Building power, particularly when we are centering communities that are most impacted, requires recognizing and healing individual and collective trauma. This approach requires a deep understanding that many of our communities have relied on strengths to endure inequitable systems, structures, and policies. In fostering healing environments, we should center the strengths that already exist in the community.
Many existing strengths are grounded in the threads that weave a strong community: culture, language, faith, shared histories, close relationships, and perseverance.
The connection between internal work/transformation and our external work/transformation is foundational for community power building.
Healing Justice asks how organizations are leaning on each other for support in working towards healing trauma that communities and organizers face in equity work.
Healing occurs across our communities, leading to strengthening trust and solidarity.
It includes acting with care through our work—proceeding thoughtfully, being deliberate, seeking to understand and build trusting relationships, and leading with love. (Source: Praxis Principles)