Systemic Perspective

Our culture is full of little nudges away from our roots. We banned most neighborhood businesses, but allow uber & amazon to drive anywhere they like. With 1:1 chromebooks in our schools, we pay for tech bros to have minute-by-minute access to our kids, while our plumbers struggle to keep apprentices employed. We build car lots on land that used to be alive.

Grants applications sometimes include clauses like "this money can only be used to do new things." What goes unsaid is, "this money cannot support what you already know to be working, or the people who are doing that work." Abandon the past and try something new.

Rebuilding Roots

Last weekend, it was a pleasure to work with Martha, Terresa, Lilli, Susan, Karen, Emmie, Colleen, Fred, Jen, Gina, Ryan, Ilsa, Michal, Tyesha, and Sara on reclaiming paved land as a beautiful place for some non-human neighbors. Since we have started de-paving, I've seen rabbits and birds and squirrels in the RSFIC back yard, not just scampering across hot asphalt, but resting in the shade, getting a snack, and contributing to the community. I've seen human kids running and playing and groups of people eating lunch.

The city high geometry & carpentry class is making great progress on the stage at the same time - a literal platform for community members. It's starting to feel like a real place of power with so many folks putting their time and love into it. 

City high class building the stage!

Eid Al-Adha Bazaar on Sunday

The Immigrant Welcome Network is hosting a community celebration this Sunday May 24th from 1:00-8:00 PM at the RSFIC building.

This bazaar will feature immigrant entrepreneurs offering:

Vegetarian and vegan options will also be available.

The bazaar is supporting local immigrant-owned businesses and helping bring our community together. If you don't often celebrate Eid personally, this is a great chance to join in the great food, culture, and community.

Remember: car parking is a quick 90-second walk away. Please reserve the few close spots at the building for folks for whom the walk would not be quick. See the parking directions here.

And other good uses of shared space

Could we replace "growth" with "adaptation?"

I like our work of reclaiming our asphalt as a place for life rather than a place for cars. It's a way of responding to external stimuli that doesn't involve growing. We know cars divide us, destroy our environment, incentivize violent global conflict, endanger our children, make our housing less affordable, and even drive down city revenues that could go to basic services like clean water and energy. By reclaiming some of the car infrastructure for bazaars, gardens, education, and music, we're reacting to that knowledge - but we're not increasing our expenses or our obligations. We don't need a loan that we'll have to pay back with interest, and it will take LESS energy to maintain than the asphalt.

I'm not saying our work would like "solve" cars, but it's a way to adapt in a small step. Maybe if we had more systemic pressure to adapt in small steps, rather than to grow, we could be more resilient as a whole.

Peace,

Riley

 

RSFIC is a private operating foundation building long-term, systemic resilience in Iowa City. We say "rizz-fick!"


rsfic.org

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