Posted by creativemindsunion (Msg) on 2008-09-08 15:35:41:

Faces of Direct Action

and Voices of Dissent...

Over the years I have looked into the eyes and the ideas of folks who have come to volunteer at the Brick House.... these are the believers who make our mission real. These people ask in good faith, "What can I do and how can I help." Furthermore, these are the people who place their hands upon the wheels of change and drive our commitment to work within a less than perfect scenario of consensus decision-making to reach the mile markers of lasting change within the BRYCC community.

As I work with each of these selfless individuals, it becomes clear that they come to understand the larger value of how we maintain our community and forward the cause of independent learning as direct action. Nearly every volunteer at some point has had to ask ,"How do I do this?" or "Where should I place this when I am done?" or "Does this have to be done regularly?" because our process is all about learning to work together for organizing something larger than ourselves and what we think is right. Some like the idea and stay and some don't, many get tired and take breaks while others leave with a disquieted feeling. Others simply visit us and never make a true effort to effect change through direct action... BRYCC House was created was created for just this purpose and has seen many people on the way to becoming a true community center that people call Brick House now.

What is the difference between people who work and make their hands-on contributions as opposed to people who only come to meetings or discuss change without practicing it? The answer is not a profound contrast but rather a subtle realization for any person who takes the time to work within group settings of volunteers and suffer both financial and communications challenges with them. We don't all look the same when we walk through the door, but we speak the same language for the most part and we consider all people our equals as far as I can tell. But differences doe exist and over time it becomes clear where the equitable value of showing up and helping out comes from ... it is where 'doing' and 'thinking about' or simply 'documenting' actually play out as progress and product amounting to lasting change.

There seems to be a magical alchemy when a particular individual can honor both traits of 'doing' and 'planning or thinking'... that specific alchemy is a blend of available time on a weekly basis, patience to repeat the same action or idea until it works, and the foresight to be considerate or listen as other members in the community express their mutual concerns and interests so that our work is a benefit for all operations. Blending in the element of 'documenting' is the culmination of how such lasting change can be taught to others. The difference in applying such alchemy and simply understanding it is relative to the idea that BRYCC is all about Building Resources Yielding Cultural Change while Brick House Community Center is a place which has a mortgage to a site that needs regular maintenance and utilities minded. One does not truly fulfill the mission or community intention without the gravity of the other providing critical mass for the other to further grow.

I personally see the two as one and refuse to allow the entities to separate and become two mutually exclusive entities where some people slave away with their volunteerism while others take good notes and sit on their values of a singluar focus in relation to what progress as a community might look like. The primary concept for me is Resources... whether it be going into the office to find the records of decision as assembly notes or a scarce few collective meeting notes (which actually exist from days gone by) or even just to get raffle supplies to run ones own fundraising event, the fact remains the same that our community has a place to do its thing and a system which can be used to regularly track and detail annual, monthly and weekly operations. The question comes down to how does our membership see itself and treat others when they wish to become involved. The organized matter exists but do all members acknowledge it and practice its processes?

This question is neither rhetorical nor is it pragmatic to ask because our real challenge at present is to acknowledge all those who ask to be involved and included whether it be collective mailing list data entry on a regular basis or events promotions within city-wide media so that others have at least a one to two week window of notification to participate in whichever event or workshop series to be hosted.

In all truth, the majority of volunteers who have spent more than an hour as a hands-on activist at our site smile and feel good about the time which has been spent gardening or as an apprentice carpenter or even as a 'house frau' garbage facilitator.... none of these people questions that the Brick House is a worthy cause or whether we are 'dead and done' with no good reason to continue to make the effort. Its clear that they get excited that we have a radio program and hands on resources like tools to fix their bikes or sewing machines for exploring both art and self sufficient skills, but what is not clear is how or when they might actually find the leadership necessary to get involved because up to now the leaders have worked doggedly with their heads down, nose to the grindstone, tirelessly upon the focus of achieving one small goal after another.

It is my view that we are Building Resources Yielding Cultural Change every day that we unlock the doors and return to the task at hand to work with whomever shows up and lends a hand. It is also my view that the Brick House Community is ready to grow and welcome those individuals who have shown that they believe with their monthly online donations and their every return to the site which has so much potential and so much need when it comes to being a habitable climate with loads of opportunity. It is my belief that our mission is clear and our members are many.. it is my hope and vested interest that we unify our vision through regular action to unify the commitments we make as board members and collective organizers to document, process and proceed with unifying BRYCC values with the Brick House Community Property and be done with the idea that each of the communities problems are NIMBY....

Things to Work on:

Better communication as accessible documentation

Membership data entry and regular updates of action

Establishing protocol and procedure for oppression-free direct action and volunteerism

Defining Daily, Weekly, Monthly and Annual schedules or calendars which clarify regular maintenance of all aspects of our function from outreach and fundraising to return of furniture and tools to their appropriate locations

Media Promotion and Community Partner Facilitation

Things to Know:

Any and all folks, members and non-members, are welcome to present proposals at our Assembly and Board Meetings as a form of requesting use of our space or active involvement through Funds/Program Development.

We meet regularly on Tuesdays and Sundays for fun and serious planning of community events and progress as building committee design/materials utilization.

Our building welcomes free-thinkers, creative expression and familial based activities; it does not accommodate smoking, drinking or abuse of any kind once it has been reported.