This session was hosted outside on the front steps of the building by Jennifer Brandel and included small group conversations to unpack what the word “radical” means to people, what they can do to be more radical, and what blockers are holding them back.
We discussed these 3 questions (which you’re welcome to think about on your own or with a friend!)
- What or who is radical to you? Why? (This could be radical people, radical acts)
- What’s holding you back from being more radical?
- What’s one step you could take in your life or job to be your definition of radical?
Here are some people that were put forward as being radical:
- I.F. Stone
- Nellie Bly
- Studs Terkel
- Ida B Wells
- Jad Abumrad
- Chicks (formerly Dixie Chicks)
- Cardi B
- Weather Underground
- Angela Davis
- Evil Knievel
- Naked Cowboy
- Bayo Akomolafe
- Jon Steward
- John Lennon
- Chelsea Manning
- Simon’s parents
Here are some acts/actions that people thought were radical:
- Pentagon Papers
- Simone Biles – opting out of gymnastics for a while
- Political Violence
- Urban Gardening
- Rest / Saying No
We talked about how what’s radical to one person may not look radical to another. (E.g., “not starting something new” is radical for someone always starting things.)
We also talked about what’s holding us back. Folks offered blockers such as conservative funders, the overhead of change management, and fear of judgment/not belonging anymore.
The group was invited to share their emails with their conversation partners, setting a deadline to take one small step to do something radical or be more radical, and to check in with each other.