“What do you think divides us?” “What does belonging mean to you?” Join the conversation and leave us a voice or text message! Messages will be posted on this site to be shared with the community.
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Need some help? Take a look at these additional questions developed by local students that are designed to make your think more deeply about the organizing themes of this project
Is it a concern to be near your family if they aren’t with you in the same location?
Do you ever question where you call home?
What is a home?
How do you identify with where you live? Do you identify with it all? Where do you identify?
Is citizenship something you think applies to you? Do you identify with it? What does it mean to be a citizen?
What makes you feel alienated/an outsider?
Do you miss a place that once was?
Have you ever tried to recreate a place or a time somewhere else?
Have you ever thought about leaving?
What do you think unifies you and your community? Your friends? Your family?
Has your safety ever been a concern in the day to day?
Do you ever feel you don’t belong?
What/where is your safe place?
How long should a home last?
Is it possible to stay in one place forever?
Is migration easy? Was it easy?
Where do you feel the most happy? Sad? Upset?
If you could be anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Do you ever feel restless in one place?
Have you ever felt unsafe around state or federal authority? If so, why? If not, why?
At what point in time did your documentation or citizenship status pose an obstacle for you? Have you ever had to ponder your citizenship?
Why is it that the Women’s March in Oakland did not have the same threat of police violence as Black Lives Matter protests?
What type of police presence, if any, is present in your neighborhood or home?
How close is your local grocery store and what is the average amount you spend on food weekly?
Describe your last interaction with a customer service worker.
What forms of self-defense do you practice and why?
How many times today were you reminded of racism today? How many times were you on the receiving end of a racist idea, comment, media, or system today?
What would you consider yourself with fifty dollars in your checking account (or cash)?
Do you ever reroute your path to work, school, or usual destinations? Why?
What does it mean to live a comfortable life, in your opinion and experience? Describe what a comfortable day would be for you.
What makes you feel seen or understood?
What is something that makes you feel free and in control, if ever? (Can be an activity, person, type or interaction, place, etc)
At this time of increased uncertainty in our current political climate, which issues are the most urgent to you? Why?
How would you define the term “justice”?
Can you describe methods of self care or healing you use during challenging times?
What would you like to see from your community right now?
What would you like to see happen for your community right now?
When was the last time you cried?
Can you describe how you express respect for another person?
Can you describe an interaction which made you feel respected?
Can you describe a recent interaction with a stranger that felt genuine, positive, or pleasant?
What would your own personal utopia look like? (This can be anything, take place in any time period, anywhere)
Can you describe an object that is sentimental to you? What about it is significant? (I’ve found this to be a good opening question to get people to talk about themselves through inanimate objects which takes the pressure off a bit)
If you could have a conversation with your child self, what would say? What advice would you give?
If you could have a conversation with your future self four years from now, what do you think this exchange would look like?
Do you think where we currently are politically, socially, economically globally could have been prevented? How?
Who do you trust? Why? (can be people in their life or public figures)
When was the last time you were (consensually) embraced?
Do you have a spiritual practice or align yourself with a religion? If so, can you describe how you practice this and why you chose this particular spiritual path?
Can you think of some alternative methods for community safety that do not involve calling the police?