hello I’m thrilled to be here tonight to talk to you about this theme of
talk to you about this theme of
talk to you about this theme of breakthrough moments I loved the
breakthrough moments I loved the
breakthrough moments I loved the narrative of breakthrough moments they
narrative of breakthrough moments they
narrative of breakthrough moments they speak to me they inspire me this process
speak to me they inspire me this process
speak to me they inspire me this process where people encounter challenges that
where people encounter challenges that
where people encounter challenges that seem insurmountable obstacles they don’t
seem insurmountable obstacles they don’t
seem insurmountable obstacles they don’t know how they will overcome and somehow
know how they will overcome and somehow
know how they will overcome and somehow in that process they tap into some
in that process they tap into some
in that process they tap into some hidden reserves of enthusiasm of belief
hidden reserves of enthusiasm of belief
hidden reserves of enthusiasm of belief of endurance of passion and in doing
of endurance of passion and in doing
of endurance of passion and in doing that they have these phenomenal
that they have these phenomenal
that they have these phenomenal breakthrough moments
breakthrough moments
breakthrough moments I love the breakthrough story it speaks
I love the breakthrough story it speaks
I love the breakthrough story it speaks to me it resonates with me and I think
to me it resonates with me and I think
to me it resonates with me and I think it resonates with all of us doesn’t it
it resonates with all of us doesn’t it
it resonates with all of us doesn’t it there’s something about the breakthrough
there’s something about the breakthrough
there’s something about the breakthrough story that’s uniquely American this
story that’s uniquely American this
story that’s uniquely American this defying the odds being the underdog but
defying the odds being the underdog but
defying the odds being the underdog but coming out on top being able to tap into
coming out on top being able to tap into
coming out on top being able to tap into this grit and the passion that we share
this grit and the passion that we share
this grit and the passion that we share to come to new solutions and new ideas
to come to new solutions and new ideas
to come to new solutions and new ideas the innovativeness and the ingenuity
the innovativeness and the ingenuity
the innovativeness and the ingenuity that are very much a part of our
that are very much a part of our
that are very much a part of our American spirit are why the breakthrough
American spirit are why the breakthrough
American spirit are why the breakthrough stories resonate with us
stories resonate with us
stories resonate with us I love breakthrough stories because they
I love breakthrough stories because they
I love breakthrough stories because they inspire aspire me as a person but I also
inspire aspire me as a person but I also
inspire aspire me as a person but I also have to say that I do the work of
have to say that I do the work of
have to say that I do the work of breakthrough stories as a career in a
breakthrough stories as a career in a
breakthrough stories as a career in a sense my work as an academic and an
sense my work as an academic and an
sense my work as an academic and an activist and a researcher and a
activist and a researcher and a
activist and a researcher and a professor is about social transformation
professor is about social transformation
professor is about social transformation about facilitating breakthrough moments
about facilitating breakthrough moments
about facilitating breakthrough moments for my students and in community
for my students and in community
for my students and in community engagement and work so breakthrough
engagement and work so breakthrough
engagement and work so breakthrough moments aren’t something that is that
moments aren’t something that is that
moments aren’t something that is that are just personally important for very
are just personally important for very
are just personally important for very professionally relevant to me as well I
professionally relevant to me as well I
professionally relevant to me as well I study how schools can help transform
study how schools can help transform
study how schools can help transform societies to become more just more
societies to become more just more
societies to become more just more equitable more democratic places places
equitable more democratic places places
equitable more democratic places places that radically embrace the kind of
that radically embrace the kind of
that radically embrace the kind of inclusion and voice that we know are
inclusion and voice that we know are
inclusion and voice that we know are really important to the democratic
really important to the democratic
really important to the democratic process so it makes sense that I’m
process so it makes sense that I’m
process so it makes sense that I’m excited to speak to you about
excited to speak to you about
excited to speak to you about breakthrough moments and what I could
breakthrough moments and what I could
breakthrough moments and what I could lead with what it would make sense to
lead with what it would make sense to
lead with what it would make sense to lead with is to begin to tell you about
lead with is to begin to tell you about
lead with is to begin to tell you about I have created a school that’s really
I have created a school that’s really
I have created a school that’s really intended to cultivate these breakthrough
intended to cultivate these breakthrough
intended to cultivate these breakthrough moments to free learners to tap into
moments to free learners to tap into
