M.M. Volume 01, Issue 01
August 2024
There have been countless days searching for the perfect recipe for connection, believing that somewhere, in the changing winds of each new school year, we might find the secret ingredient of closeness. As the seasons shift and the weight of election years insists on our attention, the emotional landscape of our communities heightens and tenses. Yet, even in this tension, we must remind ourselves that what we bring to this moment—our best—is not a fixed measure but a unique, ever-changing essence that is enough, more than enough, when it is positioned as part of a whole.
Our years of GSA organizing have woven a tapestry of lessons, showing us the patterns that create true connection. We have witnessed TQ2S+ youth, fierce and unwavering, standing firm in their rights to gather, to be, to connect. In these gatherings, GSA clubs have transformed the landscapes of schools, dismantling the pervasive myth of disconnection that the culture of traditional schooling often perpetuates. Diverse in our identities, yet united in our purpose, we’ve seen that community is not just possible but essential.
It’s easy to fall into isolation’s void in the crowded halls of a school, the narrow halls of a home…to believe the lie that we are alone. But the truth, woven into the very fabric of our existence, is that we are never truly on our own. Everything around us is intertwined, a web of connections that we sometimes lose sight of amidst the noise. At GSA Network, ‘network’ is the essence of our being. It reminds us that we are bound together by invisible threads, resilient and strong, creating something far more powerful than any one of us could be alone.
Networking often carries the weight of capitalist intentions—seeking profit, power, status. But we invite you to step back, to reimagine this web of connections not as a means to an end, but as a living, breathing network of relationships. Indigenous communities have long held this wisdom, structuring their societies around the sacred value of connection. “If we see true connection as a form of wealth, then our network becomes our true net worth,” as Kierra Johnson of the LGBTQ+ Task Force beautifully puts it.
This reimagining is a necessary shift for our communities. Nature itself offers us countless examples: mycelium, the most resilient ecosystems are those that lean into their connections, that thrive through balance and reciprocal care.
Strong networks, like the ones we build through our GSA clubs, youth leadership programs and cross movement organizing show us the way forward. They teach us to embrace our interconnectedness, to celebrate our differences, and to understand that our diversity is our strength. These networks remind us to support one another, to share generously, and to adapt to the changes that come our way.
This dynamic can also be seen in our public educational settings. When competitive values are prioritized over students' agency, safety, imagination, and grace, schools limit their options and potential. Education can either be an instrument of liberation or oppression—so let our schools teach young people to be part of a community by engaging them as a community. We can model and encourage interdependence.
So, how do GSA clubs live out this networked reality? By gathering, supporting, and acting together.
Gather your people—reach out, stretch towards one another, and create a community with soft malleable marrow.
Support your people—love them, care for them, and share what you have, knowing that in giving, you also receive.
And act with your people—move together, strong and unwavering, knowing that when we move as one, we are unstoppable.
We love you,
Maya LaFlamme & J. Gia Loving
GSA Network Co-Executive Directors
