Resilience, Care, and Collective Liberation

In our world filled with urgent struggles for justice and liberation, it’s easy to forget that care—self-care, community care—is a radical act of resistance. Through this discussion, we’ll explore the relationship between care, resilience, and action, inspired by the teachings of Audre Lorde and practices of mutual support. As a collective, we want to create a space where we can reflect, rest, and learn together how to sustain our energies in the face of systemic violence. This is not just a conversation about self-care but about how we, as a community, can build resilience to resist the oppressive forces that seek to dehumanize us all.

Core Themes for Discussion

• Care as Self-Preservation and Political Resistance: Audre Lorde’s famous words, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare,” resonate across movements. Yet, this is often stripped of the context of Lorde’s experience as a Black woman facing a terminal illness. Lorde’s care was not just for comfort—it was essential for her survival and capacity to continue fighting. How do we, as activists and community members, link care to our resilience and our ability to take action in ways that are sustainable? Let’s reflect on how we care for ourselves and each other in our ongoing fight for liberation.
• Rest, Reflection, and Resilience: Rest isn’t simply a luxury, it’s vital to our ability to show up and engage. This isn’t just about “recharging” for the next protest or action, but about sustaining our bodies and minds for long-term resistance. How do we cultivate rest and reflection as essential components of resilience, and how can we make space for these practices even within high-demand activist spaces? We’ll explore practices such as writing, meditation, and downtime that support a deeper sense of being present, grounded, and capable of action over time.
• Resilience as Refusal of Passivity and Despair: Lorde also challenges us to not fall into passivity or despair: “To refuse to participate in the shaping of our future is to give up.” How do we, as individuals and collectives, refuse the passivity that capitalism and oppression encourage? How can we find ways to activate our resistance without feeling spiritually and physically drained? This discussion will explore the complexity of balancing ongoing action with the need for care and rest, while recognizing that how we show up will evolve depending on our circumstances.
• Creating Space for Care and Action: Building on Ayesha’s care days at the KABRA, we will discuss how to create spaces where care practices—such as rest, reflection, writing, and therapeutic support—are as much a part of our resistance work as direct action. What would it look like to build spaces that nurture collective resilience? These could be spaces where we take a moment to catch our breath, share resources, and check in with one another, as well as to organize, take action, and collaborate on practical tasks. What kind of space do we want to create in our community? How can we create space for those who are tired and who need support to continue doing this work.
• Positionality, Accountability, and Relational Care: As we engage in collective action, it’s important to reflect on how our positionalities shape how we show up and engage with others. In particular, this space is explicitly anti-Zionist, and it’s important to recognize and honor that as part of our shared commitment to liberation. We’ll also explore how accountability culture—shifting from “calling out” to “calling in,” repair instead of rejection—can nurture a softer, more aware approach to relational care in activist spaces. How do we soften the edges of activism while holding one another accountable? How do we create a space where we can be vulnerable and honest, while also maintaining the courage to resist.
• Navigating the Cycle of Joy and Despair: Many of us experience a continuous cycle of joy, hope, and intense despair. Ayesha shares the deep joy of moments like cuddling with her children, and the seething anger that arises when she reflects on how many are denied such moments of peace. This dichotomy is part of the emotional landscape we navigate in our resistance work. The question here is: How do we build resilience to hold both the joy and the rage? How can we expand our capacity for connection, love, and joy, so we’re not spiritually consumed by the weight of the struggle.
• Post-Protest Care & Recovery: At KABRA, post-protest care is offered as a way to help participants recharge and recover. This includes shiatsu and chair massages to relieve stress and support physical well-being after intense actions. We will discuss how these practices can help us recover from the emotional and physical toll of activism, allowing us to return to the struggle with renewed energy and commitment. How can we integrate care practices like these into our ongoing organizing efforts?

This discussion will highlight how care isn’t a distraction from resistance but a core part of it. By nurturing ourselves and each other, we increase our ability to act, to sustain our efforts, and to build a world that values liberation for all. Together, we will deepen our understanding of care as a radical, restorative, and collective act of resistance."