moments to free learners to tap into their own innovation and ingenuity to
their own innovation and ingenuity to
their own innovation and ingenuity to facilitate those breakthrough processes
facilitate those breakthrough processes
facilitate those breakthrough processes as a part of learning and transformation
as a part of learning and transformation
as a part of learning and transformation but as someone who studies these moments
but as someone who studies these moments
but as someone who studies these moments as someone who studies transformation
as someone who studies transformation
as someone who studies transformation and breakthrough moments I also know
and breakthrough moments I also know
and breakthrough moments I also know they don’t happen in a vacuum
they don’t happen in a vacuum
they don’t happen in a vacuum breakthrough moments are deeply
breakthrough moments are deeply
breakthrough moments are deeply contextual and there are conditions that
contextual and there are conditions that
contextual and there are conditions that give rise to those breakthrough moments
give rise to those breakthrough moments
give rise to those breakthrough moments and it’s important that we recognize
and it’s important that we recognize
and it’s important that we recognize what those moments are the truth is
what those moments are the truth is
what those moments are the truth is breakthrough moments are actually very
breakthrough moments are actually very
breakthrough moments are actually very closely related to break down moments
closely related to break down moments
closely related to break down moments now we don’t usually want to tell the
now we don’t usually want to tell the
now we don’t usually want to tell the break down moment stories they’re not
break down moment stories they’re not
break down moment stories they’re not what we lead with they’re not the cells
what we lead with they’re not the cells
what we lead with they’re not the cells we wish everybody would identify us with
we wish everybody would identify us with
we wish everybody would identify us with but there’s so much to glean in the
but there’s so much to glean in the
but there’s so much to glean in the break down moments the break down
break down moments the break down
break down moments the break down moments have embedded in them this deep
moments have embedded in them this deep
moments have embedded in them this deep wisdom about opportunities to grow and
wisdom about opportunities to grow and
wisdom about opportunities to grow and to evolve so I’m going to begin by
to evolve so I’m going to begin by
to evolve so I’m going to begin by talking to you about break down moments
talking to you about break down moments
talking to you about break down moments that doesn’t mean I’m going to give you
that doesn’t mean I’m going to give you
that doesn’t mean I’m going to give you the low light reel of all the mishaps
the low light reel of all the mishaps
the low light reel of all the mishaps and missteps that happen in the process
and missteps that happen in the process
and missteps that happen in the process of creating a school I’m saving all of
of creating a school I’m saving all of
of creating a school I’m saving all of that material for a book I’m writing
that material for a book I’m writing
that material for a book I’m writing called so you think you want to start a
called so you think you want to start a
called so you think you want to start a school and it will feature stories like
school and it will feature stories like
school and it will feature stories like shoveling dead possum off the playground
shoveling dead possum off the playground
shoveling dead possum off the playground of carefully trying to pry a very old
of carefully trying to pry a very old
of carefully trying to pry a very old and dirty press-on nail from the
and dirty press-on nail from the
and dirty press-on nail from the floorboards of a classroom so a child
floorboards of a classroom so a child
floorboards of a classroom so a child doesn’t scratch himself again on it or
doesn’t scratch himself again on it or
doesn’t scratch himself again on it or spending a lot of time one morning
spending a lot of time one morning
spending a lot of time one morning trying to comfort a hysterical child
trying to comfort a hysterical child
trying to comfort a hysterical child who’s very distraught because one of her
who’s very distraught because one of her
who’s very distraught because one of her classmates licked her glasses
classmates licked her glasses
classmates licked her glasses we know these breakdown moments that are
we know these breakdown moments that are
we know these breakdown moments that are every day in episodic they’re the stuff
every day in episodic they’re the stuff
every day in episodic they’re the stuff we deal with on a daily basis of course
we deal with on a daily basis of course
we deal with on a daily basis of course but I’m not speaking about those kinds
but I’m not speaking about those kinds
but I’m not speaking about those kinds of break down moments I’m speaking about
of break down moments I’m speaking about
of break down moments I’m speaking about the kinds of break down moments that
the kinds of break down moments that
the kinds of break down moments that shake us to our core that profoundly
shake us to our core that profoundly
shake us to our core that profoundly reconfigure our understandings of the
reconfigure our understandings of the
reconfigure our understandings of the world the kind of break down moments
world the kind of break down moments
world the kind of break down moments where there is a collapse of what we
where there is a collapse of what we
where there is a collapse of what we used to know and believe and in its
used to know and believe and in its
