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Grassroots Organizing vs. Artistic Creativity

Jakin Vela | June 5, 2009 - 5:25 pm

Tags: ableness, activism, art, class, film, grassroots, LGBT, music, oppression, organizing, poverty, power, privilege, race, social justice, women

Well, my fellow YP4 fellows, I've been doing a lot of experience/searching/thinking about which types of activism I am best suited for.

I see so many people who are so great at grassroots organizing and starting committees and planning and getting things done. Sometimes I wonder if I truly have that in me. I CAN do it, but lately for some reason, I feel like I'm so disorganized, and not efficient.

The other type of activism I see a lot is through expression of art like film, music, painting, etc. Minus the painting, those things are so important to me as well. I really feel that change can be made through moving films or touching songs. Or just being in that industry and standing up for what you believe in. I feel those things come a lot more naturally (music/writing/film/etc) and I wonder...

 Am I really cut out to do grassroots organizing, or are my talents and abilities (and maybe interests?) best suited for another type of progressive leadership role?

 Another thing I love to do is to develope relationships with people. Talking to everyone at YP4 about what they are planning to do is awesome. I love helping to inspire others or encourage them to do their best. I feel like I'm a great listener and I can really see things objectively and help others when they are seeking advice or guidance.

I'm just a little lost right now...because I feel like I'm not 100% perfectly-fitted for either one, but more of a mix; like a jack-of-all trades? And that's great, I enjoy that, but I'm starting to feel the pressure of the jack-of-all-trades, master of none attitude.

 I just thought I'd write about this, since you are all in the progressive movement.

Here are my passions:

music/film/writing/

talking with people/listening/counseling

social justice/sociological topics: poverty, LGBTQ, women's rights, class, race/ethnicity/, gender, power/privilege/oppression, etc.

spirituality

inspiring/encouraging/supporting others

social media/networking on tools like myspace/facebook/twitter/blogging/vlogging/youtube/etc.

I figured being a talk show host could pretty much incorporate all of the most important things to me in one (much like Oprah or Ellen) because they touch on so many different topics at the same time of standing up for what they believe in, for other people. But what to do until then...that's where I'm a little stumped.

Any advice?

It's tough

Submitted by Patrick St. John on June 6, 2009 - 5:26pm.

Great post, Jakin. I think a lot of us on the left go through a stage of uncertainty, when we ask ourselves "how best can I help advance the progressive movement?" and come up with dozens of answers. Thankfully, you'd be a huge help in any of them. We need progressive organizers, progressive journalists, progressive filmmakers, progressive artists, progressive counselors, etc. 

If you're feeling burned out regarding organizing, remember that college organizing can be some of the most stressful you'll experience - high turnover, burnout, and apathy all around. Organizing as a team is a great way to keep everyone from feeling overwhelmed or out of it.

Your proclivity to both listen to people's stories and inspire them makes me think you might want to explore writing, or documentary filmmaking. Telling stories of successful organizing campaigns in a compelling way can inspire in a way that a thousand workshops can't.

Best of luck! :)