Dear friends,
I want to share with you one of the highlights from the Skid Row School last week. In attendance was a team from the United Farm Workers Foundation, and at the end of the first day, Ester Cadavid and Eriberto Fernandez shared with us the Prayer of the Farm Workers Struggle, written by Cesar Chavez. We learned that they start every meeting by reciting this it together followed by the unity clap. They invited everyone in attendance at the Skid Row School to recite it with them with the caveat that you don’t have to be religious to connect with the deeper values being communicated.
We rose to say these words together. I looked across the room at the organizations working in different sectors to create a better world. As the meaning of the words landed, I felt a lump in my throat and frog-voiced my way through it. Later I shared it with my Aunt Sharon and she texted back, “That’s a prayer worth living into.” Indeed, it is.
I am honored to share it with you here:
PRAYER OF THE FARM WORKERS’ STRUGGLE
Show me the suffering of the most miserable;
So I will know my people’s plight.
Free me to pray for others; For you are present in every person.
Help me take responsibility for my own life;So that I can be free at last.
Grant me courage to serve others; For in service there is” true life.
Give me honesty and patience;
So that I can work with other workers.
Bring forth song and celebration;
So that the Spirit will be alive among us.
Let the Spirit flourish anti grow;
So that we will never tire of the struggle.
Let us remember those who have died for justice;
For they have given us life.
Help us love even those who hate us;
So we can change the world.
Amen.
We are living through some b-a-n-a-n-a-s times together. Many of you wake up each morning to make the world a better place. May you thrive in your efforts. May you find some strength knowingyou are not alone.
Speaking of which…I’m delighted to share with you the latest graduates of the Skid Row School. This last cohort included leaders from Ashoka University, Blue Engine, Bonneville Environmental Foundation, CORE Districts, Courageous Leadership, LLC, Encore.org, iThrive Games, Polaris, Rutgers University Social-Emotional and Character Development Lab, Shift-Results, StriveTogether, Teach for America, and the United Farm Workers Foundation. In addition to those organizations, we had fellows from Sandy Hook Promise and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Congratulations to all of you and go get ‘em with your aims! Plus our first baby graduate ever!
Don’t burn out!
Becky
Upcoming Events
We are currently accepting applications for our January 8th – 11th, 2019 Skid Row School. October 2018 is completely sold out.
We also have one remaining spot for an alumni who wants to join our two-year fellowship this September 25th – 27th, and two spots for leaders who’d want to start Feb 5th – 7th, 2019. More info and an application here.