used to know and believe and in its place nothing the breakdown moments that
place nothing the breakdown moments that
place nothing the breakdown moments that bring us to the play
bring us to the play
bring us to the play is that Joyce rough poet says we find
is that Joyce rough poet says we find
is that Joyce rough poet says we find ourselves in where the old maps no
ourselves in where the old maps no
ourselves in where the old maps no longer work and we’re trying to navigate
longer work and we’re trying to navigate
longer work and we’re trying to navigate a new terrain with no real sense of
a new terrain with no real sense of
a new terrain with no real sense of where we’re going or how to get there
where we’re going or how to get there
where we’re going or how to get there those breakdown moments are profound and
those breakdown moments are profound and
those breakdown moments are profound and sacred if we can learn to trust them and
sacred if we can learn to trust them and
sacred if we can learn to trust them and so tonight I’m going to start talking to
so tonight I’m going to start talking to
so tonight I’m going to start talking to you about breakdown moments before we
you about breakdown moments before we
you about breakdown moments before we get to the shiny breakthrough moments
get to the shiny breakthrough moments
get to the shiny breakthrough moments and my particular breakdown moment is
and my particular breakdown moment is
and my particular breakdown moment is going to be about Election Day 2016
going to be about Election Day 2016
going to be about Election Day 2016 where my personal breakdown moment is
where my personal breakdown moment is
where my personal breakdown moment is set against a broader landscape of an
set against a broader landscape of an
set against a broader landscape of an entire country grappling in this new
entire country grappling in this new
entire country grappling in this new terrain of breakdown and making sense of
terrain of breakdown and making sense of
terrain of breakdown and making sense of the social transformation we saw take
the social transformation we saw take
the social transformation we saw take place after election day I was reeling
place after election day I was reeling
place after election day I was reeling because as someone who’s deeply invested
because as someone who’s deeply invested
because as someone who’s deeply invested in social change and social growth in
in social change and social growth in
in social change and social growth in social justice and progress I had no
social justice and progress I had no
social justice and progress I had no idea of what this transformation meant
idea of what this transformation meant
idea of what this transformation meant for that work I knew that the old maps I
for that work I knew that the old maps I
for that work I knew that the old maps I had been working from a theory and
had been working from a theory and
had been working from a theory and practice no longer seemed relevant in
practice no longer seemed relevant in
practice no longer seemed relevant in this terrain I was grief-stricken and
this terrain I was grief-stricken and
this terrain I was grief-stricken and uncertain and in that state I found
uncertain and in that state I found
uncertain and in that state I found myself at a not in our town rally in
myself at a not in our town rally in
myself at a not in our town rally in downtown Bloomington among many other
downtown Bloomington among many other
downtown Bloomington among many other people who were experiencing their own
people who were experiencing their own
people who were experiencing their own breakdown moments there we congregated
breakdown moments there we congregated
breakdown moments there we congregated around the sacred wound of not knowing
around the sacred wound of not knowing
around the sacred wound of not knowing how to take the next step in this
how to take the next step in this
how to take the next step in this unknown territory there we shared the
unknown territory there we shared the
unknown territory there we shared the grief and the uncertainty about what
grief and the uncertainty about what
grief and the uncertainty about what would happen in this new terrain this
would happen in this new terrain this
would happen in this new terrain this new social transformation we had
new social transformation we had
new social transformation we had experienced I listened that evening as
experienced I listened that evening as
experienced I listened that evening as people spoke behind the megaphone about
people spoke behind the megaphone about
people spoke behind the megaphone about their deep fears and concerns about the
their deep fears and concerns about the
their deep fears and concerns about the social transformation about this new
social transformation about this new
social transformation about this new place with no Maps they spoke of feeling
place with no Maps they spoke of feeling
place with no Maps they spoke of feeling exiled from the communities they had
exiled from the communities they had
exiled from the communities they had been a part of they spoke of a deep
been a part of they spoke of a deep
been a part of they spoke of a deep uncertainty about their place of
uncertainty about their place of
uncertainty about their place of belonging in our society without really
belonging in our society without really
belonging in our society without really meaning to I found myself on the step
meaning to I found myself on the step
meaning to I found myself on the step with a baby on my hip and flanked on
with a baby on my hip and flanked on
with a baby on my hip and flanked on either side by my two young children
either side by my two young children
