Reset

How can it be May already? I feel as though I’ve only just put the Christmas tree away. This lockdown is definitely messing with time as well as space.

The rain this week made me very happy. After dry days all through April, it was lovely to see raindrops on roses (and bearded irises) again. Hence, the title of this week’s newsletter: reset.

Over the past couple of years, I’ve been working with community groups, the Stockwell Primary Care Network of GP practices, and residents’ associations on Thriving Stockwell, a project to support the health and wellbeing of our community. The connections that we’ve made during the Covid19 emergency are helping accelerate this work in ways that we couldn’t have imagined. I’m excited to be involved in creating solid mechanisms that will endure into the future and support our most vulnerable residents.

What am I reading?

I came upon a series of essays by Penguin authors giving their perspectives on the Corona crisis. I particularly liked this one by the anthropologist Sue Black. “This is the time of the heart.”

I’ve also just started reading Grace Paley’s short stories. She was a writer, poet, and political activist. It’s her quote in the sub-head above. Feels appropriate given what’s going on out there.

Learning points:

“Silence is violence”

I’m working through Layla F Saad’s workbook, Me and White Supremacy, with a group of friends at the moment. This quote from the chapter on white silence really stood out for me as I reflect on times when I remained silent when I could have spoken up. Here’s a good intro to Layla and her work. I recommend it and would be happy to talk to anyone who’s interested in finding out more.

My attention was then drawn to this post from Layla about white people commenting on an Insta post she’d made where she’d specifically only invited comments from Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC). Unwanted white noise is also violence, I would suggest.

What am I listening to?

The latest podcast from the brilliant Scene on Radio on the American Empire is fascinating and well worth an hour of your time. Very relevant.

Joy-giving things

Here’s a groovy mood for the weekend. I like having music on when I’m working but words are distracting so this is perfect. No words until 6 minutes in!

Have a good weekend, lovely readers, and welcome to the new readers who’ve signed up in the last few weeks. If you like it, tell your friends ❤️