First.Name.Basis

Last week I was doing some Kamala research to get a better understanding of what changes she would like to make.
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As I was watching a video of her speaking about her platform, this little one climbed up onto my lap and began to watch with me.
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Violet is in a “who is that” phase right now. She has to know everyone’s name and everyone’s business😂
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So of course she asked me “mama who is that?“ I responded: “that’s Kamala Harris, she wants to try to help make our country better.” Then Violet asked “can I help too?“ Tears are welling up in my eyes as I told her how desperately we need people like her to help.
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Have you asked yourself that question lately? Do you have a plan for how you will “help too”?
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One of the things we can do to help is get informed and cast our ballots. I hope you will be watching the debate tonight and listening for ways you can “help too.”
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I have heard from so many of you that this election season has left you feeling confused and overwhelmed.
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That is completely understandable--2020 has been a year full of uncertainty and turmoil, to say the least. Even though there is so much going on around us it is critical for all of us to cast our vote and use our voices during this election season.
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Voting is a precious right and it is our responsibility as citizens to go to the polls with as much information as possible.
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In this episode I will walk you through my 4 step action plan to become an informed voter! My hope is that after listening to this episode you will feel empowered to confidently complete your ballot and fulfill your civic duty. 🇺🇸
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Step 1: Put time on your calendar
Step 2: Decide on your non-negotiables
Step 3: Use your voting tools
Step 4: Write down who you voted for
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http://firstnamebasis.org/vote/

“I just don’t want our kids to be resentful and think this work is only hard, heavy, and sad.”
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Every year on our anniversary, Carter and I talk about our highs and lows of the previous year. Over the weekend we celebrated our golden anniversary (5th on the 5th) and we continued the tradition. Of course our reflection led to a conversation about the revolution our country is going through and our role as parents who are committed to anti-racism.
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So often I find myself saying, “I know this work is hard...” Even though that can be true, what I really want my children to know is that there is JOY in advocating for others. There is PEACE in knowing you’re living your values. There is PRIDE on the other side of a courageous act. And there is GRATITUDE in looking back and realizing the society we live in is better because of your decision to act with compassion.💙

Turns out we all have lots of big feelings about cancel culture. That’s okay, big feelings don’t scare us around here!
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You sent in so many great questions about cancel culture and one of the most common questions was: what is the difference between cancel culture and call out culture? So that’s where we started!
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Today’s episode is the first in our 3 episode series about cancel culture. This episode sets the foundation and provides clarification for the conversation we will have next week: what is cancel culture?
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Listen to learn the difference between calling someone out, calling someone in, and how to decide which route to take when it’s your turn to speak up.
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http://firstnamebasis.org/cancel-culture-part-1-calling-out-calling-in-and-tone-policing/

I love this community so very much, my soul just needs a little bit of rest. I want to leave you with two thoughts.
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1. It is never going to be the "right time" for a conversation about race for someone who prioritizes their comfort and maintaining their power over the liberation and protection of marginalized communities. Say it anyway.
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2. God cares about this. Don't let people weaponize faith to shut you down and shut you up.
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💕

You think you know the story of Francis Scott Key watching the “rockets red glare” and “bombs bursting in air” as a prisoner on a British warship, but there is a lot to this story that you probably did not learn in history class.
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In this episode we unpack the man behind the Star Spangled Banner, how it became our National Anthem, and whether it truly represents American values.
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http://firstnamebasis.org/the-untold-story-of-the-star-spangled-banner/
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There have been many different types of reactions to the calls for racial justice that are going on in our country right now. If your social media looks anything like mine you’ve probably noticed a lot of spiritual bypassing.
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Spiritual bypassing is a term coined by psychologist John Welwood in 1984. He describes it as, “a widespread tendency to use spiritual ideas and practices to sidestep or avoid facing unresolved emotional issues, psychological wounds, and unfinished developmental tasks.”
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It is a call for “prayer,” “unity,” and “love” without a commitment to action. It is the message that “we are all different and God loves everyone” and statements like “I’m not listening to the voices of the world anymore, I’m only listening to God.”
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Spiritual bypassing may look harmless on the surface, but it is actually a form of violence because it shuts down conversation and allows people to distance themselves from the responsibility they have to be part of the solution, which in turn perpetuates racism.
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In this episode we discuss how to spot spiritual bypassing, what makes it so dangerous, and what you should do when you see it.
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Lift ev'ry voice and sing
'Til earth and heaven ring
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty
Let our rejoicing rise
High as the list'ning skies
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea

Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun
Let us march on 'til victory is won❤️

I literally can’t imagine what I would do if someone took this baby girl from my arms. Can you imagine having no control over where your baby went, who they were with, how they were treated, or what they were forced to do? It would kill me from the inside out.

Last Seen is a project that is digitizing the newspaper ads that formerly enslaved people used to desperately try and reconnect with their family members who had been taken from them. These mamas never stopped fighting to find their babies and I’m sure that in the next life, some of them are still fighting to reconnect with their descendants who are on the earth today.

One of the ways that our family will celebrate Juneteenth is by signing up to help the Last Seen Project and transcribe the ads. Typing these words will give us an opportunity to sit with the weight of what these families were fighting for. And maybe, just maybe, we can make it a little easier for someone to find a missing piece of their puzzle and connect with their ancestors.

Join us🌻

http://informationwanted.org

Last Juneteeth I took my little one to story time at the library. I was wearing a Juneteenth shirt and one of the other moms came up to me and said ‘What is that? It popped up on the calendar on my phone this morning but I didn’t know what it was.”
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You probably have that same question because Juneteenth is not widely known outside of the Black community. But it should be.
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Juneteenth is the oldest celebration of the abolition of slavery here in the United States. Every year on June 19th families come together to celebrate the resilience of our ancestors who survived and persevered during one of the darkest times of our nation’s history.
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We take time to reflect on where we are as a family, a community, and a nation and how we can work together to better live out our country’s values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
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Listen in to hear the history of Juneteenth and how your family can take part in this powerful celebration.
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