Its been two days since I left Duke University, and most of what Ive done in this time is try and get my head around all the possibility and inspiration that got stuffed into my heart by working with Kimberly McCrae and her students (and the rest of the phenomenal staff/interns at the Womens Center). It would have been enough to engage in nuanced and thoughtful conversation with earnest, aware, whip-smart young people (check). It would have been enough to meet program coordinators and directors who were actively invested in constantly learning while supporting their students in doing great things (actually that would be waaay more than enough, but also: check). I would have considered the whole damn thing a riotous success if all that happened was I met Anastasia Karklina in person and found out she lived up to the brilliance and tenacity I saw in her 3000 miles away (and again: yup. check). But...wow. On top of all of that, I got to realize a little bit more about the full magnitude of Kims vision and work at the Womens Center, and I cant help but be lit up by it. This woman is building a generation of activists who do more than grasp the issues--they are learning the values of holistic strategizing, of sustainability and self-care and continuous reflection/examination/growth. Imagine a generation of progressive people inoculated against burnout and stagnation, and try not to feel this same unlikely hope. I left Duke on Saturday believing in everything these young people are building, and I am so excited to see where we all head next.
Posted on: Mon, 31 Mar 2014 16:55:39 +0000
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