transform-200901
4
Read this newsletter online: http://transformativechange.org/docs/nl/transform-200901.html Download printable PDF version: http://transformativechange.org/docs/nl/transform-200901.pdf welcome This January we welcome a new president, a new year, and for transform., the newsletter of Center for Transformative Change, a new look. This month we celebrate the historic inauguration of the first black president, someone people hold as a symbol of hope and change. To introduce our new issue, the director talks more about what that means to many of us in the featured article below. In recognition of the inauguration, we invite each of you to look at what you once thought was impossible and take the first steps toward making it happen. finally American inSIGHT with angel Kyodo williams Each time I peer at this new look of transform., I get a feeling of satisfaction that a process that we began over a year ago--transitioning from an Oakland-based meditation center to situating ourselves sqaurely in the center of this work we call "transformative social change"--is essentially complete. I'm more struck, though, at the great big American flag that looms above in our welcome section. I took that picture in the airport at Jacksonville, FL after a 2004 Election Protection campaign. You remember, don't you? The last presidential election was all about Florida because that was the scene of the year 2000 crime that gave America a president that many of us couldn't or wouldn't call our what's new New Look for Our Newsletter Welcome to the new transform. As you can see, our newsletter has a new look and our organization has a new name. Read more... Room Available with our residential community at Center for Transformative Change. in TIME Open House & Annual Sangha Gathering--You're Invited! Once a year, we invite the larger community, new and old, invested and interested, to come together to assess the past. Here's a taste of what we'll be discussing on January 25th: Read more... Schedule of upcoming events. Celebrate Inauguration in Community in the CENTER Center for Transformative Change: Inner Work Meets Social Change In December, the Center for urbanPEACE became the Center for Transformative Change. Read more... in the MIND fearlessMeditation Complete! For the first time ever, we offered our complete fearlessMeditation series over three consecutive New Beginning | the CENTER | January 2009 http://www.transformativechange.org/docs/nl/transform-200901.html 1 of 4 10/24/09 7:29 PM
-
Upload
transformative-change -
Category
Documents
-
view
215 -
download
0
description
inSIGHT with angel Kyodo williams Each time I peer at this new look of transform., I get a feeling of satisfaction that a process that we began over a year ago--transitioning from an Oakland-based meditation center to situating ourselves sqaurely in the center of this work we call "transformative social change"--is essentially complete. in TIME in the CENTER what's new in the MIND Center for Transformative Change: Inner Work Meets Social Change New Look for Our Newsletter
Transcript of transform-200901
Read this newsletter online: http://transformativechange.org/docs/nl/transform-200901.htmlDownload printable PDF version: http://transformativechange.org/docs/nl/transform-200901.pdf
welcomeThis January we welcome a new president, a new year, and fortransform., the newsletter of Center for Transformative Change, a newlook. This month we celebrate the historic inauguration of the first blackpresident, someone people hold as a symbol of hope and change. Tointroduce our new issue, the director talks more about what that meansto many of us in the featured article below. In recognition of theinauguration, we invite each of you to look at what you once thought wasimpossible and take the first steps toward making it happen.
finally AmericaninSIGHT with angel Kyodo williams
Each time I peer at this new look of transform.,I get a feeling of satisfaction that a process thatwe began over a year ago--transitioning from anOakland-based meditation center to situatingourselves sqaurely in the center of this work wecall "transformative social change"--isessentially complete.
I'm more struck, though, at the great bigAmerican flag that looms above in our welcome section. I took thatpicture in the airport at Jacksonville, FL after a 2004 Election Protectioncampaign. You remember, don't you? The last presidential election was allabout Florida because that was the scene of the year 2000 crime thatgave America a president that many of us couldn't or wouldn't call our
what's newNew Look for Our Newsletter
Welcome to the new transform.As you can see, our newsletterhas a new look and ourorganization has a new name.
Read more...Room Available with our residential community at
Center for Transformative Change.
in TIMEOpen House & Annual SanghaGathering--You're Invited!Once a year, we invite the largercommunity, new and old,invested and interested, to cometogether to assess the past.
