Hi Reader,
It was surprising to me to see how many people thought that because I was pausing the newsletter, I was shutting down Brave Sis Project. In my sixth year of building this work, community, and practice, I wouldn't — I couldn't.
But given the grim reality of our times and the unsustainable amount of content flowing into our lives from every source imaginable, I had two needs to attend to: 1) recast what I want this Project to be for and about, and 2) find a new format for building conversation and community.
Most of all, I want to make good use of your precious time, and I want to bring some joy, pride, awareness, or other tools for resilience into your in-box.
I will not be writing too often. Probably no more than twice a month. These new newsletters will be a combination of updates, fun facts, gamified things (play is a form of resistance!), and mini-coaching/inspiring words of wisdom from me and/or Foremother angels who whisper in my ear.
Still Here, Still Brave.
I have spent the first half of the year consolidating my Brave Sis/storytelling work (website has been redesigned!) with my consulting and coaching practice. I'm finding the points of convergence while inserting the Brave Foremother wisdom and discovery into all aspects of my work. I'm also working on my new book and some new courses, including one on the intersection of race and class in America, and another for elders tentatively entitled "What is Woke? A Guide for Elders Wishing to Relate" Expect their launch this fall!
In fact, I'm excited to announce that the entire Brave Sis Online School will be updated later this year, making it easier to both find and to engage with. The very huge "allyship course" curriculum will be pared down into two or three separate courses, and some of the content will be updated in response to the current dystopian, hostile environment we are living in.
My dream back in 2019 was to take over the journal/planner universe, to compete with the Erin Condrens of the world, whose aesthetic I found culturally non-inclusive and even tokenizing (or at least, tone-deaf). After four years of producing print journals (and having a wonderful journey with my factory lead in China), the prospect of "moving product" is no longer viable.
So the journals have gone out of print — but stay tuned, because in the fall, all four versions will be tweaked and released as free downloads! They will also be perpetual. My hope is that by making this gift offering, more of you will share about the other things I'm building (courses, convenings, coaching). The t-shirts and other merch are created on-demand, so that part of the Project continues and will expand.
Recently, a board member from the Pauli Murray Center in Oakland let me know she'd bought the Pauli shirt and was proudly wearing it to many events. This kind of note is the best validation for Brave Sis Project I could ever hope for!
While my book Our Brave Foremothers won an international Nautilus Award, I'm constantly disappointed when I go to museums and bookstores that should be carrying my book, but don't know/have it (recently, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture bookstore in Harlem). My publisher did not undertake the most ardent sales reach, to my sadness.
But so many of the promises of 2021 and 2022 have been ruptured, right? So we must act collectively! Therefore, friends, if you go to a bookstore or gift shop that you think should be carrying my book, ask them to contact Hachette and get it in stock! They will go to the online database and look it up while you wait.
As you see, Brave Sis Project (me) has been very busy! If you are able and willing to help support this work, I'm happy to announce that we are now a fiscally sponsored project of the Funding Studio. You can make a tax-deductible donation to keep us aloft as we all furiously dog-paddle towards a new day of liberation.
What can we do but try, and stay strong, resilient, and inspired by our brave foremothers?!
Stay tuned for more news. It might be several weeks, but it's coming.
Please feel free to reach out with any questions, requests, or thoughts.
Foremother Wisdom, if You're Hitting the Streets.
Some or many of you may know that there is a movement among Black American women (and other folks) to avoid the growing number of street protests against our loathsome federal regime. If you don't know the reasons behind this sentiment, here's one take. What do you think about this?
Here is another social commentator I often follow. What are you seeing from other circles beyond Black women? I asked a dear Latina girlfriend about this the other day. I wish to keep expanding my lens!
As dystopian and disgusting as this time in our history may be, many women we know and venerate have seen worse. Think of Sojourner, think of Lozen (if you don't know her, get my book), think of Fannie Lou (always!) Think of Flo Kennedy, who once quipped (she was great with the quips), "Don't agonize, organize." This was in the 70s. The struggle is not some new thing.
Here is a bit of information I shared with the public before the June #NoKings protests. It remains valid every day.
Mood.
This is a one-of-a-kind sweatshirt I made for myself because I was feeling some kind of way. But the good news is I also made a bunch of other gear for your next protest. Click the link above to see what up.
