“Settle your quarrels, come together, understand the reality of our situation, understand that fascism is already here, that people are already dying who could be saved…..Do what must be done, discover your humanity and your love in revolution.”
— George Jackson, Blood in My Eye (1972)
VCW’s approach to conflict is rooted in Transformative Justice (TJ) principles. Transformative Justice recognizes that interpersonal harm is rooted in systemic oppression and aims to change conditions that create, maintain, sustain, support, and benefit from oppression, exploitation, domination, and harm.
TJ works to meet individual needs for justice (safety, healing, repair, connection, and accountability) while also working towards a long-term vision of liberation. Transformative Justice was developed by Black and Indigenous and brown, Trans and Queer, sex working, disabled, drug using, and houseless community members who continue to be criminalized by the state. Read more about TJ here
Transformative Conflict seeks to address the root organizational and societal factors (structures, cultures, dynamics) that create fertile ground for interpersonal harm while also holding non-punitive space for conflict to be repaired between individuals and groups. These processes and practices allow us to enact our TJ values inside of our federally recognized organizations such as non-profits.
We can practice Transformative Conflict inside of state systems, as well as in our autonomous orgs/groups functioning outside of the state – though our strategies will differ based on legal constraints and organizational goals.
Community safety and security practices work to create healthy and thriving groups capable of achieving their goals and visions while also protecting our movement leaders and political projects from safety threats. When groups don’t have a healthy culture of direct communication, clear feedback, & addressing conflict, interpersonal conflict can destabilize a whole group. This jeopardizes our ability to achieve our goals, and in some cases can make our groups more vulnerable to safety threats.
When groups are fighting amongst themselves and are unable to communicate with or trust each other, it creates cracks in our foundation. Conflict transformation processes and practices protect and fortify groups, as well as create the kinds of liberatory cultural shifts we need to meet the escalating severity of this moment and not replicate the systems we are fighting against.
VCW approaches working with individuals and groups experiencing active conflict with care, spaciousness, and rooted in mutual consent. You can expect processes to take several months.
Your group may be ready to work with VCW when:
Our Current Practitioners
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