An invitation from Rev. Dr. Edgar Rivera Colon, reposted from his social media account.

Beloved Comrades:

These are confusing and chaotic times in the US and across the globe. Please consider coming to this class on “Confluence of Crisis: Understanding and Deploying a Root Shock- Informed Approach” directed by Mindy Fullilove, Molly Kaufman, & Bob Fullilove. These folks have been dealing with the problems of dispalcement and the consequences of structural violence over four decades. We need their wisdom and practice-based learnings more than ever.

There is a suggested scale of donations for UofO to meet the increasing demands for consolidating our community bases and broadening our resistance. But no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Please share this post widely.

I’m a board member at UofO Free People’s University and one idea we always emphasize is that all of us can things to learn and to teach. In that spirit, come and learn as well as teach with us.

“We are in a confluence of crises: rapid shifts of climate, attacks on our democracy, and disregard for the sacredness of all life. At the University of Orange, a 17-year old people’s free school based in Orange NJ, we have learned that “holding the center” requires three things: understanding how we got to this point; deploying strategies that support community recovery; and re-building political power rooted in place. This course will explore these three tasks through the lens of the work of the Cities Research Group (CRG), led by Drs Bob and Mindy Fullilove.”

“For four decades CRG has conducted groundbreaking research on the forces that caused catastrophic community upheaval, leading to multiple health epidemics and destroying economic, social, political and cultural capital. To describe the vast extent of the harm, Dr. Mindy Fullilove proposed the term “root shock,” a phrase gardeners use to describe what happens to a plant whose roots have been torn in the process of the transplantation. She defined it as “the traumatic stress reaction to the loss of all or part of one’s emotional ecosystem.” We believe we are all experiencing some form of root shock right now. With this understanding of root shock, CRG also identified and practiced collective strategies for community recovery which rebuilds the connective tissue necessary for democracy and people’s power.”

“Participants will engage with useful resources and tools that they can immediately incorporate into navigating the current crises with their own networks and communities. We will host an optional “sorted out city” walking tour in Orange, NJ on Saturday, August 9 at 10am and share a walking guide so participants can DIY in their own place.”

“CRG is now housed at the University of Orange under the direction of Dr. Mindy Fullilove, who holds the Helen & Robert E. Fullilove Chair of Community Health at UofO.”

Register here.