either side by my two young children speaking about the work I do speaking
speaking about the work I do speaking
speaking about the work I do speaking about social justice speaking about
about social justice speaking about
about social justice speaking about social transformation
social transformation
social transformation speaking about breakdown I didn’t have
speaking about breakdown I didn’t have
speaking about breakdown I didn’t have answers and the professor in me is
answers and the professor in me is
answers and the professor in me is deeply uncomfortable with that place but
deeply uncomfortable with that place but
deeply uncomfortable with that place but I spoke about the recognition that
I spoke about the recognition that
I spoke about the recognition that they’re together that night it was our
they’re together that night it was our
they’re together that night it was our responsibility to devise a new map that
responsibility to devise a new map that
responsibility to devise a new map that would help navigate us through this
would help navigate us through this
would help navigate us through this space and at the end of the conversation
space and at the end of the conversation
space and at the end of the conversation I shared a little bit about what I
I shared a little bit about what I
I shared a little bit about what I believe to be true which is that
believe to be true which is that
believe to be true which is that learning is the vehicle for progress and
learning is the vehicle for progress and
learning is the vehicle for progress and transformation that learning is the way
transformation that learning is the way
transformation that learning is the way we get to the place and the people in
we get to the place and the people in
we get to the place and the people in the society we hope to be and become
the society we hope to be and become
the society we hope to be and become after that night I began to participate
after that night I began to participate
after that night I began to participate more of these experiences where
more of these experiences where
more of these experiences where communities of belonging were growing up
communities of belonging were growing up
communities of belonging were growing up alongside these feelings of disjunct er
alongside these feelings of disjunct er
alongside these feelings of disjunct er of being exiled from other communities
of being exiled from other communities
of being exiled from other communities and there was a kind of deep belonging
and there was a kind of deep belonging
and there was a kind of deep belonging that was growing in those spaces I went
that was growing in those spaces I went
that was growing in those spaces I went to marches and protests and used my
to marches and protests and used my
to marches and protests and used my voice on behalf of those who had felt
voice on behalf of those who had felt
voice on behalf of those who had felt voiceless in the wake of this moment I
voiceless in the wake of this moment I
voiceless in the wake of this moment I used my feet to march in places where
used my feet to march in places where
used my feet to march in places where others were not allowed to tread and the
others were not allowed to tread and the
others were not allowed to tread and the extraordinary thing about really
extraordinary thing about really
extraordinary thing about really claiming and sinking into the breakdown
claiming and sinking into the breakdown
claiming and sinking into the breakdown moments although they are scary and
moments although they are scary and
moments although they are scary and isolating is that profound
isolating is that profound
isolating is that profound transformative things happen in that
transformative things happen in that
transformative things happen in that place communities and tribes grow up
place communities and tribes grow up
place communities and tribes grow up within those breakdown moments and
within those breakdown moments and
within those breakdown moments and that’s what I found a group of people
that’s what I found a group of people
that’s what I found a group of people deeply invested in insisting on our
deeply invested in insisting on our
deeply invested in insisting on our shared democratic life that whomever you
shared democratic life that whomever you
shared democratic life that whomever you are you belong here we belong to you and
are you belong here we belong to you and
are you belong here we belong to you and you belong to us in that time of
you belong to us in that time of
you belong to us in that time of participating in this breakdown
participating in this breakdown
participating in this breakdown belonging exercise that was bewildering
belonging exercise that was bewildering
belonging exercise that was bewildering and confusing I connected with this
and confusing I connected with this
and confusing I connected with this phenomenal tribe of women who had come
phenomenal tribe of women who had come
phenomenal tribe of women who had come to help me articulate the vision for
to help me articulate the vision for
to help me articulate the vision for bloom community school these were women
bloom community school these were women
bloom community school these were women who were activists and allies they were
who were activists and allies they were
who were activists and allies they were mothers
mothers
mothers and they were professionals and together
and they were professionals and together
and they were professionals and together we started talking about how we could
we started talking about how we could
we started talking about how we could reinvent and resuscitate the promise of
reinvent and resuscitate the promise of
reinvent and resuscitate the promise of schooling to transform society how
