What Happens to Hungry Kids?

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My work for social justice for the past few years has largely been working in special education. It looks a lot different than my days running non-profits or organizing on the streets, but ultimately the same questions are there. It’s always about recognizing the underlying issues if we want to find the long term answers.

Because of the federal government shut down SNAP is running out. Millions of people will be losing the benefits that make it possible for them to feed themselves and their families on November 1st. Many states are jumping in to hold off the crash and to keep people fed.

As a teacher at a school that serve many families that receive SNAP benefits, I’m wondering what’s going to happen. How long will states be able to keep their finger in the dike to stop the hunger flood? What will be cut from those state budgets to make it possible to keep the families fed?

Mostly, I find myself asking what happens not only in the loss of SNAP but in the fear of the loss? When families are in that spot of having to choose whether to buy food or pay rent, which will they choose? So many families are already making tough choices to make ends meet and it impacts our kids far beyond the dinner table. Families are choosing between buying food or paying for gas. When they can’t keep gas in the car, kids don’t get to school. In many schools this means that not only are they losing out on their education, but they’ve also missed out on breakfast, lunch, and probably a snack which they were entitled to via free and reduced meal programs. It’s an awful circle. Not enough money for food and gas, so buy gas, then no food at home so skip eating from lunch until the next day. Buy food and well, can’t get to school and parents can’t get to work.

I wonder how our attendance rates will be affected in upcoming weeks with tightening budgets and already stressed parents facing yet another strain making it more and more to keep themselves together and get their kids to school. I wonder how behaviors will change. Kids are ultimately mirrors of the stresses in their parents’ lives.

How to we amplify the voices of these kids and their families so that those in Washington can hear them? How do we make their struggle visible? How do we take this moment in time of losing SNAP and point to where it leads us with kids going hungry, struggling in school, struggling in life, and just not going anywhere?

Overcoming the Wanna-Be King: Some Thoughts on Making It Happen

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It was a great rally. It was many great rallies. It was more than 7 million people out in the streets saying “No Kings!” It was also simply a tool in the process of organizing.

I started as a professional community organizer back in the late 1990’s working for an organization called SOCM in East Tennessee. I was just out of college and had the justified anger and the will to fight every day for social social justice and the big environmental wins. I was there to stop the multinational corporations that were clearcutting the foresting and stripmining the hills. I knew if we just fought hard enough, rallied enough, yelled loud enough, we would win. We had to win. There was no other option. We had to save the world.

Every month I had to take on the hardest struggle of my organizing work. I had to first write my work plan then, even more challenging, I had to sit down with my boss, Mo, and review and edit that work plan. Every single month Mo would ask me the same question multiple times as we went down my list of things to do. She kept asking me over and over– “How does this move the work forward?”

That question still echoes in my mind. “How does this move the work forward?” Rallies are great. They are important. Writing to your legislator, voting, writing letters to the editor, signing petitions, volunteering, and some many activites are wonderful things. But, we must remember that each is simply a tool. What is it that we are working to do? It’s not enough to simply point out that Trump is not good for the US or the world. We have to develop and work toward a different answer.

Are we working to save democracy? What does democracy really look like? What is the role of the grassroots in a healthy, functioning democracy? Once we start asking ourselves those questions and really coming up with our vision of what a healthy, functioning democracy based in the power of the grassroots might look like then we can speak to that question “How does this move the work forward” with each and every action that we take. Each thing that we do needs to move toward the goal.

We don’t rally for the sake of rallying. Rallies are a tool. Let’s use them in the best ways possible. Let’s ask ourselves “How does this move the work forward?” When we make our path and goal clear the seven million engages beyond the day of the rally and the movement multiplies. We can win. First step is knowing what winning is. Is our goal to save or rebuild democracy or is it simply to get Trump out of office? Second step is figure out what we need to meet that goal. Third step is to determine how we get those things that we need whether it be redistricing or strong presidential candidate or any of a hundred other things. Next we prepare to act while asking ourselves every step of the way, “How does this move the work forward?”

It is a long and hard journey. We know that. We also know that long journeys are often much easier once we pull out a map. It’s time to create our map of where we want to go.

