Peace y'all!
With the year coming to an end, I find myself, like every year, fighting the contradictions that capitalism and the nonprofit industrial complex have created: hibernation versus completing a ton of tasks before winter break. I also feel the conflict and contradiction within me that the idea of “end of year” is a privilege. My Sundanese, Congolese, and Palestine brothers and sisters do not have an “end of year.” My cousin who striked with The United Auto Workers lost wages during the strike, so “end of year” ain’t coming. Many of my comrades, brothers, and sisters do not get the “end of year,” so I'm steadfast in my discipline and solidarity, which means I do not get an “end of year.”
At RG, we have a budget that needs to be raised. While giving at the end of the year is an unhealthy practice for organizations, I encourage you to give boldly before the year ends. Do not let the hibernation or senioritis stop you from helping us raise this budget that allows us to continue to do badass work and hire badass staff in 2024. The impact of our budget impacts the budget of movement organizations twentyfold! I charge you to stretch yourself for the collective struggle. To stretch yourself for our people on the frontlines in this country and elsewhere. Do it for our people who get served, housed, fed, clothed, health support, and all forms of mutual aid. For our comrades that only get Christmas and New Year’s off. Let's raise this budget because so much is at stake for all living beings, including our precious planet.
Before I close this email, after six years with RG, four as the Director of Chapter Organizing and Base Building, and two as Manager of Multiracial Base Building, December 21st will be the last time I punch my time card. What a beautiful experience it's been organizing with my colleagues and RG members. I believe my presence and work have made a difference internally and externally, but like most organizers, we feel there is more we could have done or offered. For those who know me, organizing and the struggle is in my blood and bones, and while working at RG, I always balanced my time with other local and national movement projects. That ain’t gonna ever stop until I'm in grave, god willing, when I'm over 100 years young.
If you want to build with me outside of RG, hit me up before the year is out so we can exchange information.
In struggle,
Ekundayo
Manager of Multiracial Base Building
