LENS 4: COMMUNITY BUILDING

THE PORTLAND BRANCH OF THE YH5D THOUGHT CARTEL HAS A WEEKLY TRADITION CALLED SALON.

SALON IS WHERE A GROUP OF PEOPLE COME TOGETHER OVER PANCAKES AND SHARE THEIR LIFE EXPERIENCES. AT SALON ONES LIFE EXPERIENCE IS A VALID SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE. IN THIS GATHERING WE LEARN TO SEE EACHOTHER AND NOT JUST LOOK FOR WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW OR THINK. WE ARE INTERESTED IN RECOGNIZING THAT WE ARE IN A UNIQUE HISTORICAL MOMENT. THAT IF WE DONT TRY AND UNDERSTAND “THE AIR WE BREATHE” THEN WE ARE OPPRESSED IN WAYS WE DONT EVEN HAVE WORDS FOR. WE ARE INTERESTED IN UNDERSTANDING THE MENTAL HEALTH EFFECTS OF CAPITALISM AND THE EVAPORATION OF OUR COMMUNITIES. THESE ARE HEAVY SUBJECTS TO BROACH WHICH IS WHY WE EMPHASIZE POETIC THINKING OVER POLITICAL THINKING. WITH POETIC THOUGHT WE GET TO EXPLORE POSSIBILITY OVER PROBABILITY, THIS IS KEY IN COLLECTIVELY IMAGINING A BETTER FUTURE. USUALLY SALONS HAVE THEMES TO PROVIDE A LOOSE TOPIC TO THE CONVERSATION BUT THAT IS UP TO YOU. SOMETIMES THE THEMES ARE GENERATED ON THE SPOT WITH EVERYONE SOMETIMES A FACILITATOR COMES UP WITH IT.

SALON DOESN’T HAVE TO BE HEAVY. ITS OFTEN FULL OF LAUGHTER. I’LL PROVIDE AN OUTLINE OF HOW WE HOLD A SALON HERE IN PORTLAND AND BY ALL MEANS CREATE ONE THAT IS UNIQUE TO YOUR COMMUNITY AND CALL IT WHATEVER YOU WANT.

-A TEXT IS SENT OUT TO THE GROUP A FEW DAYS BEFORE SALON LISTING THE LOCATION AND THEME.

-(DAY OF) I START MAKING PANCAKES AS PEOPLE BEGIN TO TRICKLE IN AROUND 11:30AM.

-BY 12 MOST PEOPLE ARE HERE AND FOOD IS READY.

-AS EVERYONE HAS LOADED THEIR PLATE AND TAKEN THEIR SEAT I EXPRESS DEEP GRATITUDE FOR EVERYONE SHOWING UP AND CHOOSING TO COME TOGETHER INTENTIONALLY TO SHARE AND LISTEN. I SHARE A FEW LOOSE WORDS ON THE THEME AND I USUALLY READ A POEM.

-HERE ARE THE GROUNDRULES I LIKE TO MENTION BEFORE THE CONVERSATION TRULY BEGINS:

A) ITS ALWAYS GOOD TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONE PERSON DOMINATES THE CONVERSATION AND THAT PEOPLE LISTEN AS MUCH AS THEY SPEAK. FOR SOME PEOPLE SILENCE IS UNCOMFORTABLE AND FOR SOME PEOPLE SILENCE IS WHAT THEY NEED TO HAVE THE SPACE TO SPEAK UP. DONT BE SHY WITH SILENCE.

B) I ALSO LIKE TO REMIND THE GROUP THAT THERE IS A TENDENCY FOR MEN TO TALK OVER WOMEN. LETS NOT DO THAT HERE.

C) DISAGREEMENTS DONT OFTEN COME UP HOWEVER WHEN THEY DO I THINK ITS IMPORTANT TO PUT OUT THERE THAT THE SKILL TO DISAGREE WITH COMPASSION AND CARE IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED IN THESE TIMES TO MAKE THE MOST VIRAL DIFFERENCE. WE NEED TO GET GOOD AT DISAGREEING FROM A PLACE OF CURIOSITY WITH DESIRE TO UNDERSTAND.

D) THE EMPHASIS HERE IS ON POETIC THINKING NOT POLITICAL THINKING. WE CAN TALK ABOUT THINGS WITH MASSIVE POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS POETICALLY. THIS IS TO SAY WITH THE PHYSICS OF YOUR IMAGINATION NOT THE PHYSICS OF THE DUMPSTER FIRE CACKLING OUTSIDE.

-(START) WE BEGIN EATING AND THE CONVERSATION BEGINS USUALLY BY ASKING A QUESTION RELATED TO THE THEME.

-THE CONVERSATION CAN START AS A SHARE THAT GOES CLOCKWISE/COUNTER CLOCKWISE WITH PEOPLE PIPING IN AS THEY FEEL CALLED TO OR IT CAN JUST GO IN ANY DIRECTION.

-SALON CONVERSATION OFTEN EXPANDS LIKE A WEB WHERE PEOPLE CAN TRAVEL FAR AWAY FROM THE THEME ON TANGENTS HOWEVER THERES ALWAYS THREADS THAT LEAD RIGHT BACK TO THE HEART OF THE CONVERSATION, POETIC THINKING IS PERFECT FOR THIS.

-WHEN DONE RIGHT SALON USUALLY SURPRISES EVERYONE THAT NO ONE WAS ON THEIR PHONES THIS WHOLE TIME.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR WANT TO SHARE ANY INSIGHTS DO THAT THING BELOW