Three Months In, What Have I Learned?

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I read Gretchin Rubin’s bood “The Happiness Project” last fall and it inspired me to start my own happiness project in 2025. As we move into spring, I’m proud to say that its still going strong.

In January, I started the project by dedicating 15 minutes a day to creative time, 15 minutes to meditation, and 15 minutes to stretching using Qi Gong, yoga, or other similar exercises to open mind, body, and spirit. What I’ve learned is that it’s okay to sometimes skip a day to not let these gifts become a chore. It’s important that each is seen as a gift and celebration in and of my life in order for me to stay committed and keep growing with them. Now, after just over three months I feel steady starting each day with my meditation time and ending each day with creative time and a brief stretch before settling into bed. These tools have become something to look forward to. I feel my body opening up and have seen that I’m calmer and slower to grow frustrated with the stressors in my life. It’s easier to work each day at school with those kids who are struggling in so many ways. I am really thankful for settling into these habits in this time of societal upset. I think they’re a big part of keeping my balance.

In February, I added a new goal. I decided I’d been watching too much tv so I opted for two days a week without any. Some weeks I succeeded and some I didn’t. What I learned though was that operating from a perspective of denial made me grumpy with myself and I didn’t like it. I found myself questioning- why am I doing this? It wasn’t something I could look forward to.

As we move into April, my goals are changing. I’ve decided that meditation, stretching, and creative time are settling in as habits. I can move forward with these. Denying myself tv time on its own just doesn’t feel good, so I’m letting it go though I expect that my new goals may just help me cut my tv time from a more positive perspective. I’ve opted to add in three new goals. For the next three months or so, I’ll be working on getting out to spend additional time playing outside in natural areas hiking, boating, biking or otherwise just being at least twice a month, making music at least two ours a week, and reading for pleasure at least 15 minutes a day.

So far my new goals have been going great. Walking along Lake Mendota with my dog yesterday was fantastic. I love the water! Revisiting the “Chronicles of Narnia” which I read in my youth has been lots of fun as has listening to “The Hobbit” which perhaps surprisingly I’ve never read before though I saw the movie. My dog has handled me getting out my old flute very well and getting together with friends for a weekly singing circle always brings a smile to my face.

It all reminds me how important balance is. I know I am a person who so easily gets sucked up by my work and needs to be intentional. Happiness 2025 is really helping.

What are you doing to find and maintain your joy?

What Happens on April 6th?

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The energies are building and it is fantastic. People will be gathering in small towns and large cities around the world on April 5th to protect democracy in the US. For someone who’s been working on social and environmental justice issues since the 90’s, it’s exciting to see.

It’s always great to see these times when the big rallies happen, drawing everyone from the babies in strollers to the elders with walkers. These gatherings are important for many reasons. They are a way to let those in political power know that we’re here and what we expect of them. They are also a tool to educate the public as well as to share ideas amongst our fellow activists. Perhaps most importantly, they are a space in which to make connections and build our community. Which brings me to that question of what happens on April 6th?

After this upcoming day of action we will be in a completely different world and yet nothing will have changed. Large scale protests can both empower and disappoint when we wake up the next day and find there is no immediate answer. If we look at history, we learn that while the marches and rallies were what we shown through the media, it was the months and years of work between those marches and rallies that made the huge changes.

I encourage us to be prepared for that feeling of empowerment and dismay after the rally and to talk with our fellow protestors about what will we do after the rallies to create the society that we believe in. Note that I’m not saying simply to stop our current administration, but to create the society that we believe in. How do we create community and connect with eachother?

Maybe for some of us it is continuing to write our legislators for others it may be running for office. Some will start community gardens or coordinate infoshops to create spaces for people to come together growing food and sharing resources. Maybe a few will develop training programs to teach people how to do community organizing or coordinate educational events to share the stories of the many great grassroots organizers and activists who’ve come before us so that we might learn from them. There is so much to be done. There is a role for everyone.

