The Optimistic Anthropologist Vol. 17

Oh the Humanity!

March 29, 2019

 March 2019, Volume 17View this email in your browser

Dear ,

I often start meetings with clients and collaborators by asking each person to share if there is anything going on with them – workwise or personally – that the rest of us should be aware of that they want to share.  For some people, at first, this is a difficult or surprising request because so much of contemporary life, even in work places focused on positive and equitable social change, we’re asked or even expected to cut ourselves off from our humanity and that of others around us.

This month, I found myself in a series of situations that were quite the opposite. As part of my ongoing efforts to learn and put

at the center of my work and life, in early March I traveled to Brooklyn, NY to attend a

workshop. I found the experience to be incredibly powerful, particularly in how the trainers shaped a process that was deeply aligned with how one of them described the work of undoing racism as the work of “recover[ing] and reconnect[ing] to humanity – in our bodies, and with each other.”  

Just one week later, I found myself in another room across the country. Following the loss of 50 innocent lives at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand,

fearlessly and charitably opened its doors to me and my parents and nearly 500 people of all colors and faiths and political persuasions so that we could mourn together.

Then, this past week, I found myself in a synagogue in Chicago, attending the funeral of a favorite cousin who passed away from cancer rapidly and far too young.  Hundreds of people took time off from work and other obligations to honor the life that she lived, and comfort those she had left behind.  

In these rooms, people were present and “listening with their hearts.” There were rituals, prayers, songs, and silence; heirlooms, artifacts, food, hugs, and light. When people spoke, they did so with incredible honesty and fearlessness, sometimes expressing unbearable sadness and anger and frustration and guilt, at others funny or clever or deeply insightful.

In these rooms, many were strangers, but all gave and were received with altruism. And if we are able to do this while working to better understand and build our capacity to undo seemingly intractable problems like racism, Islamophobia and white supremacy; and we are able to do this in the midst of tragic personal and communal losses of life, what is stopping us from practicing humanity in all aspects of our lives?  Imagine how much we - individually and collectively - have to gain from it.

Be well and do good,Alison

P.S. Please know that you have an open invitation from me to practice humanity by sharing your thoughts, feelings, constructive critiques and questions or just saying hello!

The Latest

Twenty-four resources we’ve enjoyed in the first quarter of 2019 that touch on our work of building knowledge, learning processes, and cultures; examples in the field; stories from the adjacent possible; and bits of inspiration, insight, and delight.

One of our core beliefs at OA is that serious work on complex problems can and should be approached with joy, curiosity, and a love of humanity. That's why occasionally on Mondays, 

in hopes that it will keep you (and us) inspired and motivated.

Job, Consulting, and Fellowship Opportunities

 is a monthly round up of job, consulting, and fully-funded fellowship and accelerator opportunities that people connected to Optimistic Anthropology are recruiting for. We’ve launched something new for 2019 - rolling submissions, so each month's post will be updated with new opportunities as they come in! 

and 

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