December 2023
CREATING A CULTURE OF BELONGING
We hear it over and over again: “I found my political home here.” “These are my people.” “Before coming to ______, I didn’t know where I fit in.” You can fill in the blank with the name of any of Airlift’s Partner Groups. “Creating a culture of belonging is at the core of everything we do,” says Carolina Federation Co-director Jenn Frye, and CF’s not alone in centering this intention. It’s an organizing principle for everyone.
The need to belong is universal. Without it, individuals, families, communities, and our politics are harmed. In a beautiful essay about the need for a place to belong, New York Times columnist David French compellingly captures the essence of this. Although French’s focus is Hulu’s hit series The Bear, much of what he says pertains to what our Partner Groups know and live so well: People in the grip of trauma, loss, and pain–especially those who have been discounted and frequently written off–can heal and contribute when they have a purpose and a place and are seen for their full potential.
French’s description of The Bear’s cast of characters uncannily echoes what it sometimes feels like to be in the progressive movement these days:
“The characters . . . falter. They take three steps forward together and then all fall five steps back. Progress takes place, but it never feels guaranteed. You don’t know if your hope is false, if disaster awaits in the next moment.”
And yet there is forward movement because everyone there has a place and a purpose. People are healed and movements arise by “the simple human power of telling a person in pain — by deeds even more than by words — that he will not be left behind, that he has a place where he truly belongs.”
So it is in the sphere of political organizing. Our partners are intimately connected with communities long troubled by disinvestment, hardship, exclusion, and injustice. Amid disaffection and powerlessness, hope and a belief in making a difference can be hard to find. Yet that is exactly what our Partner Groups offer.
Building upon the bedrock principles of respect, compassion, listening, and inclusion, our partners infuse everything they do with a sense of purpose and belonging. Some groups are built explicitly to bring into community people who have been brutally cast aside, such as Michigan Liberation’s focus on those ravaged by incarceration, and Black Male Initiative Georgia’s dedication to creating a healing and empowering space for Black men.
Other Partner Groups have developed specific programs, such as Carolina Federation’s bi-weekly Freedom Gatherings, whose purpose is to build a political home that weaves together culture, community organizing, and joy around issues that matter in people’s daily lives. This provides the foundation for new leaders and progressive power, resulting in election victories and governing to implement policies communities want and need (read more about Carolina Federation’s Freedom Gatherings below).
Political organizing is grueling work, so all our Partner Groups incorporate joy and celebration to create a culture of belonging. For example, Arizona’s Worker Power holds activity nights with their canvas teams, where they play games, have dinner, or do something fun like bowling or miniature golf. They also recently hosted their annual Thanksgiving lunch for the airport union members in partnership with Unite HERE Local 11, a hospitality workers union. It’s common for Airlift Partner Groups to hold picnics, BBQs, and music festivals as well as community forums for civic engagement and rallying for a cause such as progressive budgets, affordable housing, or fair wages.
Creativity abounds: Down Home North Carolina punctuates its phone banks with Election Bingo, OC Action engages nail salon workers, One APIA Nevada loves karaoke and boba, and Black Male Initiative Georgia hosts a flag football tournament, “Turkey Bowl Showdown: Tackling Hunger on Thanksgiving!”
And, to top it all off, Leaders Igniting Transformation just held a Giving Tuesday fundraiser complete with music, food, photo booths, raffle tickets, and an Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest. Nothing creates a culture of belonging more than bonding over ugly Christmas sweaters!:
Whimsy and fun are essential ingredients in the serious work Airlift Partners engage in day in and day out–empowering communities where everyone matters and no one is left behind. It’s what builds cohesion, purpose, and the kind of politics and country we are all striving to create.
Airlift is proud to be a part of such an endeavor. In this season of gathering together in gratitude and celebration, we are thankful for all of you who care so much about our country, who work and donate despite the fatigue to bring about a better future. We count ourselves lucky to belong to the Airlift community, and hope that you, too, share in our sense of purpose and belonging.
CAROLINA FEDERATION’S FREEDOM GATHERINGS CREATE LEADERS
How do you take members of a community who have been long ignored and disempowered and turn them into community change-makers? That was the question facing Brandon Wrencher and his colleagues at Guilford for All, the largest chapter of Carolina Federation, one of Airlift’s North Carolina Partner Groups.
This summer they found an answer: Freedom Gatherings.
Guilford County is centered on the city of Greensboro, NC. Back in 2022, Guilford for All members went door-to-door in support of Cecile Crawford for Greensboro City Council. Because she was from the neighborhood, she attracted a lot of supporters, many of whom then joined Guilford for All. Cecile narrowly lost, but Guilford for All is a year-round force for the community and they were determined to continue growing their support base. But what could Guilford for All do to keep community members engaged in an off-year? They decided to gather people together to envision a better future. This is the kind of relationship-building that makes community-centered organizations outperform typical “one-candidate” campaigns.
