Breathe. Reflect. Regroup. Repeat.
Once again, it is the time to POWER UP, POWER PEOPLE!
It’s the day after the election and Trump has been declared the victor of the presidential race. MAGA Republicans have the Senate Majority. The House is up in the air. We have a lame duck administration in the White House now. Apparently, Beyonce, the Swifties and all the childless cat lady memes didn’t move the electorate for Kamala the way we thought they would….
Self-soothing jokes aside, seriously thanks to everyone who DID SOMETHING - voted, donated, endorsed, knocked on doors, put up signs, wrote postcards, texted, posted on social, talked to friends and neighbors, trained folks, and/or worked the polls in this historic world wind of an election. We worked hard to put Kamala Harris into the highest office of the land, at the last minute too. It sucks that we lost, and it especially sucks that we lost to the MAGA movement, again.
I am sad and angry but feeling numb too. Like - I am not crying or having an anxiety attack from feeling overwhelmed or anything of that nature. As a Black woman, after 42 years of experiencing and witnessing interpersonal, institutional, and structural racism, sexism, violence, and disenfranchisement - I feel numb out of necessity. It’s literally the American way. And yet I continue to live, serve, and shine.
But for real though - Shout out to all the Black women and progressives who held down the GOTV work across the nation, and especially those in the battleground states of North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. And huge congratulations and much respect to all my movement people in DC, Maryland and Virginia who did hold it down AND put Angela Alsobrooks in office - the first Black woman in the Maryland Senate.
And I can’t forget to uplift DC Council Member Janeese Lewis George - who won her re-election AND gave birth to a beautiful baby boy within the same week! WHAT?! YAAASSS, QUEENS, SHE DID THAT!!! WARD 4, BABY!!!
Yet despite these gleaming silver linings and though I’ve been humming “This Little Light of Mine” today, my ears are burning and I’ve had a headache all day. How is your body responding somatically to the election results?
I’ve noticed over the last 20 years that my ears burn, particularly when I hear racist, sexist, greedy bullshit spewing out of the mouths of politicians, corporate crooks, and the media. I first noticed this somatic response in my body at the John A. Wilson Building in DC years ago while advocating for workers’ and consumers rights. While our people would use facts, research, reason, creativity, and human dignity to advance human rights policies, super capitalists would use their power to block progressive policy, innovation, and resources impacting the poor and working class. Democrats mostly. Evil be lurkin’ everywhere y'all. So yeah. My ears are burning again today.
But I am rooted in my values and in our collective vision of a multi-racial, gender inclusive, equitable, accessible, transparent democratic system for all.
And I BELIEVE that:
We must continue to organize on the ground, creating brave spaces for people to show up with vulnerability and authenticity, to wrestle with reality, and to agitate each other towards becoming the best versions of ourselves individually and collectively.
We must continue to protect and care for each other and our children, build bridges, build up new leaders, and build our systems from our deepest centers of love and respect for the earth and each other’s humanity.
We must continue to breathe and be intentional about our actions, resisting the urge to react out of fear, practicing our unique abilities to navigate the changing conditions of the world and mobilize resources for our people strategically.
I believe this because I know who I am.
I know who we are.
We are the descendants of those who’ve survived the worst of America.
We are the descendants of those who organized, demonstrated, marched, prayed, and broke barriers again and again, against all odds for EVERYBODY who just so happens NOT to be a heterosexual, wealthy, white male. And shit, we've even organized some of them too!
We are everyone.
Everywhere.
All the time.
Still!
So regardless of who won the election and all the infuriating contradictions we’re facing, IT IS ALWAYS TIME TO ORGANIZE!
Time to organize against genocide in Palestine, Sudan, Congo, and Ukraine.
Time to organize to Stop Cop Cities, mass incarceration and deportations.
Time to organize to put an end to school shootings, reform gun and police laws.
Time to organize for LGBTQ+ youth and people’s safety and opportunities.
Time to organize for healthy local food systems, universal health care and housing for all.
Time to organize to tax the wealthy to fund public education and campaign finance reform.
Time to organize to win back women’s right to abortion, equal pay and safety at work.
Time to organize for clean and alternative sources of energy, transportation, and packaging.
Time to organize for public budgets that MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE & PLANET!
There is no alternative.
To be fair though, we did just take some serious blows at the federal and state levels and some of us may be feeling pretty beat up. So let us pause to rest and dust off our shoulders before immediately getting back up to fight again. We deserve and need some time to regroup.
Let us Breathe. To be present in our bodies and harness the wisdom and power within.
Let us Reflect. To learn from the past and vision the future forward together.
Let us Regroup. For some serious power mapping, analysis, planning, and resilience practices.
Let us Organize. Because that is our birthright. Our inextinguishable, collective superpower.
My super power is facilitating strategic planning processes and retreats for BIPOC women and LGBTQ+ led organizations and businesses working towards social, racial, environmental, and democracy justice. I am clear that this is my offering to our people during these times of fear and dysfunction.
It brings me deep joy to see our people clear, coordinated, taking intentional action together, growing our power to win the world we deeply desire. Over the past two decades, I’ve had the honor of facilitating strategic planning and team building retreats for groups large and small - from well-established national orgs like re:power and Greenpeace, to burgeoning grassroots groups like the Baltimore County Education Justice Table and the Prince George’s County Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools. Regardless of the size of the organization, issues worked on, or type of campaign - there are several universal, collective practices I use to land teams with developmental and campaign clarity, including and not limited to:
Breathing, Body Awareness, and Motion
Values Based Storytelling
Power Mapping, Research, and Interviews
Group Power Analysis
Key Results Areas Calendaring
Listening, Consensus Building, and Documentation
Sign up for my email list to get free access to the tools and tips I’ve used throughout my career to strengthen organizations and win transformative campaigns—like raising the minimum wage, taking on corporate giants like Walmart and Darden, and building grassroots pipelines to elect BIPOC leaders who challenge the status quo. My mission is to empower BIPOC leaders with the confidence and clarity to manage dynamic teams, systems, and campaigns using simple, proven tools and practices.
Facilitating strategic planning sessions with my people also feels right in my body. I feel most alive exercising my strategy muscles. Throughout the process, my mind snaps into this clear, generative, high charged battery, enabling all my senses and abilities to function at my highest while deeply connected to the minds, bodies, and feelings of others. I feel no fear, pain, or limitations. I am full of love, hope, joy, tenacity, and direction. I become the best version of myself. And so, this is and continues to be my way forward in the darkness.
What is your superpower that you will unleash post-election? How will your spark light our way forward, together? Let me know by leaving a comment below.
But if you or your organization is in need of strategic planning support, my team and I would be honored to talk with you to explore if we’re a good fit. You can schedule time with me by emailing my Operations Director at operations@nikkimg.com or by booking a free 30-minute consultation with me here.
In the meantime, “Keep Kalmala and Carry Onala.”
With love and gratitude to all the freedom fighters,
Nikki M.G. The Power Expert
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