January 2025: How Can Neighborhood Assemblies Build Community Resiliency?

As we enter another Trump presidency we need to rethink how we will address systems of oppression and neglect. The current public is understandably frustrated and distraught. The daily executive orders that are quickly wiping out our assumed levels of comfort should alarm us all. From the criminalization of trans gender bodies, cancellation of environmental protections and restoration initiatives, to the rounding up of immigrant families, and cancellation of global health and food assistance programs. The upheaval is real as much as the tariffs in disrupting the everyday cost of goods and how we live our lives; however, the momentum to resist these authoritarian policies grows daily. People are organizing to take initiative for protecting immigrants and developing strategies of community care. The protests that happened on February 5 mark an uptick of frustration but lacks any coherent direction. We can expect more symbolic protests from a city that overwhelmingly (80%) did not vote for Trump, but how do we move from the framework of occasional protesting into a movement that builds resiliency to daily address peoples material needs?

Here in Richmond, Virginia we live in the foundation of modern American civilization. This cities complicity in the beginning of westward expansion and its promulgation of slavery leaves an indelible mark. The protests of 2020 erupted this historical tension into the present. Our task now is to reconcile with this history through developing a shared vision for the future. We do this by re-envisioning common agreements and principles that we all can abide by and support. This has been the task of the Richmond People's Assembly that was hosted at Studio 23 on January 18. A public effort to coordinate community organizations, residents, and municipal workers into a coordinated effort for Richmond's future. At the last assembly the attendees were offered a draft of these common agreements and principles to set a tone of how we can organize together, along with encouraging attendees to create neighborhood specific assemblies. During the assembly portion, the crowd of 300 people shared in reading aloud these ideas and were then divided up by cardinal direction which then was subdivided by neighborhoods of those in attendance. In the end there were seven neighborhood groups who committed to creating channels of communication and to meet in their respective neighborhoods. Throughout the day (12-6pm) there was three panel discussion on health, food, and housing, over a dozen workshops on various topics and resources, free food, 40 different organization tabling and a memorial site to commemorate those who have passed. The next city wide Richmond People's Assembly is in April where each neighborhood assembly is expected to report back what they have been discussing and how to further coordinate peoples needs. During the January 18 assembly a needs and offers market board was created for people to list what they had to offer and what needs people had. This effort is to encourage a culture of reciprocity where goods and services are shared and repurposed. A concept known as circular economy that recognizes how gratitude for the place we inhabit builds a culture of sustainability and surplus. In spite of Trump and his cancellation of federal resources, we can build citywide resiliency that can meet the material, social, and environmental needs of city residents.

The assembly model differs from civic association in how meetings are conducted and there purpose. Where civic associations usually involve city employees presenting infrastructure updates, rezoning ordinances, and community grievances. The assemblies are more like potlatches where neighbors discuss these policies and initiatives in order to develop an cohesive response to city governance. Civic associations and neighborhood assemblies can act in tandem as a way to inform and engage people in the decision making process within their communities. From the water crisis to VCU health's cessation of gender affirming care for youth, we must become organized with each other to not only resist but develop initiatives that can participate in how municipal infrastructure is managed as well as providing medical assistance to those in need.

The task at hand is to build out a participatory community that can directly engage in city policies. We encourage you all to join your local neighborhood assembly and if it doesn't exist then form one. We ask that before you join or start a group to read the assembly pamphlet (website) and to follow the guidelines for how to organize collectively and expectations of group participants. Looking forward to seeing and hearing peoples ideas of how we can build a city that is flourishes for everyone.

- Richmond People's Assembly facilitators