How do you figure out what your role is? I’ve been doing this work for a long time and I don’t always know, but there is a story that might help. Many Native tribes in the US speak of the seventh generation. My friend Walt, an Anishanaabe man from the Red Cliff reservation on the shores of Lake Superior, used to speak of it in this way. He’d tell people to imagine yourself looking down a long tunnel, at the end of that tunnel is a baby. That baby is the seventh generation. If you do what is right for that child seven generations from now, you’ll be doing what is right for today.

How are you continuing to be a part of the movement and growing community where you are?

Prepared and Peaceful–Some Ideas for a Safe and Nonviolent Movement

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There are hundreds of thousands of people across the US and allies around the world standing up to protect democracy. It is our time to work toward the vision of the Seventh Generation. It is our time not just to find against, but to work toward the world that we want for the children coming seven generations from now. Peaceful protest is one piece of that.

In 2011 in Wisconsin, the TAA (Teaching Assistants Association) led a group into the state capitol to protest Act 10, a bill that would significantly limit workers rights including the right to collectively bargain. At the time, organizers thought they were just leading another action like many others. It became much more than that. Within hours it became clear that the protest was growing and it was time to occupy the state capitol. The occupation continued for several weeks and included hundreds of thousands of people from the seasoned activists to the babies in strollers. It inspired other actions around the country and lit a fire to be engaged in democracy for many.

One thing that helped the capitol occupation in Wisconsin happen was a small team of people who created “Prepared and Peaceful”, a simple two page flyer that gave people the tools needed to participate in a non-violent action, and took that flyer around to people getting into conversations about nonviolence and providing mini trainings to thousands encouraging everyone to share what they learned.

I had the good fortune to be a part of that team and to still have the pdf for that flyer. As we prepare for actions around the country again, I’ve pulled out that flyer and updated it to help organizers and protest attendees everywhere. If you’d like to see the original content, it’s also available in my blog post Prepared and Peaceful– Bringing Back the Nonviolence Training from the Wisconsin Capitol . Electronic copies of the pdf of the flyer are available on request.

Prepared + Peaceful

Each of us is here because we’re committed to something important. How we express that commitment matters. Remember, the whole world is watching. For your safety, the safety of others, and the safety of the protest, we ask that you plan ahead, consider your options carefully, and get whatever support you need to remain calm and peaceful in the event that we are asked to leave. Nothing written here is intended as legal advice. We just want every person here to make informed choices about if, how, and when to leave.

NONVIOLENCE
Nonviolence is a philosophy, a lifestyle, and a strategy. Here we address it as a strategy to:
• Keep the public on our side
• Inform our interactions with counter-protestors
• Inform our interactions with police (many of whom support the goals of this protest)

Strategies that support our ability to practice nonviolence include:
• Connecting with others
• Planning ahead, visualizing nonviolent responses, role-playing
• Staying sober and free of alcohol/illegal drugs
• Song, prayer, meditation, compassion—remaining centered, calm, and focused on purpose

CONNECTING WITH OTHERS
Affinity groups are a long-standing way of organizing nonviolent protest. Consider forming a small group of people you already know or meet here to:
• Watch out for each other
• Know each other’s contact information
• Help each other stay healthy and safe (food, sleep, medications, mood, etc.)
• Have a designated meeting place if you get separated
• Decide together what actions you’ll take
• Support each other to leave if anyone can’t stay nonviolent
• Have a plan for what to do if you are at risk of arrest

BEING WELL
One of the biggest health concerns in a situation like this is burnout. Take time to take care of yourself. Use your affinity group to support you.
• Breathe consciously. Even a few deep breaths can make a real difference in your ability to think clearly. Make a habit of breathing consciously 10-15 minutes every day.
• Rub your feet! After a long day of being involved in protests, get the blood circulating, then elevate your feet so they’re less swollen in the morning.
• Be sure to take all medications as prescribed. See “Being Arrested” for how to prepare if your meds are critical to your moment-to-moment well-being and you plan to risk arrest.

PLANNING AHEAD
To avoid unintended consequences, consider in advance: “If the police ask us to leave, will I leave when asked, or will I refuse respectfully?” This is your individual choice. Opinions differ on whether or not it would be useful for the movement for people to be arrested. If you are told to leave, you have three choices: Leave peacefully, cooperative civil disobedience, or passive civil disobedience.

