Driving through the state of Washington this weekend, I was listening to This I Believe on the radio. It couldn’t have been more timely, but I’ll get back to that.
The Board of Directors of the Archimedes Movement voted last month to change our name to We Can Do Better. This is a turning point in our young organization, which was launched in 2006. To reflect this change, we’ve rolled out this new website.
Yet, we continue to be asked “what do you do?” and how are you different from ‘organization A’ or ‘campaign B?‘ We’re not your typical non-profit organization.
We believe that we’re only going to solve the big problems ahead of us when the public is informed and engaged, feels connected to the issue at hand, and they (we) can see the impact in our communities, jobs, and families. Whether we’re talking about health reform, building an economy that works for all Americans, global climate change and our dependence on fossil fuels, it’s the same. We take the complicated and sometimes convoluted language of policy makers and translate it to the public, so that individuals can have their own ah-hah moments, finally understanding why this issue is important to take on and what can be done to move us forward.
It’s different than the pundit’s talking points. We are not out to win a campaign; instead we want more people to understanding the question being discussed so that – when they toss their voice in – they know what they are asking for and why it matters. It’s important that people have a vision of how things can be better.
But, it was listening to Marian Wilson Kimber on This I Believe, that affirmed our approach. Ms. Kimber talked about a coffee shop where she used to go to write. She lived in a community where she stood out as being different, yet over time she became a regular, and soon realized that a room could be a place where people found themselves talking and sharing. She said, “people at those tables found themselves talking – talking to her, and talking to each other. Life stories unfolded, child rearing advice was given, theology was discussed, politics argued about and life wisdom passed on.” It was a place where people talked about what mattered most to them.
She closed her essay saying, “These days it’s hard to imagine people coming to know one another and managing to get along – and even like one another – in spite of their disagreements.” That’s what our organization is about. Sometimes we are in gatherings where the majority agrees on things; but just as often we are in rooms where people are wary. Coming in, people are concerned that we are trying to convince them of something. So they are surprised when – in talking about the opportunities ahead – they do agree with our end goal: that everyone should have an equal opportunity to be healthy. And they recognize that today not everyone has that opportunity.
When we send out our newsletter updates we can count on feedback from folks who agree with us and we know we’ll hear from folks who disagree. That makes We Can Do Better a unique place for people to share insights, learn together, and – every once in a while – realize that they can advocate for an issue with others who they might not have considered allies. We help people find agreement through focusing on the values we share in common.
We want to hear from you about our new website. It’s still evolving, but it’s shaped around three ideas: Learn, Connect and Act. Learn is where you go to “read more about it.” Connect is for getting together with others in workshops or work teams or finding individuals to connect with. And Act is where you take action. We have a calendar of events and a place for posting materials, but mostly this new website is much easier to navigate. If you can’t find something or wish we would add information about a specific topic, you can always tell us what’s on your mind.
Thanks and take care,
Liz Baxter
Executive Director
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