Since our decision to sunset the organization in 2023, we have taken a year to reflect with core collective members and close collaborators to integrate this decade-plus experience, distill lessons and lift up valuable movement memory. Most of these conversations have been recorded for our podcast and also live on StoryCorps.
It has been a joy to take time to hear different perspectives and reflections from many of the people who brought this labor of love into being. May these conversations, insights and histories from this particular period of time be in honor of the lineages we carry and in service to liberatory futures.
The questions we focused on included:
- What first drew you to WNC?
- Treasured memories
- How has being a part of this transformed you?
- Growth edges where we made mistakes? Important lessons learned?
- What have been positive impacts on our communities and movements?
- What wishes do you have for the legacy of this work?
Archival Sunset Reflection Conversations
Jay Tzvia Helfand and Alex Marterre
As a part of honoring our legacy, we are proud to share this interview with close collaborator Alex Marterre (they/them) and core member Jay Tzvia Helfand (they/them). Alex and Jay reflect on the impact of WNC, situated in the political moment of mid-October 2023.
Nicole Wires and Julia Sebastian interviewed by Zara Zimbardo
Potent insights and movement memories with core members Julia Sebastian (she/her) and Nicole Wires (she/her), interviewed by Zara Zimbardo (she/her). Julia, Nicole and Zara reflect on the impact of WNC. They recount fond memories and lessons from the work of over a decade.
Toran Ailisheva and Zara Zimbardo
Contemplative and tender conversation with core members Toran Ailisheva (they/them) and Zara Zimbardo (she/her). Two of the founding core, Toran and Zara reflect on the impact of WNC, sharing about their political evolution in collaboration for over a decade.
Reflections from close collaborators
Ream (they/them), Josephine Radbill (she/her) and Cynthia Ashley (she/her). They share memories and reflections about WNC’s impact, along with wishes for our work for future generations.
Rascal Roubos with Toran Ailisheva and Zara Zimbardo
Close collaborator Rascal Roubos (they/them) and core members Toran Ailisheva (they/them) and Zara Zimbardo (she/her). Rascal shares about “Antidotes to White Fragility” an embodied inquiry exploring and transforming habituated defensive patterns and harmful reactivity into mindful awareness, resilience, empathy, accountability and connection.
Chapter leaders Lissa Vanderbeck, Natalie McClellan, Sarah Kaplan Gould, Lexi Sasanow and Kate McNeely speak with Zara Zimbardo about the formation of WNC NYC, processes of solidarity and relationship-tending, lessons, insights and impacts of organizing together in this period.