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Robusteciendo la Justicia Social
RJS: Third Cohort Meeting
“Feeling everything we feel is what pushes us to do what we do as an organization”, was the phrase Issel Masses of Sembrando Sentido used to kick off the third RJS cohort meeting held on September 9, 2022 in Santurce Puerto Rico. FiPR’s purpose during these spaces is to continue to move and shake the social sector, questioning and at the same time recognizing better practices that will improve the work of these organizations. We also want to unite organizations that will push social transformation forward in all sectors.
Lyvia Rodríguez and Alejandro Cotté started the meeting with a guiding question: what Puerto Rico issue would you like to focus on as an organization? Each participant identified a topic to the work they perform. Some of the answers were:
- Misinformation and transparency
- Bureaucracy
- Social inequities
- Foreign investors (capitalists)
- Decision making without the input of community leaders
- Inserting organizations’ needs into the plans of the island’s reconstruction
- Disconnection between government and the people.
- Capitalism
- Complexity of economic interests
To build on that, the group selected two random topics to discuss in pairs and to identify possible solutions, (a) decision making without the input of community leaders and (b) the colony. Everyone had the chance to exchange thoughts, perspectives and reshape opinions based on the context. Through that discussion, other topics were selected to be discussed in mixed groups. In these groups, they discussed how the issue related to their everyday work and how these challenges affect the social sector. The topics were:
- Inequality
- Critical thinking
- Decision-making without the input of community leaders
The organizations discussed these topics and identified possible solutions to each of the challenges. Everyone received feedback and was given a chance to speak. During the meeting, Sembrando Sentido, Liga de Ciudades, FURIA, UPR Resiliency Law Center, Centro para la Reconstrucción del Hábitat, Fideicomiso del Caño Martín Peña (6 of the participating organizations), started to visualize how they could amplify their impact.
Based on the meeting’s progress, these are the questions the organizations will ponder during the next three months:
- How do we get people to go out, get involved and participate in social political issues?
- What do we do strategically so that people develop critical thinking?
- What are our challenges as an organization and what strategies can we implement to overcome them?
- How do we continue to support ourselves financially among peers in the community of practice?
- What viable services and/or skills can you offer your fellow community of practice partners in exchange for financial remuneration?
In the middle of all the noise that we receive constantly, we need to continue to delve deeper into what is happening and how we can work on it as a collective. As a community of practice, we reflect on these challenges, opportunities and possible solutions. We keep growing, evolving and progressing as a community of practice!
Here you can see a recap video of the meeting.
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