schooling to transform society how
schooling to transform society how classrooms could come to nourish
classrooms could come to nourish
classrooms could come to nourish communities we started talking and the
communities we started talking and the
communities we started talking and the conversations went on over weeks and
conversations went on over weeks and
conversations went on over weeks and months and then spilled out into the
months and then spilled out into the
months and then spilled out into the community they involved public forums
community they involved public forums
community they involved public forums and public launch parties but more than
and public launch parties but more than
and public launch parties but more than that it was kitchen table conversations
that it was kitchen table conversations
that it was kitchen table conversations and even more than that it was dozens
and even more than that it was dozens
and even more than that it was dozens and dozens and dozens of cups of coffees
and dozens and dozens of cups of coffees
and dozens and dozens of cups of coffees with community leaders and community
with community leaders and community
with community leaders and community organizers trying to understand what at
organizers trying to understand what at
organizers trying to understand what at this moment does our community need to
this moment does our community need to
this moment does our community need to insist on a kind of radical belonging
insist on a kind of radical belonging
insist on a kind of radical belonging and participation that could heal the
and participation that could heal the
and participation that could heal the rifts that we had experienced so
rifts that we had experienced so
rifts that we had experienced so profoundly in the wake of the election I
profoundly in the wake of the election I
profoundly in the wake of the election I was very well caffeinated between
was very well caffeinated between
was very well caffeinated between January and May of 2017 but in that time
January and May of 2017 but in that time
January and May of 2017 but in that time what crystallized for us was a vision
what crystallized for us was a vision
what crystallized for us was a vision for bloom community school right there
for bloom community school right there
for bloom community school right there in the middle of the name community the
in the middle of the name community the
in the middle of the name community the focal point and the gravitational pull
focal point and the gravitational pull
focal point and the gravitational pull for this vision of how we can do the
for this vision of how we can do the
for this vision of how we can do the transformative work of schooling was
transformative work of schooling was
transformative work of schooling was community it was this belonging Parker
community it was this belonging Parker
community it was this belonging Parker Palmer says that community is not
Palmer says that community is not
Palmer says that community is not something we can manufacture community
something we can manufacture community
something we can manufacture community can’t be produced community as a gift we
can’t be produced community as a gift we
can’t be produced community as a gift we receive what we were learning to do in
receive what we were learning to do in
receive what we were learning to do in this space of bloom community school was
this space of bloom community school was
this space of bloom community school was to open our doors to the community so we
to open our doors to the community so we
to open our doors to the community so we could receive the generous gifts of all
could receive the generous gifts of all
could receive the generous gifts of all of the people here and then extend the
of the people here and then extend the
of the people here and then extend the gifts of our families and our learners
gifts of our families and our learners
gifts of our families and our learners back out into the community now the
back out into the community now the
back out into the community now the radical proposition that students belong
radical proposition that students belong
radical proposition that students belong to their learning means you actually
to their learning means you actually
to their learning means you actually have to change the nature of learning
have to change the nature of learning
have to change the nature of learning rather than being a top-down
rather than being a top-down
rather than being a top-down standardised conformist curriculum we
standardised conformist curriculum we
standardised conformist curriculum we had to create a grassroots student
had to create a grassroots student
had to create a grassroots student driven inquiry based curriculum where
driven inquiry based curriculum where
driven inquiry based curriculum where students became the architects of their
students became the architects of their
students became the architects of their own learning where they helped to
own learning where they helped to
own learning where they helped to facilitate the questions that would
facilitate the questions that would
facilitate the questions that would eventually guide the inquiry and study
eventually guide the inquiry and study
eventually guide the inquiry and study that would help them acquire
that would help them acquire
that would help them acquire the necessary skills to become highly
the necessary skills to become highly
the necessary skills to become highly educated and deeply involved community
educated and deeply involved community
educated and deeply involved community members it also meant that this learning
members it also meant that this learning
members it also meant that this learning had to be put into action in the service
