People Power
[SARN Memo for January 27, 2010]
(Part four of a five-part series)
There are many kinds of power. Self-advocacy uses “power with.” It’s the power of working together—the power of strength in numbers. Even when we aren’t very large, or we don’t have much money, or we aren’t the boss, or we don’t have as much education, we can still have power when we work with other people.
Power with is available for all of us, but it takes planning—and it takes imagination. We need to practice ways to use power within our lives. It makes us feel strong. It feels good, too.
[Next week: Truth Power]
Respond to this memo!1. Group Exercise
You can demonstrate this type of power easily. Find a big heavy table. (Perhaps you meet around one each week.) Ask if anyone can lift it (don’t let anyone get hurt trying). Then say: “We can demonstrate power with.”
Have the entire group go around the table. Ask each person to grab the part nearest him or her. On the count of three, lift it a few inches off the floor. Lower gently. Give yourselves a round of applause.
Ask folks if this group power reminds them of any ways they work with others in their lives. Give everyone a chance to speak.
2. Resource
Reach for the Power Switch: How Ordinary People Can Use Power to Make Change
Learn to recognize the different kinds of power, and begin using the healthy forms of power to build self-advocacy, using this self-led workshop.
Today’s Trivia Question:
What US state has the highest percentage of Hispanic Americans?
- Michigan
- Kansas
- California
- New Mexico
(The answer will be published in the next Memo.)
Answer to January 20th Trivia Question: b. Mississippi – 73% [source: US Census 2000]
Question was: What US state has the highest percentage of African Americans?
- Kentucky
- Mississippi
- Utah
- Maine
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Reader Responses
Dear Sirs/Madame,
I appreciate this email and hope that you continue to send them it has already helped me when I was feeling alone and frustrated.
Sincerely yours,
John Metler