are the commonly described reactions to threat, and resistance is mainly a fight response. In order to resist a person, one needs to see the other as opponent, not a part of ourselves. In order to resist a group, one needs to categorize, stereotype and label…. read more

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2. The Law is Love

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The practice of active love flows from the core principle that “The Law is Love.” In a legal context, a law is a rule or set of rules that provides the fundamental framework for addressing or preventing harm. It defines what constitutes harm, what obligations parties have in avoiding harm, and what response is made when harm happens. In science, a law describes attributes of the way the universe functions, as in the laws of gravity or thermodynamics. Spiritual laws prescribe what is right or moral. People often believe them to be associated with their specific religious beliefs, yet there… read more

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1. A Change in Operating System

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A Foundational Change People have been talking about love and peace for a long time. It’s common to dismiss such talk as simplistic, sentimental idealism. But living according to love is a significantly different life structure from our present social and institutional norms. It requires us to be open to making changes in each of our own lives in order to learn how to live outside of the dominance-based worldview nearly all of us have been steeped in from birth. It includes changing our language, and some of our most basic frameworks upon which we make our decisions. To develop… read more

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Quotes on Justice and Love

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“Justice is Love correcting that which revolts against Love.” – Martin Luther King Jr. “Justice is what love looks like in public.” – Cornel West “Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice. Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love.”  – Martin Luther King Jr. “Justice that love gives is a surrender, justice that law gives is a punishment.”   – Mahatma Gandhi “I have the need to understand why we are so good at passing on violence and so poor at passing on love.” – Marie Deans “It is not enough for… read more

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Monoprint Stencil Poster Workshop

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September 15, 1-4:30 PMBraided Bridge Studio,730 29th St. #101, West Oakland Join us in making monoprint posters with stencils! Monoprinting is a painterly process to create unique prints. In this workshop, we will combine painting with handcut stencils to create bold messages displaying a tension between softly blended color and graphic impact. This technique can be used to create artistic imagery, activist posters, or imagery that could be combined with collage, painting, or mixed media. Each workshop participant will leave will a series of posters. All materials will be provided.  The posters in these pictures were made by Braided Bridge… read more

Collaged Zine Workshop

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July 21, 1-4 PMBraided Bridge Studio, 730 29th St. #101, West Oakland Join us for a zine making and collage workshop! Join Braided Bridge community members Luz Marina Ruiz and Michelle Wilson in making a simple zine structure, and fill the pages with collage material! A zine (ZEEN) is a handmade book that usually combines writing and images to create a story or share information. For our workshop, we transform various forms of printed material into a unique, artist book for participants to take home.  All materials will be provided.  To register for this class, fill out the form below. A $5 registration fee… read more