had to be put into action in the service
had to be put into action in the service of something bigger than learning for
of something bigger than learning for
of something bigger than learning for learnings sake it had to be connected to
learnings sake it had to be connected to
learnings sake it had to be connected to the community this often looked like
the community this often looked like
the community this often looked like project-based learning where students
project-based learning where students
project-based learning where students were engaging and in projects and
were engaging and in projects and
were engaging and in projects and mobilizing their knowledge in ways that
mobilizing their knowledge in ways that
mobilizing their knowledge in ways that would help them nourish and enrich the
would help them nourish and enrich the
would help them nourish and enrich the community of learners in the classroom
community of learners in the classroom
community of learners in the classroom and the broader community of
and the broader community of
and the broader community of bloomington-normal in our first six
bloomington-normal in our first six
bloomington-normal in our first six months of launching Blum Community
months of launching Blum Community
months of launching Blum Community School we have been profoundly moved by
School we have been profoundly moved by
School we have been profoundly moved by the enormous Lea generous outpouring of
the enormous Lea generous outpouring of
the enormous Lea generous outpouring of community support people who have no
community support people who have no
community support people who have no reason to care about us have cared
reason to care about us have cared
reason to care about us have cared deeply about us they’ve shown up on our
deeply about us they’ve shown up on our
deeply about us they’ve shown up on our behalf
behalf
behalf they’ve shoveled and raked for us
they’ve shoveled and raked for us
they’ve shoveled and raked for us they’ve delivered plants they’ve put
they’ve delivered plants they’ve put
they’ve delivered plants they’ve put nails into our foundations of our
nails into our foundations of our
nails into our foundations of our buildings they have served us in so many
buildings they have served us in so many
buildings they have served us in so many ways but we are particularly grateful
ways but we are particularly grateful
ways but we are particularly grateful for the way they have created a really
for the way they have created a really
for the way they have created a really enriching educational experience for our
enriching educational experience for our
enriching educational experience for our students we have local artists and
students we have local artists and
students we have local artists and musicians business people and
musicians business people and
musicians business people and politicians gardeners and chefs come to
politicians gardeners and chefs come to
politicians gardeners and chefs come to our school and share that generous
our school and share that generous
our school and share that generous spirit of the community in the learning
spirit of the community in the learning
spirit of the community in the learning process of our students when you are on
process of our students when you are on
process of our students when you are on the receiving end of that kind of
the receiving end of that kind of
the receiving end of that kind of radical ostentatious generosity it’s
radical ostentatious generosity it’s
radical ostentatious generosity it’s very hard not to feel inspired to give
very hard not to feel inspired to give
very hard not to feel inspired to give back and so a part of our mission at
back and so a part of our mission at
back and so a part of our mission at bloom Community School has also been
bloom Community School has also been
bloom Community School has also been about equipping our students to become
about equipping our students to become
about equipping our students to become active participants and not giving and
active participants and not giving and
active participants and not giving and receiving the gift of community when for
receiving the gift of community when for
receiving the gift of community when for example other schools are celebrating
example other schools are celebrating
example other schools are celebrating Thanksgiving by sharing a meal our
Thanksgiving by sharing a meal our
Thanksgiving by sharing a meal our students were having a food drive so
students were having a food drive so
students were having a food drive so they could stock a local food pantry
they could stock a local food pantry
they could stock a local food pantry there’s something radically
there’s something radically
there’s something radically transformative about insisting upon your
transformative about insisting upon your
transformative about insisting upon your own belonging in a community and knowing
own belonging in a community and knowing
own belonging in a community and knowing that generosity is right there for you
that generosity is right there for you
that generosity is right there for you to access and that anything you have to
to access and that anything you have to
to access and that anything you have to offer is so wildly appreciated by the
offer is so wildly appreciated by the
offer is so wildly appreciated by the recipients now here’s the thing about
recipients now here’s the thing about
recipients now here’s the thing about breakdowns and breakthroughs here’s the
breakdowns and breakthroughs here’s the
breakdowns and breakthroughs here’s the thing about social transformation the
thing about social transformation the
thing about social transformation the breakthrough moments are phenomenal
breakthrough moments are phenomenal