As Brandon put it:
“Freedom Gatherings were a way for us to really get out into the community, and continue to knock doors year-round. Instead of taking people initially into trainings or issue campaigns, we first wanted to build community, to do political education, and to do some visioning of the kind of community that they wanted to see.”
So Guilford For All brought interested community members to four Freedom Gatherings this past summer.
Brandon knows that the way to get people involved is to invite them into leadership right away. When Guilford for All hosted Freedom Gatherings,
“We were very intentional about creating a lot of leadership opportunities for those gatherings. We had 12 different leadership roles for people that we call rovers, who would walk around and talk to people at the tables, and when we had small groups, there would be small group facilitators. We had culture captains–they were the DJs, playing music and keeping the vibe good.”
One of the issues that the community expressed a passion for was decriminalization. The American criminal justice system is very good at turning people into criminals. As Brandon points out, “There's so much recidivism after folks get out of jail. Because when they get out, it's hard to find a job, it's hard to find housing and to just have a stable life.” Even though they have done their time they are still deemed criminals.
Decriminalizing is about removing that label and allowing people to re-enter society. It means taking actions, Brandon notes, like “banning the box on employment applications where people have to reveal that they have some kind of conviction. Because then they are immediately discriminated against even if they're qualified, even if they are passionate, even if they've transformed.”
Brandon concludes,
“What inspires me is the folks we meet out here in the community. They feel that they know the problems and they know solutions, but they feel so alone, they feel very underutilized in terms of the democratic process. That’s what makes it magical, just seeing people from ordinary walks of life move from a place of hopelessness and isolation to being powerful, to seeing themselves as experts of their own lives and of what it will take for this community to thrive.”
Creating such a culture of belonging transforms lives, communities, and our future.
EARLY GIVING: THE KEY TO VICTORY IN 2024
The earlier the investment, the greater the return.
Many political donors “panic-give” before an election, “rage-give” based on the news cycle, or “impulse-give” to high-profile candidates with big war chests but slim chances.
Fortunately, Airlift helps guide political donors who want to give in a more strategic, effective, and streamlined way, for maximum impact.
With early, sustained investment in local voter organizations, we can win elections, transform policy, and build political power that grows each year.
As Blue Tent notes, “Elections are mainly decided by who’s voting, not who’s running — and thus, you’ll have the most impact by giving for organizing and GOTV work.” Movement Voter Project affirms, Organizing drives turnout and power that lasts.
Local organizers know their neighbors, and extensive research shows that “relational” outreach moves voters to action far more effectively than ads, robocalls, and mailings
Local issues motivate voters to turn out when they might otherwise tune out
Local organizers build bottom-up power that grows year-round, year after year
That’s why Airlift has carefully vetted and curated grassroots groups in battleground regions who organize year-round in their communities. Your support in the final stretch of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024 delivers the greatest impact.
So don’t wait. Here’s how to help:
Donate by Check. Set up automatic payments to Airlift with the Bill Pay service at your bank, or send a check directly to: Airlift, PO Box 617, Corte Madera CA 94976
Donate Online at ActBlue. Just click the button, and click again to Make it Monthly!
For Tax-Deductible Giving. Although non-tax-deductible c4 money gives the most flexibility to our partners, you may also make tax-deductible donations (great for year’s end). Email Ruth Jaeger at ruth@airlift.fund.
Spread the word! Tell your friends and family about Airlift and our events. Share this newsletter and our website.
Thanks!
Airlift is an all-volunteer organization. Less than 2% of all proceeds go to expenses, the rest goes to our partner groups.
FIELD NOTES
So much winning! In addition to the great marquee victories on November 7, Airlift Partners’ hard work brought huge wins in local elections:
Pennsylvania Stands Up wins big by electing 37 of their endorsed candidates to local offices in Eastern and Central PA. That means 14 city and borough council members and 19 school board members in 7 districts dedicated to fighting for the needs of working-class people.
Durham for All, a Carolina Federation affiliate, celebrates the victories of their endorsed candidates for City Council and Mayor.
Down Home North Carolina racks up tons of local victories, including Down Home members who won their races. Read more.
At last–North Carolina’s Medicaid Expansion starts! As of December 1, more than 600,000 North Carolinians can finally get the healthcare they need, thanks to the hard work of Down Home North Carolina and other organizations putting heart and soul into this effort for more than a decade. Now that the law has taken effect, Down Home’s Health Justice Campaign is making sure that no one is left behind as they spread the word and help rural folks sign up.
OC Action advocates in Sacramento to close the racial voter registration gap.