Beyond Resistance: A Calling Back to Purpose
Why this moment demands clarity, care, and community—not just reaction
Hey Changemakers,
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to be part of an online conversation on museums and the current political moment—a moment where federal agencies are being dismantled, DEI programs are being eliminated, and cultural institutions like museums are being scrutinized and pressured to censor or soften the stories they tell.
The program was part of the Museums and Change virtual series hosted by Avi Decter, Managing Partner of History Now, and included myself and Micah Parzen, CEO of the Museum of Us in San Diego, as panelists. [Zoom video recording available here, with passcode 4#A$#jRn]
I was honored to participate, and thrilled to see the Zoom space quickly fill to its capacity. At the same time, I felt a gentle need to push back on how we frame these conversations around “museums resisting Trump” and responding to the divisive politics of our current moment. Too often, I see language emerge that centers museums as reactive institutions: resisting censorship, resisting political figures, resisting partisan ideologies, etc.
But I don’t believe the work of museums is fundamentally about resistance. I believe it’s about purpose.
Moving Forward with Purpose
As I shared in my opening remarks, “I hope we can reframe this moment not as a crisis of politics, but as a calling back to purpose.”
When we allow our work to be defined by who or what we’re against, we start to narrow the scope of what’s possible. We risk collapsing centuries of systemic injustice and cultural complexity into a single person or political party.
And we also risk losing sight of the incredible, values-driven work that is already happening every day across the museum field.
So many institutions are already telling fuller, more honest stories—stories that include the voices of people long left out of dominant historical narratives. They are deepening relationships with communities, not out of political obligation but because of a long-standing commitment to equity, justice, community, and care.
This is not “resistance.” This is responsibility.
It’s the responsibility to our publics, to our communities, and to the truths that history demands we tell. It’s the responsibility to stand firm in our values—not as a political act, but as a human one. Because if we let fear of political backlash steer our choices, we risk becoming institutions that are guided by avoidance rather than by purpose.
That doesn’t mean the pressure isn’t real. It is. DEI programs are being dismantled under the guise of neutrality. Narratives about slavery, colonialism, and systemic racism are being targeted as “divisive.” Science centers are being challenged for addressing climate change.
But the work we do in response can’t only be about protecting ourselves from political threats—it must be a reflection of our deeper commitments and purpose.
As has been said so many times (by myself and countless leading voices across the museum field for decades), museums are not neutral and have never been. And they shouldn’t be. They are public spaces shaped by human decisions—and that means we have the power (and the responsibility) to shape them toward equity, care, and truth.
I’ve seen this firsthand in the work of small and mid-sized museums, community-based partnerships, and museum professionals across the country. People who are finding ways to move forward—not with fear, but with clarity. Not in reaction, but in relationship. They are building trust that isn’t performative, but deeply earned. They are staying grounded in communities even when political winds shift.
And they are not alone. We are not alone.
In this moment, I believe we have the opportunity to shift the narrative—not just for ourselves, but for the future of museums. To step away from reactive frames and toward a deeper, steadier sense of purpose. To ask:
What does it mean to lead from our values? How do we stay rooted in these values, even when the winds of politics shift?
What does it mean to be a museum that centers people, relationships, and community?
How do we support each other—not just in crisis, but in the everyday practice of building a more just, caring, and inclusive cultural field?
And most importantly: How do we build and sustain the kind of institutions that people feel a deep sense of connection to—not just because of what’s on the walls, but because of how we show up?
I’m sharing these thoughts here because I know many of you—readers, colleagues, fellow change-makers—are also holding this tension. You’re navigating pressure from above while staying accountable to the people you serve, to the people you have built meaningful relationships with over time. You’re trying to find ways—and language—that reflect your values and center compassion and honesty, all while navigating the very real risks of job security, funding, leadership pressure, and public backlash.
An Invitation to Continue the Conversation
This moment is asking something of all of us. Whether you work in a museum, collaborate with one, or care deeply about the stories we tell in public spaces, your voice matters.
I’d love to hear how you’re thinking about this in your own work or context:
What does it look like for you or your institution to stay rooted in purpose right now?
Where are you finding clarity or courage—and where are you feeling stuck?
How are you balancing the values you hold with the very real pressures many of us are facing?
What kinds of support, solidarity, or language do you wish you had more of?
There’s no single right answer. My hope is that this space can be one where we build more understanding, not less. Where we hold space for complexity and nuance, and where we remember that we’re not alone in navigating these tensions.
Please share your thoughts in the comments, or reply directly if you’d rather continue the conversation one-on-one. And if this post resonates with you, I’d be so grateful if you shared it with someone else who might be wrestling with similar questions.
Let’s keep doing this work—not just of resisting the threats we are facing right now, but of creating places rooted in deeply-held human values and a clear sense of purpose.
Quick Deadline Reminder for Values Workshop
Just a few days left until the Values Workshop Spring Intensive starts!
The Intensive begins this coming Wednesday, April 30, and as a reminder, there’s a special offer at $50 off when you use the code SPRING2025.
(And as a second reminder, paid subscribers can get a code for $100 off).
And as always, I am happy to discuss additional support with a check-in meeting for those who might not be able to every workshop. So if you are thinking about joining but have scheduling conflicts, or if you have any other questions at all, please don’t hesitate to contact me at murawski27@gmail.com! We hope to see you there!