breakthrough moments are phenomenal they’re galvanizing we need to hang on
they’re galvanizing we need to hang on
they’re galvanizing we need to hang on to those moment for the energy that they
to those moment for the energy that they
to those moment for the energy that they give to us but the reality is it’s the
give to us but the reality is it’s the
give to us but the reality is it’s the break down moment that catalyzes the
break down moment that catalyzes the
break down moment that catalyzes the process of transformation and it’s a
process of transformation and it’s a
process of transformation and it’s a long process it’s an arduous process it
long process it’s an arduous process it
long process it’s an arduous process it looks a lot lot less like balloons and
looks a lot lot less like balloons and
looks a lot lot less like balloons and confetti and a lot more like mopping on
confetti and a lot more like mopping on
confetti and a lot more like mopping on your hands and knees like painting walls
your hands and knees like painting walls
your hands and knees like painting walls occasionally scooping up a dead possum
occasionally scooping up a dead possum
occasionally scooping up a dead possum sometimes it’s about intentionally and
sometimes it’s about intentionally and
sometimes it’s about intentionally and consistently nourishing the community
consistently nourishing the community
consistently nourishing the community relationships that you know are so
relationships that you know are so
relationships that you know are so important to you one of the parents of
important to you one of the parents of
important to you one of the parents of bloom Community School recently said
bloom Community School recently said
bloom Community School recently said something magical is happening inside
something magical is happening inside
something magical is happening inside those classrooms and not only in my son
those classrooms and not only in my son
those classrooms and not only in my son but in all of our children they are
but in all of our children they are
but in all of our children they are learning independence responsibility
learning independence responsibility
learning independence responsibility accountability cooperation and
accountability cooperation and
accountability cooperation and collaboration they learn it in their
collaboration they learn it in their
collaboration they learn it in their projects their field trips and most
projects their field trips and most
projects their field trips and most importantly on the playground bloom
importantly on the playground bloom
importantly on the playground bloom Community School is a success because we
Community School is a success because we
Community School is a success because we all care so much about what we are
all care so much about what we are
all care so much about what we are growing and creating here in this
growing and creating here in this
growing and creating here in this community my son wakes up every morning
community my son wakes up every morning
community my son wakes up every morning excited to go to class and returns home
excited to go to class and returns home
excited to go to class and returns home every afternoon happy and healthy
every afternoon happy and healthy
every afternoon happy and healthy our children are changing in new and
our children are changing in new and
our children are changing in new and positive ways and I hope this continues
positive ways and I hope this continues
positive ways and I hope this continues for years to come
bloom community school is still in its
bloom community school is still in its infancy
infancy
infancy we hope it continues for years to come
we hope it continues for years to come
we hope it continues for years to come too but we know that if it does it will
too but we know that if it does it will
too but we know that if it does it will only be because we continue to embrace
only be because we continue to embrace
only be because we continue to embrace those moments of breakdown that we
those moments of breakdown that we
those moments of breakdown that we recognize that within them if we press
recognize that within them if we press
recognize that within them if we press our ears closely to it are the
our ears closely to it are the
our ears closely to it are the instructions for the next step for the
instructions for the next step for the
instructions for the next step for the new path that actually the breakdown
new path that actually the breakdown
new path that actually the breakdown moments themselves contain in them the
moments themselves contain in them the
moments themselves contain in them the new map to help us navigate the terrain
new map to help us navigate the terrain
new map to help us navigate the terrain that’s ahead tonight the breakdown
that’s ahead tonight the breakdown
that’s ahead tonight the breakdown moments and the breakthrough moments are
moments and the breakthrough moments are
moments and the breakthrough moments are something we must understand to claim
something we must understand to claim
something we must understand to claim for our own they belong to us and we
for our own they belong to us and we
for our own they belong to us and we to them and when we start from that
to them and when we start from that
to them and when we start from that recognition that belonging is the space
recognition that belonging is the space
recognition that belonging is the space from which transformation can happen
from which transformation can happen
from which transformation can happen then we can do truly remarkable things
then we can do truly remarkable things
then we can do truly remarkable things thank you
”
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