We the People: A Book Club
Takie a plunge into engaging narratives, humor, cultural criticism, and spiritual wisdom, through the year-long We the People Book Club. Its 12+ selections reveal our democracy’s failings and successes and implicitly urge us as readers to keep alive what American author John Steinbeck called that “stumbling-forward ache.”
Take One Small Step: An Invitation from StoryCorps
“I had no idea you were genuinely interested in what I had to say.” Jenn Stanley is a self-described liberal. Her father, Peter Stanley, votes Republican. Over time, a deepening chasm between them made it difficult to talk about the things they care about—until they sat down to try and listen to each other’s points of view.
Terry Tempest Williams on democracy
Tempest-Williams continues, “It is where we embrace our questions. Can we be equitable? Can we be generous? Can we listen with our whole beings, not just our minds, and offer our attention rather than our opinions? And do we have enough resolve in our hearts to act courageously, relentlessly, without giving up—ever—trusting our fellow citizens to join with us in our determined pursuit of a living democracy?" Contemplate, embrace, and share these questions. It’s also worth asking ourselves and one another “how” we live into these qualities.
John Fetzer on love
Our founder, John E. Fetzer’s roots were in the Christian faith, but through his lifetime he explored and embraced the wisdom of many other great traditions. He was committed to living in close, daily communion with the divine mystery, which he was equally comfortable calling “God,” the “Holy Spirit,” or simply “Love.”
Realizing this expansive notion of love became his vision for all beings and all things. He believed that his purpose in life was to help catalyze and support this spiritual transformation.
Grace Lee Boggs on love and transformation
While anger can propel us to action, unchecked it can also limit and calcify our vision of others, of possibility. Love and acceptance create a climate for change, for transformation. How have you experienced the transformational power of love?
Edith Wharton on spreading light
We all have the capability to illuminate the darkness—more so if we are not attached to how we do it. How does Edith Wharton’s quote reflect your experience?
Democracy that Unites Us
Activating love is the heartbeat of Fetzer’s democracy work. We support efforts that focus on the cultural aspects of democracy—that expand the idea of “we” the people, build mutual respect and relationships across difference, and help people get skilled at power sharing—to strengthen our country’s social fabric.
For some, “love can heal our divisions” may sound sentimental, but at Fetzer we believe it is the most strategic and radical solution to our country’s problems.
Practicing Democracy with Children
Nine ways to help children engage democratic values. Children come naturally to some democratic values, like pursuit of happiness and love of freedom. Other ideals—like recognizing that we are all equal and seeking the common good—need practice. This guide encourages children's democratic engagement at home and in their communities.
Developed with Spirituality & Practice as part of the Practicing Democracy Project.
The Underground Railroad Reading Guide
Explore the themes of law ≠ justice; slavery, freedom, and unfreedom; and resilience, courage, and voice in this guide to Colson Whitehead's The Underground Railroad. Part of the We the People Book Club, a year-long program contemplating America’s past and possibilities, this guide was created for individual and group use. Questions within each theme facilitate (1) your interpretation of the text, (2) your personal reflections inspired by your reading, and (3) practices for you to try that animate the novel’s democratic values.
October Practice: Feeling Heard, Seen, Useful in Community
The very essence of democracy is the absolute faith that while people must cooperate, the first function of democracy, its peculiar gift, is to develop each individual into everything that [one] might be. —Edwin H. Land