TheCaseMade

We teach a lot of skills to justice seekers, and one of the most popular is The Pivot! Here's why: ➡️ Disinformation, misinformation, disruptive comments. They're all around us, and they can really get us off track when we're trying to get people in our communities to join us in our fight for systemic solutions to our biggest shared problems. ❌ It's a losing proposition to try to talk--or argue--people out of the inaccurate information they're clinging to. ✅ Instead, you've got to learn how to pivot around their disruptive comments! These tips are just the start. We love sharing practical examples and sample scripts with our partners and helping them get lots of practice!

We're taking time today to reflect, to hold space for each other--and we're hoping you are able to do the same. We're with you. We'll be here tomorrow and the day after ... 🫶🏽❤️ 👐🏾🫶🏽❤️ 👐🏾

How are you spending the day today? Our COO Jennifer L. Rich was up at the crack of dawn to serve as an election judge and make sure everyone who comes to her polling place is welcomed and able to contribute to our democracy. As our leader Dr. Tiffany Manuel would say: Let's use this election and what comes next as an opportunity to reignite our fundamental belief in a larger WE—one that truly honors our differences, gives us the space to be honest about our shared racial history, and genuinely makes room for all our voices in writing the next chapter in America’s unfinished story. And as our friends at The Rippel Foundation would say: Let’s invest in our shared stewardship of the institutions that shape life in America and work harder than ever to establish the vital conditions that everyone needs to thrive together.

Here at TheCaseMade, we believe self-care is incredibly important for social justice seekers. So, we asked Mariel Ferreiro if she would create a somatic practice for this pre-election moment. Take a few minutes to walk yourself through her beautiful words. (Doggie photo for pet therapy.) ❤️First, let’s find the ground underneath us. Begin by shifting your weight around, maybe rolling on to each side of your feet. Rock steadily like a boat. Allow your mind to focus on your connection to the ground. The ground is always here to support you and anything you need to set down.  ❤️Slow the movement and come to a stop. Feel yourself almost rooted into the soil of the earth. Unmovable, un-messable with. Allow your body to be soft and relaxed.  ❤️From your feet, move your attention slowly to the top of your head. Stand up tall; maybe roll your shoulders up and back to create length. Bring your hands to the top of your head, creating a crown. Place your imaginary crown atop your head remembering your worthiness, your dignity, and your royalty as a person deserving of thriving.   ❤️Relax your arms to your side. Bring your attention to the contents of your mind: your thoughts, emotions, memories. Some of this material may be moving quickly, some slower. Let it move in the space of the mind, and see if you can just observe it. As something holds your attention, acknowledge it and allow it to go back into space.   ❤️ Notice how the body is feeling as you observe the material of your mind. Does an emotion invite a feeling somewhere in the body? Maybe a memory? If anything feels uncomfortable or overwhelming, you can choose to move away from it and focus on a different thought, emotion, or memory. You may shake the body a little bit or rock your feet. ❤️ Place your hands on your lower belly. Feel how your hands hold and support your belly, then slowly bring your attention from your mind to this space. Think about what matters most to you: children, family, friends, pets, community, work, values. Can you take these things and begin to hold them in the space of your belly? Allow this space to be a cradle for the things that matter most to you. We call this dropping in. We drop in from the swirling thoughts of the mind to the core to remember what matters.   🔥As you hold what matters most in your belly, imagine a warmth or glow. This is the fire that keeps you going. Allow what matters to you most to feed this fire. When we allow our fire to burn steadily, we can stay consistent, strategic and mindful of how we move in this world.  Allowing the fire to burn too intensely could lead to burn out, and if there are only embers, we may forget what we are working towards. 🤗 When you are ready, gently release the hands back to the side. Shake the limbs or move the body around, allowing tension to be released. Find your feet again connected to the ground. If you like, take a few intentional breaths or wrap your arms around yourself, giving a gentle hug.