LEAVING PEACEFULLY
• Follow police instructions
• Do not interfere with arrests of others, even verbally
• Leave—walk, don’t run
• Meet up with your affinity group to confirm that everyone is away who intended to be away
• Provide planned support for anyone in your group who stayed

CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE is the active, professed refusal to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of a government. It is a nonviolent resistance tactic that involves finding ways to achieve our goals without harming people.
• If you choose to stay, breathe, sing, center, pray, meditate, remain calm
• Recall the police are largely in support of the protest goals and want to keep the charges minimal

COOPERATIVE CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
• Respectfully let the officer know you do not want to leave but will cooperate physically
• Stand & hold your hands together in front of you
• Do not react/resist/pull away in any way to avoid escalated charges
• You may be given a citation on the spot and released, or transported to a processing center &
given a citation (this would typically include a fine and court date)

PASSIVE CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
• Respectfully refuse to leave
• Sit down or go limp
• This will likely result in arrest, and if done completely nonviolently should be a misdemeanor
• Do not react/resist/pull away in any way to avoid escalated charges
• See “being arrested” below

BEING ARRESTED
• Recognize that remaining limp while being physically removed can be extremely challenging, can be dangerous to you, and could possibly be considered resisting arrest, a greater charge.
• Don’t make sudden moves around the police or touch them—this could be construed as assaulting an officer, a greater charge.
• Consequences could be different for non-US citizens, students, minors, people with outstanding warrants or past criminal records. Get legal advice before deciding to risk arrest.
• The police may use zip ties to cuff your hands. Keep your hands, arms and shoulders as relaxed as possible. Use very gentle shoulder rotations to keep the blood moving. If your hands are behind your back and swelling, get them above your heart by going down on your knees and bending your head forward, so your hands rest on your back.
• You can ask where you are being taken, but if you aren’t told, don’t worry.
• Once in police custody, cooperate fully as you are transported, fingerprinted and photographed.
If you resist, you will be jailed.
• Don’t lie to the police. Give them your real name and contact information. Not to do so is a crime.
• Provide information about medical conditions or medications. If it is important that you continue medications while in custody, be sure to bring several days’ supply with you in the original prescription bottle. Also have with you a doctor’s note specifying the importance of those meds to your health. Without this, your treatment will likely be delayed—perhaps significantly.
• Don’t answer other questions. Say, “I want a lawyer. I will be silent until I get a lawyer.”
•The ACLU and lawyers hired by the unions will be tracking who is arrested and will do their best to make sure everyone gets legal support, as long as they are simply in trouble for nonviolent civil disobedience. Our understanding is that they will NOT give legal assistance to people who get charged with assault on an officer, drug charges, etc. (*note* the information in this point is from 2011. I encourage local organizers to work with unions, the ACLU, and other resources to be prepared to provide legal support)
• Legal support is being coordinated through the number below. During the day, a person will answer. At night, a recorded message will provide the numbers for people on call that night. (insert phone number here)
• Write this number(insert legal support number here) on your body. If arrested, you will not have your cell phone or notebook.

prepared + peaceful
training for being in and around the Capitol
updated March 27,2025

From Broken to Owning Happiness

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I think it was sometime early in college when I first got the label “borderline depression.” I wonder if there’s anything worse healthcare can do so simply and in such an offhand way for someone who’s dealing with feeling down than giving them labels like that? It took a long time to get over the labeling. Sometimes I still feel its hurt. The label told me I was broken and unfixable. It echoed what I was feeling at the time, that I was less than and unworthy.

