Are you checking out from the news? Feeling depressed and overwhelmed about the American political situation? Want to put your head in the sand? Welcome to the Apocalyptic Supperclub: Nourishment for Dire Times where I plate up stories and ideas to feed the heart and soul and nourish our capacity to meet this very challenging moment of being alive in a drastically changing world.
This episode features a couple who have been educators and activists their entire lives. Larry Jones and Marilyn Green are the kind of people who move unseen through history and have made things better for the rest of us through effort, advocacy and a relentless dedication to humanitarian ideals. This show is all about love–love of ideas and principles, love of humanity and country, and a passion for putting that love into transformative action that ripples out into the world in ways we often cannot measure.
Right now your heart may be aching, or your cynicism rising, you may be tempted to check out or lash out, but I want to assure you that together, with enough of us involved, we can blow open the doors of possibility!
People and Organizations mentioned in this show:
Myrlie Evers-Williams: Wife of Medgar Evers. Her powerful book: For us, the Living tells the story of the commitment and work of Medgar Evers and the enormity of challenges he faced in bringing voter’s rights to Mississippi. Her later book, Watch Me Fly, continues with her story and accomplishments as she carries on with her commitment to the cause that deprived her of her first husband.
The Children’s Eternal Rainforest: The original inspiration of a young Swedish boy exploded into a fundraising effort that expanded to over 44 countries, eventually culminating into a 54,000 acre protected rain and cloud forest, which is today the largest private reserve in the world.
Erica Chenoweth of Harvard’s Kennedy School is known as The Professor who Quantified Democracy. Erica Chenoweth’s data shows how—and when— authoritarians fall. In the linked article you can learn more about her and her famous 3.5% statistic.
RFK Speeches: His Words for our time. Robert Kennedy’s words from the 1960’s are still deeply relevant. His speeches are well worth revisiting.
Resources for Heroes of Democracy: This Google Doc is full of people to follow, organizations who are offering excellent citizen resources, and suggestions for forming a local group to support your citizen journey. Check it out. I update it every month.
Thanks to Chris Kuzma for sharing her story of becoming an activist.
Thanks to Suki Wessling for reading Jessica Craven’s pep talk for activists:A Wildfire of Inspiration. Her Substack is full of terrific civic resources.
Jim Hightower’s Lowdown is a Substack well worth following and supporting.
At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.–Albert Schweitzer
