What does Forward Stance look like?

By Dana Ginn Paredes, Training Director

Among the many awesome things I get to do in my job is train other social justice leaders in Forward Stance, which is near and dear to my heart. A year and a half ago, 15 organizations started out together training and learning Forward Stance at part of our very first: Forward Stance Leadership Initiative.

Along the way, some organizations needed to step back, but the 9 who kept with it have all internalized their Forward Stance work to remarkable degrees. It shows up in their organizing, in their structure, in the way they communicate with each other and work with other groups.

Congratulations to Western States Center, the Center for Young Women's Development, Movement Strategy Center, Young Women United, the Center for Transformative Change, People Organized to Win Employment Rights, Mobilize the Immigrant Vote, California Latinas for Reproductive Justice, the General Service Foundation and Asian Communities for Reproductive Justice for completing all three sessions of this Leadership Initiative, and for continuing to bring this approach to your work! Each organization has kept a core of practice, of trial and error, and of learning together at the center -- and together we've created a new community committed to transforming the way we embody, experience, and act for the change we want to bring in the world.

I look forward to seeing Forward Stance become yours, and show up in the work ahead in ways we can't yet imagine.

Doing the first move of the tai ji practice together – YUHT!

How can we demonstrate the concept of simplicity using these whiffle balls?

Experiencing the concept of rhythm using water bottles.

What does it take for our movements to bring others along? FUN!

Sharing stories of challenge.

Sharing stories of success.

Following through the momentum of our effort is a physical experience.

This work requires space.

I learned so much along with this group. 

Forward Stance can be very funny.

The graduating class of ACRJ’s Forward Stance Leadership Initiative