There is much that I have to be thankful for that got me past that label western medicine dropped on me and brought me to this point where I own my happiness and can take on things like the happiness project that I’m doing this year. Back in my teens and twenties I went through some tough times when I could find no reason in myself to keep going. I had to look outside. I’m alive today because of my nieces and nephews. They were all kids back then. As someone who’d lost people in my life as a child, I knew how much it hurt. No matter how much living hurt for me then I couldn’t die because it would hurt them even more. I couldn’t do that to them. I say this because I know there are others out there who are going through what I went through then. When we’re hurting and can’t see the beauty and joy in ourselves sometimes it’s okay to let the beauty and joy of others be our safety net to support us as we rebuild and find our balance. It is good to recognize our interconnection. It’s good to remember that in hurting ourselves we hurt those who truly love us. In healing ourselves we bring joy to those who love us too.

I share my story too because it’s not over. People have good times and lousy times. Stress impacts us all and sometimes we get worn. In recent months I’ve been noticing that the combination of middle-age, a stressful career in special education in a high needs community, the political situation in the US, and the impacts of epilepsy and epilepsy treatment have all been wrapping me up and some days wearing me down.

I’m really appreciating my 2025 Happiness Project. I think it’s been key to keeping me going. I’ve noticed that I’m not angry as much. I calm quicker. I can empathize more often. I’ll be making some changes to it in April. Meditation and daily stretching seem to be becoming a regular habit that don’t need to be listed as goals anymore. I will keep doing at least 15 minutes of meditation and a few minutes of qi gong or other stretching daily, but will give myself space for some new goals. I will keep creative time as a goal. Right now I’m deciding if I might increase the amount of time I’ll commit daily. I started with 15 minutes daily, but often find myself doing more. I’ll also keep a goal of cutting out television at least two days a week.

I’ll add one or two new goals in April. I’m still deciding what those might be. Will I focus on getting out and connecting more? Maybe I should commit to singing every day? Would I like to commit to other writing projects, daily reading, or maybe something else? There are many ideas floating about. We’ll see what comes to fruition. In any case, I think I can be proud. I’ve come a long way from those days of not finding any joy in myself to seeing the many options for growing joy.

How are you growing your joy? You are worthy. Joy is there. What do you want to do to feed it and grow it and bring it to your life?

The Happiness Project Marches On

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Consistently posting about my happiness project 2025 continues to be a challenge. Just a week after my last post I got hit with one of the more intense seizures that I’ve had in the last few years which opened the door to getting sick. Add to that the simple reality that February in an elementary school is one of the most wearing months for kids and staff with cold weather, long days, and sniffling noses all around and I’ve been just worn out!

I am thankful though that I started this happiness project this year. I think it’s played an important role in getting me through the stress and darkness that is February and is helping me see the light ahead as we march in March.

Due to my seizure early in the month and the days of illness and recovery that followed I missed nearly a week of recording my progress toward my goals and, quite honestly, likely missed much of my daily efforts to in favor of just sleeping. Still, I came out strong. I only recorded three days that I went completely without watching any television though I think there were one or two more during my two weeks of illness and seizure recovery time. I also successfully met my stretching goal on 14 days, meditated on 18, and did my dedicated creative time on 16 days. Again, these are just the days that I recorded and I missed 5 days of recording because I was just too exhausted from my seizure, work, and illness.

I feel pretty good about what I’ve accomplished so far and it’s helped me just feel good. I’ve picked up my knitting again, finished a hat, and am nearly done with a gift for someone special to me. Stepping away from the tv has allowed me to quiet my mind and let myself heal from the challenges each day working in special education brings. I am reminded how the screen acts as a drug. It only numbs the brain for a moment, but the stress is still there and comes back stronger all the time. Turning off the screen lets me turn down my brain and let that stress out. It heals me.

So far March is starting strong. I missed meditation on the first two days, but I’ve also had a couple days already without any television and I’ve been spending more time outside taking longer walks. It all balances out. This project is reminding me daily to keep an eye on how I am treating myself and encouraging me to take the best care of me that I can. How are you treating yourself? How can you take the best care of you possible? Wishing you all the best in the spring to come!

Happiness Project 2025- Starting February

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Okay, so I’m not doing so great at getting a post out to my blog at least once a week to update the world on the status of my happiness project. Maybe that’s okay. Maybe every two weeks or so will be just fine for the updates. What does matter, at least to me and I suppose that’s what’s most important in this project, is that I am doing a good job keeping up with my commitments to myself with the project itself.

