Care, beauty, love. This refrain sings through me. A sacred song I tune in to, over and over. This year, I have been traversing the journey of caretaking loved ones facing serious illness. Others around me are facing their own caretaking challenges. All within the whims of structures meant to break us. Our hearts churn with grief for losses of every type and size. Many days I’m lost, overwhelmed, angry, sad. Still, inspiration, hope, and joy keep arriving in a multitude of ways.
Caretaking was on the forefront of my mind when Desiree Adaway’s summer reading list landed in my email box. The list included The Care Manifesto: The Politics of Interdependence by The Care Collective, which I ordered immediately. I devoured this small, portable book in hospital rooms and doctor’s offices, underlining something on almost every page. It powerfully outlines the carelessness of our current systems and offers concrete steps towards the alternative of universal care.
Around this time, the latest issue of The Approach newspaper showed up in my mailbox. The Approach is “a guerilla newspaper meets literary magazine meets underground organizing pamphlet with insight on how to approach – thwart, upend, sabotage, survive – autocracy.” It included the beautifully written essay, “The House That Becomes the World: On Care, Power, and Refusal,” by Andrea García Flores. Like The Care Manifesto, Flores points to the mechanics of harmful, exploitative caretaking systems, particularly around migrant labor, while reminding us that real care is power.
The first draft of this offering for October was basically a book report on The Care Manifesto, with a bunch of quotes from Flores. It got to be almost as long as the Manifesto itself, at which point I realized it makes more sense for me to encourage you to get your own copies of the book and The Approach to read and discuss with those around you with whom you can practice universal care.
The care we give and receive ripples out over everything. Our lives are held by a kaleidoscope of caretaking. Current structures undermine this life force. In response, we organize and build what comes after this “reign of carelessness,” a universe of care.
As I read the specific strategies proposed in The Care Manifesto, I was heartened to realize that I am already an active part of efforts to create more universal care, as are all of you reading this. It made their ambitious vision seem less utopian and more possible.
In fact, the events I shared last month were part of the collective chorus of care. Rather than a book report, here’s a report on the real life care I’ve witnessed recently, with three videos I trust will nourish you. They are offered with love.
BUILDING SANCTUARY
Marisol Jiménez wove a spell of sanctuary at PechaKucha Night Asheville on September 11. Founder and director of Tepeyac Mountain Sanctuary, Marisol embodies courageous care. I am honored to be able to organize with her, and blessed to be her friend. Luckily for all of us, there is a video of her moving talk, “Hope + Sanctuary in an Apocalypse.” Watch here:
DOCUMENTING BLACK STORIES
The radical power of storytelling was apparent at the Asheville Goombay Film Festival at the YMI on September 12. As was the medicine of sharing memories. The three films screened at the festival featured Black history and culture that was at the risk of being lost without the work of these committed and caring directors, pictured above with photographer/videographer Andre Daugherty. Film festival attendees got the opportunity to be inspired by the caring legacies of John R. Hayes, Oralene Simmons, and the residents of Stumptown.
Of course I was particularly proud of Stumptown: Rooted in Legacy, Elizabeth Lashay Garland’s directorial debut film which I helped create. Here is the director’s cut about the documentary, with Elizabeth, Nyles, and I stepping out from behind the scenes:
See below for details on the next screening!
ROCKING OUT
Music tends to our souls in a way no other medium can. I had a blast seeing the Krektones at Radish Fest, also on September 12. I may be a bit biased about this band which features my sweetie on guitar. Live music is ephemeral, which is part of its magic. Even if there was a video I could share, it could not capture the experience.
GATHERING WITH GRATITUDE
We held a Harvest Gathering at Tepeyac Mountain Sanctuary on September 13, an opportunity to express our gratitude and dream with community about this place we are stewarding. Tepeyac’s concrete manifestation of collective care continues to keep me from despair. Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on IG for updates on our work in healing justice, cultural organizing, movement building, and resilience.
MEDIA MAKING
Creativity, innovation, rebellion, and whimsy were on full display at Asheville Zine Fest on September 26, as was the power of print media and in person connection. Kudos to everyone who was involved in making this event happen. Look out for my latest zine, a print version of “Bro-eries and Bombs,” coming soon to Downtown Books & News and Firestorm Books.
IMPOSING BEAUTY
It was with great awe that I was present for the “Imposing Beauty on Our Future” salon at Owl Song Sanctuary in Siler City on September 30. This discussion between Prentis Hemphill, Sonya Renee Taylor, Alexis Pauline Gumbs, and adrienne maree brown blew my heart wide open. You can see a video of their conversation by joining Prentis Hemphill’s excellent Patreon. Be prepared to have it change your life.
There are many ways to access the work of all of four of these visionaries. I was particularly moved by a recent interview with Alexis Pauline Gumbs for Movement Generation’s new Creative Wildfire series, “Save Water, Ask a Human,” where they “ask incredible human beings common questions people are asking AI.” If you ever feel hopeless, please take 20 minutes to hear Alexis answer the question, “What is love?”
DANCING
On October 1, I attended the Shakori Hills Grsssroots Festival of Music and Dance, where I danced outside to great bands all day under the sun and late into the night, with the moon shining down. More music magic. Thanks to Donna the Buffalo and crew for the care they put into bringing so many kinds of people and music together in such lovely setting.
HEALING
La Cultura Cura, or Culture Heals, was the title of the October 2 fundraiser for Tepeyac Mountain Sanctuary produced by Dulce Mirian Porras Rosas at One World West. It was an evening of pure joy and delight, with performances from Ballet Folklórico Raíces, the Xanatolo dancers, awesome salsa band Aché Tropical, and a set by DJ Free Parking. I couldn’t help but dance, even after dancing so much at Shakori Hills. La Cultura really Cura.
LEARNING AND COMMUNING
From October 15 through 18, I was an attentive student at the Wildcrafted Apothecary course taught by the kind, knowledgeable, and brilliant Rebecca Beyer (Blood and Spicebush) at the Wild Abundance school. The class was an opportunity to deepen my relationship with plants and to learn ethnobotany from Rebecca and amazing guest instructors, each from different backgrounds, including Cherokee. Everything was hands on and outdoors. Our sweet class honored our cultural connections to plants, and the fact that universal care includes the more than human world.
As we enter the season of celebrations of ancestors, we remember that plants existed before humans, and are among our beloved ancestors, as well as being our current and future kin.
STUMPTOWN SCREENING
Looking ahead, the Asheville Museum of History and OLLI are hosting a screening and discussion of Stumptown: Rooted in Legacy on Tuesday, November 24 at 6 pm. This hybrid event will be held at OLLI on the UNC Asheville campus and online. You can register here. Rasheeda Hall and I will be joining Elizabeth for the talkback.
CLOSING
Wow, my cup has runneth over with care recently! And this report doesn’t even include the sweet and tender times with loved ones, celebrating family milestones, working, caretaking, etc. I’m grateful for it all.
As always, if you want to talk with me about anything shared here, please reach out! We are building the next world together. Onward.
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Love this and you! Sweet Hattie Mae in the bat costume. Thanks for uplifting me, always.
xoxo, a
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