Very inspiring conversation. Thanks, Mike Murawski and Stacey Marie Garcia for making it possible. Many takeaways to assume.
Language creates reality. A good place to initiate change is language (as well as ourselves). In many cases, we use words without taking on all the implicit load they carry. "Community" and "Community-centered museum" are a good example of this. Depending on how we define and understand implicitly what a community is, our work will go in one direction or another, and may even replicate and perpetuate dynamics of trauma, abuse, and discrimination that we are trying to overcome.
As Stacey rightly says, it is important to work with a non-simplistic or reductionist conception of community based on ethnicity, place of birth or residence, gender, religious creed, ideological orientation, etc. Sentences instead of one single word. In my case, one criterion I often work with to define community is community-based on reciprocal care, for holistic and long-term well-being.
The question of sharing power is also essential. "Dancing with the system" in the words of Donella Meadows means redesigning that power so that others who do not have it can exercise it by being heard and making their realities and needs present. And it all starts with initiating a process of attentive listening, being radically honest about what your problems and difficulties are as a Museum, and investing a lot of time to be part of the community not in a transactional but in an authentic reciprocal way. Being able "To Be Challenged, Led and Shaped by Community" instead of implementing "Community Washing" subtle campaigns. Weaving other's stories instead of constantly talking about the Museum story. First people build trust relationships, then the rest.
Very inspiring conversation. Thanks, Mike Murawski and Stacey Marie Garcia for making it possible. Many takeaways to assume.
Language creates reality. A good place to initiate change is language (as well as ourselves). In many cases, we use words without taking on all the implicit load they carry. "Community" and "Community-centered museum" are a good example of this. Depending on how we define and understand implicitly what a community is, our work will go in one direction or another, and may even replicate and perpetuate dynamics of trauma, abuse, and discrimination that we are trying to overcome.
As Stacey rightly says, it is important to work with a non-simplistic or reductionist conception of community based on ethnicity, place of birth or residence, gender, religious creed, ideological orientation, etc. Sentences instead of one single word. In my case, one criterion I often work with to define community is community-based on reciprocal care, for holistic and long-term well-being.
The question of sharing power is also essential. "Dancing with the system" in the words of Donella Meadows means redesigning that power so that others who do not have it can exercise it by being heard and making their realities and needs present. And it all starts with initiating a process of attentive listening, being radically honest about what your problems and difficulties are as a Museum, and investing a lot of time to be part of the community not in a transactional but in an authentic reciprocal way. Being able "To Be Challenged, Led and Shaped by Community" instead of implementing "Community Washing" subtle campaigns. Weaving other's stories instead of constantly talking about the Museum story. First people build trust relationships, then the rest.