January was all about maintaining my daily meditation, doing a daily stretching routine, and building in some creativity time into each day. I tried to dedicate at least 15 minutes each day to each of these activities. I’ll admit that some days I fudged a little and maybe meditated or stretched for only 10 or 12 minutes, but even on the short days it felt good. Creativity time kind of went the other direction. Creativity time has felt wonderful enough that there’s been quite a few days that I had to cut myself off after a few hours in favor of having dinner or maybe just going to bed. I’m also now the proud owner of a new paint by number of Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” which should provide me with entertainment for quite a while to come and several new skeins of yarn which also promise great fun.

February will be continuing much the same. I’ll keep meditating, stick to my creativity time, and continue to stretch every day. This month I’ll also cut out tv/videos for at least two days a week, other than those that I watch for work. I’ve had many times in my past when I had no television and didn’t watch videos on a computer. I’m seeing now that those have often been the happiest times of my life. Yet, I go to Netflix or Youtube or whatever online video source to numb my mind. So, it seems time to bring back the brain. I expect I’ll be listening to more audiobooks while playing with my art supplies and just doing more reading. Stay tuned for what comes next! What’s happening in your happiness journey?

My Happiness Project 2025: Update 1

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Wait a second, two weeks have passed already??? Wow! Even with so many kids at school sick, making our numbers low and slowing everything down, the world sure speeds up when you go back to work after winter break. When I started this project I was wrapping up a relaxing two week holiday break from my career as a special education teacher at a local elementary school and wondering how I might survive the upcoming semester. This project is a much needed tool to keep this teacher not only afloat, but thriving.

My goals for January are spending at least 15 minutes daily being creative with my arts and crafts supplies, 15 minutes in meditation, and 15 minutes doing qi gong or another similar stretching exercise. Here’s what’s been happening so far and what I’m learning.

Back in November, when I first came across the idea of the Happiness Project, my search for a wellness planner didn’t find much in local stores. Ultimately, I wound up going online and buying a flowered paper wellness planner from a company in Australia. It’s turning out to be a fascinating learning tool and great way to keep myself on task with my goals.

Each day, I turn to the front of the planner where there are four graphs each showing the months and the days of the month. I’ve labeled each graph with one of four title; health (in January that means qi gong or other stretching exercises), creativity (any sort of playing with art supplies), spirit (meditation), and connections (I’m still defining this, more on it in an upcoming post). So far I’ve succeeded in meeting my health goal 12 of 14 days, creativity 12, spirit 13, and connections 8 of 14 days.

From there I go to the two pages dedicated to the week. The first pages has small squares to write just a sentence or two about my day, a surprisingly insightful exercise to look at what’s made me happy or sad or whatever feeling for the day. The second page for each week has spaces to write and track my goals, note my gratitudes, list what I’ve positive and self things I’ve done each day, note my exercise for the day, and write my meal plan for each day. It’s maybe a five or ten minute exercise each day just acknowledging my day, who I am, and what I’m doing right. It feels good to acknowledge the little bits. I can feel myself grounding and getting stronger.

So, what have I noticed so far? Just a few simple, small things I suppose. First, fifteen minutes with art supplies can easily turn into an hour or two or more. It just takes getting started. Once started, creative time is a superb mind emptier. Nothing feels better than a cleared mind, that time when you realize you’ve spent and hour or two or more just focused on the colors and textures totally forgetting about all the worries of life. Second, it is hard on many evenings to get started with even just fifteen minutes of qi gong or whatever relaxing exercise. After a long day at work, even the idea of stretching can feel too much. But, if I can get myself to do that first stretch, I can do the second and in just a few minutes the chi is flowing more freely and everything just feels better.

Outside, the Wisconsin night is frigid and dark, but my happiness project is offering a bit of much needed emotional warmth in the Midwest winter. Play time, meditation, stretching, and relaxing, it is feeling good being intentional about caring for myself. I highly encourage healthy self-care, whatever that looks like, for you.

Starting My Own Happiness Project in 2025

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Starting 2025: Recognizing My Guides