LynnAllen.net Tracy Apple of The Pachamama Alliance (TPA) Tracy's
Memo about the use of the Van Jones DVD - his speech at the 2007 ATD Facilitators
Global Community Gathering - |
| Following are four recommendations to begin our education that Van Jones made to the Pachamama staff. We have found them to be exceptionally useful and pass them along to you.
"
Watch Eyes on the Prize Eyes on the
Prize, Part I: America's Civil Rights Years 1954-1964 " Read James Baldwin's writings - any and all. " Read the poetry of Audre Lorde.
Dear Colleague, In June of 2007, the Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream Facilitator community was graced with a visit and presentation by Van Jones on the morning of the first day of our Global Gathering at Mills College. Van spoke for about 75 minutes, and we spent the rest of the conference reeling from the impact of being with him and his message. We are still reeling. Fortunately his talk was videotaped. While copies were made available to Symposium Facilitators, we had no plans to make copies more widely available. (Enough DVDs were duplicated for our in-house use only.) It has become clear that Van's stirring message has applicability and relevance way beyond the Awakening the Dreamer Symposium/community, and there are those who have viewed the DVD who are eager and excited to take it into their communities. We at the Pachamama Alliance do not have a plan for distribution of Van's talk, nor do we have parameters for who should view it, nor where and when. Like the Awakening the Dreamer Symposium itself, this growing interest in the DVD is an organic process, one which we tend to feel is being guided. That being said, may I make the following observations and requests: " This DVD appears to have greatest impact when shared with people who already have a commitment to creating a socially just human presence on this planet; it is perhaps less effective when used as an initial tool to wake people up in this area. In other words, Van provides some remarkable answers as to how to proceed from here, but if you aren't already in that inquiry, we have noticed that the observations and insights he provides can miss their mark. " As the Pachamama Alliance is not in a position to make and distribute these DVDs, the question arises as to whether it is okay to burn and distribute copies yourself. The answer is a qualified "yes." Is it okay to show it to your community? Another qualified "yes." We ask that you be mindful and respectful in how and where you share Van's rather intimate, intense and deeply moving message. " In the DVD Van is addressing a group of Awakening the Dreamer Symposium Facilitators. In presenting the DVD to people who are not familiar with The Pachamama Alliance and the work of Awakening the Dreamer it is advisable to begin by letting the audience know that the Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream Symposium, developed by The Pachamama Alliance, is a three to eight hour multi-media educational experience being offered by trained volunteers (Facilitators) in communities and organizations throughout the United States (and abroad). Its purpose is that people leave the Symposium committed and empowered to bring forth an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling and socially just human presence on the planet the guiding principle of our time. You may direct people to the website www.awakeningthedreamer.com to find dates and locations of Symposiums near them. " Any time the DVD is shown, we request that the audience be appraised as to how they can support Van's work with the Ella Baker Center (for example, by having the address of the Ella Baker Center and perhaps envelopes available so that people who would like to make a financial contribution can do so). Likewise, as part of the presentation we would ask that viewers be informed as to how they can find out more about the Awakening the Dreamer Symposium and contribute to that continuing work as well. (Contact information for both organizations is listed below.) " Finally, let me share with you Van's reply to a query about the advisability of making the DVD available to people beyond those who were in the room in June: "I
don't remember what I said, and I am sure that I would wince if I read the transcript…
So, bottom line, please use this amazing tool as you see fit to help create the world we are all so deeply committed to bringing forth. You may contact Adrienne White at Adrienne@pachamama.org if there are any questions, or if you have any feedback on powerful ways you find to engage with and support people who have viewed the video.
The
Pachamama Alliance/Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream
Tracy Apple |