"Where Do We Go From Here"...
Be Like Cecile Richards and Do Everything We Can
The world became much darker when we lost one of the earth’s shiniest stars yesterday. To be clear, it would be a dark day by any measure. I badly wanted to block out what was happening, but sitting in my DC home just a few blocks from the Capitol, the sound of motorcade sirens and helicopters whirling transporting dignitaries to inaugural activities made that impossible. Then, the heartbreaking news of Cecile Richards's death came and just broke me. Cecile was one of the world's brightest lights, not just in our Democratic and Progressive community. If you didn’t know Cecile, I encourage you to listen to her book Good Trouble. I say listen because she narrates it, and hearing her story in her voice is a big part of the experience. I was lucky to call Cecile a friend for almost 35 years - having met while working on her mother Ann Richards’s first Gubernatorial campaign. Over the many years since our paths crossed dozens of times - and I can honestly say I’ve never known anyone so fiercely positively powerful. A true inspiration for us all in these dark times.
While overwhelmed with grief over her passing and the horrific executive actions of the new administration, I’m getting strength from her spirit and channeling it into action and organizing. Cecile’s family called upon us to celebrate her words to make sure we do “Everything we could.” in announcing her passing:
My answer to “What did you do?” today is RootsCamp. It was also my attempt to honor Dr. Martin Luther King in the best way I know how. The following is a variation of the post I had planned to write honoring Dr. Martin Luther King yesterday.
I want to share my favorite MLK quote.
"Power, properly understood, is the ability to achieve purpose. It is the strength required to bring about social, political, or economic changes. In this sense, power is not only desirable but necessary in order to implement the demands of love and justice. One of the greatest problems of history is that the concepts of love and power are usually contrasted as opposites.
Love is identified with a resignation of power and power with a denial of love. What is needed is a realization that power without love is reckless and abusive and that love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice. Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love." — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Where Do We Go From Here?
Cecile Richards fought for love and justice her entire life, and we must continue to do so now, too. MKL challenges us to rethink what power means, who holds it, and why building is essential. It reminds us that power, rooted in love and justice, is the most effective tool for creating meaningful change. It is why I created GAIN Power and why we’re organizing RootsCamp.
We need gatherings to organize, strategize, and plan our way forward. We’ll do this at RootsCamp, and I can't wait to share some of our plans over the next week.
While I’m heartbroken, angry, and scared, I also have a strong sense of hope and optimism. As awful as it was, the first Trump presidency brought about some incredible things in our movement's work. It turned passive citizens into active advocates. It pushed us to better organize and mobilize, inspiring more people to run for office and launching incredible, powerful movement organizations (I'm Looking at You, Run for Something, Indivisible, and more). I know this challenging moment will inspire positive changes in our movement work, and RootsCamp is where much of it will start.
Why RootsCamp Matters
RootsCamp is not just an event—it's a community. It’s a place where leaders, organizers, visionaries, and doers unite to build the power needed to achieve justice and equity.
It's where we reflect on where we've succeeded, where we've fallen short, and what we've learned from 2024.
It's where we strategize to counter disinformation, oligarchic control, and the unchecked power of the tech-industrial complex.
It's where we act, turning ideas into plans and plans into change.
This moment requires resilience, creativity, and collaboration. It calls for a community united to fight injustice and organized to win.
Join Us at RootsCamp
Whether you have ideas on messaging, organizing, or leadership—or are looking to learn from others and find inspiration—RootsCamp is for you. At this moment, I'm craving our collective community and this critical collaborative convening, and I hope you are, too.
How You Can Be Part of RootsCamp
👥 Be an active attendee: Learn, share, and strategize with fellow progressives; register here.
💰 Sponsor the event or support scholarships: Help make this gathering accessible. Explore sponsorships and support scholarships.
🤝 Partner with us: Help shape the agenda and bring diverse voices. Sign up to partner.
📣 Join the expo or have a career fair table: Showcase your work, recruit talent, and engage with the community. Learn more here.
💡 Host a session: Share your expertise and inspire meaningful conversations. Submit your session.
If you’ve read this, I hope you’ll join our community to honor Cecile Richards, pay tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, push back against this horrible new administration, and do everything you can. You’re invited to RootsCamp to find out where we go from here and ensure we do everything possible.
Rest in peace, my shero and friend Cecile Richards. To her friends and family, Kirk, Hannah, Daniel, Lily, and her chosen family, you’re all in my heart and prayers.