💐 It's Día de los muertos, and we're honored that Mariel Ferreiro has allowed us to share her ofrenda and reflection on this important holiday for her and her family, community, and ancestors. 🦋 Here's what she says: "During the last weeks of October into the beginning of November, communities across central and South America celebrate and honor an indigenous practice of calling your ancestors back to the realm of the living to spend time together. "Día de los muertos has some of its roots in the indigenous ritual celebrations of Miccailhuitontli and Miccailhuitl, which involved making offerings to the deceased. Many groups have their own ways of how and when they celebrate. "I have incorporated my own practices from my ancestors in Mexico by providing offerings that will encourage my loved ones to visit and rest from their journey. I take love and great care to create my ofrenda, incorporating pictures, colorful decorations, and food from my homeland. "As we celebrate those who have moved beyond, we also honor the gift of life and the transition to the beyond." 💐💐💐🦋 🦋 🦋

Joy is like air to justice movements. Think of Marvin Gay asking, “What’s Going On,” or Aretha Franklin belting, “R-E-S-P-E-C-T.” We know it feels hard right now, but what if we could go into next week energized and joyful — a reflection of the future we’re actively building together? Here are three things we hope will help you connect to joy over the next few days: Listen: We built a Spotify playlist with some of our favorite joy-soaked tunes. https://lnkd.in/eHAEsVCa) Read: Dr. Tiffany Manuel shares her thoughts on why joy is so important to our work together in her very first Substack newsletter! (Please subscribe!) https://lnkd.in/edT_7ef6) Join Us: Hang out with us on Friday from 12-1 ET. No agenda. Come as you are. https://lnkd.in/e-ZpCFJ6 

When it comes to solutions to homelessness, we've got to start winning in the wider court of public opinion. ⚡ Since the Supreme Court's Grants Pass decision earlier this year, we've seen more cities and towns proposing or passing laws that ban people from sleeping outside—even if there's NO SAFE PLACE to go. And we've seen some communities do the right thing and push forward initiatives to get MORE PEOPLE INTO THE HOUSING they need and deserve! 🏘 🏘 🏘 Here's the opportunity ahead of us now: 💡 We've got to press municipalities to make a better choice. We've got to CHANGE THE CONVERSATION and get more people to join us on our journey to justice. 💡 Here's what we can do: 1️⃣ Position the decision WE get to make. We don't get to vote on a piece of legislation in our state house of representatives, but we DO get to vote for our representatives. 2️⃣ Speak to the momentum, energy, and excitement that we see building around our collective action. For example, say something like, "At my organization, we’re working with others every day to create more abundant housing options, so more people get to experience the best of what this community has to offer." 3️⃣ Endorse immigrants’ rights as part of the conversation. The politicization of immigration should not be a dividing line that pulls people away from the broader coalition we’re building. We must take on the issue now. 4️⃣ Tell people we have solutions. Say this early and often to stop people from saying, “We have to find solutions …” 5️⃣ Frame the conversation we should be having. Say something like, "The conversation we NEED to have is: How do we get everyone in our communities involved in solving homelessness?" 6️⃣ Get people into the future. Say something like, "We have two choices. We either (1) figure out a way to lean into the abundant and prosperous community that we are, by providing better housing options that acknowledge the hardships many people are facing OR (2) watch as ever more inhumane and short-sighted approaches to homelessness emerge." 7️⃣ Show your resolve and commitment. Underscore why those on the side of housing justice will win. Say something like, "Despite the barriers we've faced, I've only increased my resolve to bring more neighbors to this fight. And here’s why we will win: Every person in our community is asking for more abundant housing options. That’s where the common ground and energy is!" If you try these steps, tell us how it goes! You can find more Strategic CaseMaking™ resources at www.thecasemade.com

We're counting down the days toward an important moment in our nation's history with a mix of emotions! 🧐 🫠 🫣 🤩 Still, we know that no matter what happens next week ... We've got to seize the opportunity to build better coalitions and get people on the road to justice! Luckily, we also know what skills we'll all need to do that. 😎 Here's DrT on Principle 2 of our Strategic CaseMaking™ framework: Name the Power of the Moment to Shape the Future.

Whatever the results of the election in 12 days at the federal, state, and local levels, justice seekers will still have work to do to build will for the changes we seek. But it sometimes feel like there are so many causes vying for people's attention! How do we stop competing with each other and start working together? We break it down into three steps: 1. Listen. 2. Pick one priority to put most of your focus on now. 3. Show up for your partners. We call this approach, "Getting people to make a down payment on a better future." ❤️ Get more practical advice: https://lnkd.in/e_bbJSBy Sign up for our next Building Blocks training: https://lnkd.in/gNUjqav4

The upcoming election has made us all a bit fearful and anxious 💀💀💀 Whatever happens in two weeks, we need to hold space for how we--and those around us--are feeling. And we need ways to create focus and calm for the long haul ahead. 👻💀🎃🦇 In that spirit, join us November 20 for a 90-minute Building Blocks Training that will give you the skills to harness positive energy and bring people together -- no matter what the future brings! Sign up here: http://bit.ly/4hiwH7w Learn more about our Building Blocks series here: https://bit.ly/4eR8h3r