Here's a taste of what we'll be discussing on January25th:Read more...
Schedule of upcoming events.Celebrate Inauguration in Community
in the CENTERCenter for TransformativeChange: Inner Work Meets SocialChange
In December, the Center forurbanPEACE became the Center
for Transformative Change.Read more...
in the MINDfearlessMeditation Complete! Forthe first time ever, we offered ourcomplete fearlessMeditationseries over three consecutive
New Beginning | the CENTER | January 2009 http://www.transformativechange.org/docs/nl/transform-200901.html
1 of 4 10/24/09 7:29 PM
own.
Looking back, it seems strange that I even took a photo of a US flag. Afterall, I've identified less and less with the flag, being American, and evenAmerica itself, since my 4th grade protest of the "Pledge of Allegiance."Like a good social justice practitioner, I recognize the privilege foistedupon me because I was born a US citizen whenever I leave the country.Even if my rights aren't well-regarded when I'm here at home, I do (still)get special treatment elsewhere in the world. Personally, though, I wasone of those heathen "unpatriotic" Americans that, far from feeling aswell of pride whenever "Oh, say can you see..." was belted out by thelatest pop star on a football field, felt a burdensome combination ofshame and irritation. Shame because from sea to shining sea, Americastood for something far from liberty and justice for all. Irritation becauseapparently a bunch of folks still think if we don't wave the flag until ourarms fall off and stick little pins on our lapels, we're Enemy Combatant#1 and should get ready for an all expense-paid trip to Gauntanamo for alittle waterboarding excursion.
So you can imagine how strange it seems to now reacquaint myself withwhat it means to be American.
But here I am...here WE are. A scant 8 years after "we wuz robbed" ofwhat should have been the first Green President, we've got the first BlackPresident. Having in Al Gore a President that would have acknowledgedour path of environmental destruction before Katrina could have restoredfaith for some us, but having a post-9/11 President with an Arabic namemeaning "blessed" is too much for even the most hopeful of us to haveever anticipated. Does anyone think that whoever is pulling the swtichesbehind the curtain of the Universe doesn't have a sense of humor?
After Obama's election I quickly realized that I wasn't alone in myarms-distance relationship to being American. Over and over again Iheard people--conscious, justice-seeking people: black people, whitepeople, poor and privileged, from behind the scenes and on thefrontlines--each on an outbreath of relief say: "I can finally be proud tobe American."
On the one hand, 2009 brings with it the incredible challenges of thefreefall of an economic house of cards built with smoke, mirrors and lotsof dishonest spit, an unjust war built on outright lies. and a devastatingattack on a people that the world can no longer deny is on the short endof a harsh stick, built on a 60 year theft. On the other hand, we areembarking upon a new year, a new era, and a strange, new hopefulnessthat real people, tired of being polarized by fear, hate and separation canorganize for hope, progress and change. And together, our collective willcan make a difference.
I debated taking that flag image out many, many times. But it stayed.And for now, anyway, I stay. I stay here to reimagine and fully claim beingAmerican because I can finally exchange some of my stalwartcommitment to see change happen for an actual experience of changebeing possible. And it's change I can believe in...imagine that?
weeks.Read more...
"the best workshop i've ever taken. radically changedmy work."fearless Meditation is our 3-part signature series thatteaches practical meditation in a social justice context:
fearless Meditation I: practice of the bodyfearless Meditation II: practice of the breathfearless Meditation III: practice of the mind
in the BODYFearless Self-DefenseIn November, Zochi AlonzoYoung, one of our CoreMembers, taught a small groupof women the basics ofself-defense.
Read more...Universal Form in the Park
wellness & well-beingCelebrate the New Year withBryant Terry's Asian Martini.Bryant is an author & foodactivist who speaks out aboutfood sustainability. His firstbook, Grub with coauthor Anna
Lappé, won a 2007 Nautilus Award for Social Change.His new book Vegan Soul Kitchen: Fresh, Healthy, andCreative African-American Cuisine comes out inMarch.
