"We used to solve problems together". I've been thinking about this quote that my friend Jason shared during a one-to-one a few weeks ago. Jason and I both work in the environmental sector, him as a researcher and myself as a climate organizer. We were reflecting on how removed our organizations have become from decision-making. And while the environment is a place where decisions are mostly made by the "haves" over the "have-nots", we know that it doesn't have to be this way. We've solved problems with decision-makers before, but those days feel distant.

 

Today, almost all our fights happen away from the decision-making table. We push for change, we build pressure for action, but rarely do we as citizens sit down with our elected officials and negotiate for the solutions to our issues. We've lost the kind of power that got us in those rooms. Instead, many leaders simply do what they like, while we are left reacting to the latest announcement.

As we've become more disconnected from our governments, we've become more disconnected from each other and the tension of political action that leads us to create change. In other words, we've lost power: the ability to act. Powerless, we blame each other and retreat to ourselves and our families, losing sight of each other. Isolated, we become vulnerable to actors who organize us by pitting us against each other. The power they promise is a "power over" others. At the Greater Edmonton Alliance, we're in the business of building "power with" others, even when we don't agree on everything. 

When the Greater Edmonton Alliance was formed 20 years ago, it was formed yes to win on issues, but more importantly to develop leaders that could act through their institutions. We were created to develop citizens. A lot has changed in those last 20 years. We've had three (about to be four) mayors and eight premiers. The population of the metro Edmonton area has doubled. Many of the pains and pressures that existed in private are now public for all to see. The GEA has had its ups and downs, but one thing is true: we've never needed an Alliance of civil society organizations more than we do now.

On October 29th, we'll be hosting an "Alliance-Building Workshop". This workshop will be a chance for existing and prospective members of the Alliance to meet each other, for our new organizer Juan to share a vision for the coming months, and for us to decide on a collective future for the Alliance. We'll gather at the Unitarian Church of Edmonton, and we're eager to see you there.

RSVP at https://www.greateredmontonalliance.org/alliance_building_workshop