Dear John,

Thank you to all those who joined us for the Local Peace Economy meeting last night!

We are so grateful that Calandra Davis could join us to share about her experience cultivating community in Mississippi. She offered so much wisdom about relationships being the fabric of community and how to address individualism when it arises. One quote that we're carrying with us: "Shared space and community are two very different things." If you want to revisit the content, or if you weren’t able to join us, you can watch the recording of last night's call. If you'd like to support Calandra's community, you can donate here or give your time and talent through various volunteer opportunities. For more information, reach out to Calandra at [email protected].

Our next meeting will be Wednesday, June 5th at 5:00pm PT/8:00pm ET.

Before our next gathering, continue reflecting on what you learned last night about community. Where have you created community? What have you learned from it? What have been your trials and successes in creating community? What fears do you have about deepening into community?

After the call ended, JoAnne passed along a quote from an indigenous elder (name unknown) that she wanted to share with the group: "We are here to help each other and make each other happy." It may sound simple, perhaps even frustratingly so, and yet, the truth is often so much simpler than we want to admit. This wisdom is the spirit of the local peace economy.

We'd love to continue to hear about what you're learning! Join the local peace economy listserve to stay connected and continue learning with others in between our bi-weekly calls! You can join the listserve here.

If you have an idea for a local peace economy project and would like specific support bringing it to life, reach out to Emily at [email protected] to set up a time to talk!

Links shared during the call:

• Dear Mothership, (poem by Marcus Wicker)
• RSVP to the Local Peace Economy Teach-In at Gaza Summer School on 6/17!
• War Is Weaponized Confusion - a recent CODEPINK blog post
• Only Revolutionary Love Can Save Us Now - article by Michelle Alexander
• Occupy Love (film)

Other supportive resources:

• Download The Local Peace Economy Workbook (free digital version)
• Purchase The Local Peace Economy Workbook (physical copy)
• Video introduction to the workbook
• Resources for the Cycle of (Re)connection
• Local Peace Economy Ecosystem
• Local Peace Economy Wiki
• CODEPINK Radio Ep. 242: The Local Peace Economy

If you have any questions, please email Emily at [email protected]. We look forward to seeing you on June 5th!

With care,

Jodie and Emily

Dear Mothership,
by Marcus Wicker

Earth is reeking. And we obsidian-backed, winged
cling to the funk in a language that never fails: Peace vibes.
Wonderment & all that pimp shit. An ambrosia we invent
to savor roses through the stink. Like witchgrass effacing
a wheat bed with a gangster lean, bias paralyzes
their country—white flame searing through red & blue cells.
Branded into whosoever drinks. America, the perforated
straw in a single fold; stop creasing my visage with grief!
If only in the beginning someone said: I wish us the sun
& everything under it. Perhaps then we'd survive by friendship,
happiness, justice, love. Say: Together we can do the necessary.
If only from the jump pled everyone at the house party: 
Mothership, teach me how to be neighborly. How to gather light
in. Then release. Mother, please teach me how to be human.