Asian Martini Recipe
january wallpaper
This Buddha image was photographed by angel Kyodowilliams at the Clear Water Temple in Japan during thefall of 2006. Download it as wallpaper for your desktop,with or without the calendar.
Download your desktop calendar here...
connect | share | support
New Beginning | the CENTER | January 2009 http://www.transformativechange.org/docs/nl/transform-200901.html
2 of 4 10/24/09 7:29 PM
angel Kyodo williams, is founderof urbanPEACE. A social visionaryand leading voice fortransformative social change, she is also author of Being Black: Zen andthe Art of Living With Fearlessness and Grace.
Download this article as a PDF
www.angelkyodowilliams.com
Don’t Miss angel Kyodo williams next talk, February 8, 2009Topic or Name of next event that aKw will appear at.
newDharma TalkFaith Mind: Don't Pick and ChooseThe HSIN SHIN MING or Verses of the Faith Mind is arich text written by the Third Zen Patriarch ofChina, Sengtsan (d. 606 AD) says:"The Great Way is not difficult for those who haveno preferences. When love and hate are both
absent everything becomes clear and undisguised. Make the smallestdistinction, however, and heaven and earth are set infinitely apart. Ifyou wish to see the truth then hold no opinions for or against anything."
angel Kyodo williams talks about cultivating Faith Mind, and how "notpicking and choosing" can bring more ease to our everyday lives.
Listen to the newDharma Podcast here or
activists, allies & agents of change…Each month in this section of the new transform we'll feature anindividual or an organization whose focus is on bringing about changeusing a transformative approach. This month we hear from AdrienneMaree Brown, Executive Director of the kickass Ruckus Society.
Why Gaza Matters to Usby Adrienne Maree Brown from Colorlines Blog
On December 30, I attended a rally/memorial for Gaza in Dearborn,Michigan. Dearborn is home to the largest community of Arab andArab-American people within US borders. I went with two young womenwho have focused on Palestinian human rights, and were in Palestine lastyear doing work with youth to develop a creative and nonviolent responseto the wall, and a third young woman who is learning about the situationmuch as I am.Read more...
www.ruckus.org
resources for change…In this section we'll offer resources that empower Transformative SocialChange. This month, Alice Walker writes on Leadership and ClaudiaHorwitz speaks to Service on Obama's US Service website. Finally, angelKyodo williams talks about Being Natural.
An Open Letter to Barack Obama from Alice Walker
transform [email protected]
Share your transformative storytell us how you're changing the WAY change is done.
Register for trainings, workshops & events866.PEACE.2009 (toll free)
Forward this newsletterBe a friend. Pass transform on.
Center for Transformative Change is the first nationalcenter entirely dedicated to bridging the inner andouter lives of social change agents, activists and alliesto support a more effective, more sustainable socialjustice movement. The Center is a project ofurbanPEACE, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educationalorganization whose mission to inform, incite andempower a broad-based, presence-centeredtransformative social change movement.
Donate to the Center to support our work.Visit the Center's website.
New Beginning | the CENTER | January 2009 http://www.transformativechange.org/docs/nl/transform-200901.html
3 of 4 10/24/09 7:29 PM
Perfecting Our Legacy: The Path of Spiritual Activism
Being Natural: $8On this CD angel Kyodo williams discusses the often understatedimportance of being who we are and how this lets us find real space inour lives. It's a helpful resource for letting go of who you aren't in orderto be true to yourself. Get it here...
quote of the monthWithout inner change, there can be no outer change. Without collectivechange, no change matters."—angel Kyodo williams, Center for Transformative Change
Center for Transformative Change is a project of urbanPEACE, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization whose mission to inform, incite and empower abroad-based, presence-centered transformative social change movement.
Having trouble reading this email? Go to:http://transformativechange.org/docs/nl/transform-200901.html
New Beginning | the CENTER | January 2009 http://www.transformativechange.org/docs/nl/transform-200901.html
4 of 4 10/24/09 7:29 PM
