Tina

Dear Readers,

The idea to interview activists has become an idea to podcast these interviews. This is the first episode: an interview with WILPF leader and Mental Health Professional/Advocate, Tina. As we got into the conversation, I really appreciated Tina’s focus on relationships. The relationships within WILPF and the importance of developing relationships across organizations with common goals.

The Work

To give you some background, Tina works in the mental health field and has advocated for policies that support people with mental health challenges. She is currently involved with a Community Action Network, where she participates in their working groups focused on Disability & Accessibility as well as Immigration. She likes to spread the word about an important advance in mental health care, which was establishing the national mental health emergency number 988. I think this information is so important because when someone calls 911, police are often dispatched, and they do not have the same level of training, which can lead to dangerous outcomes. Tina noted that in some locations (like Montgomery County), there are Mobile Crisis Teams. If needed, a person can request a Mobile Crisis Team when accessing 988, and a mental health crisis team can come out on location where the person is having a crisis.

Beginning in 2001, Tina began working with the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF). She soon became co-chair of the Delco branch and as the local Philadelphia branches folded together, Tina eventually began co-chairing the Greater Philadelphia WILPF chapter. Last year, Tina was invited to help plan WILPF’s Triennial Congress which opened the door to more involvement with the WILPF U.S. section, where Tina now sits on the board.

As part of her work with WILPF, Tina attends local meetings of other organizations and coalitions because “we’re stronger together.” A couple examples include:

• Divest Philadelphia - working to have the Philadelphia Pension Board divest city workers’ retirement funds from nuclear weapon companies

• Philadelphia Reparations Task Force - develops reparations proposals for Black Philadelphians whose ancestors endured slavery and Jim Crow in the U.S.

Activists from various groups that come together and learn about each other’s work can build greater capacity for action. While organizations have their own areas of focus, common goals can lead to coalitions that are temporary or ongoing. As an international organization, WILPF is also a strong potential ally for other groups doing peace and justice work.

Recognizing Wins

One win that Tina highlighted was the success of the TPNW or Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The coalition that enabled it to happen included a feminist organization and the Catholic Church! These are not organizations that might typically work together, but as Tina noted, “on this topic they were aligned.” The fact that the coalition that worked on it won the Nobel Peace Prize is also a win because it recognizes how important this work is. Tina believes that even the process of learning about wins, such as World Beyond War’s list of successful non-violent campaigns, is a powerful antidote to discouragement. She recognizes that we rarely learn about these successes in the media (or in school), which contributes to a false belief that progress is slow, or maybe even not worth our effort. Clearly it is!

Final Thoughts

Tina pointed out that the work of managing a Branch is different from the work of taking action, yet they are connected. It is about “maintaining the relationships that foster the community that is going to do the work.” This insight echoes one of the main themes in Libby Frank’s story. Throughout the book, Libby emphasized the deep relationships she developed in doing this work. That is how we become stronger together.

Resources

Havertown Community Action Network https://www.h-can.org/

Divest Philly https://www.divestfromwarmachine.org/divest_philly

Warheads to Windmills https://warheadstowindmills.org/

Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom - U.S. Section https://wilpfus.org/

World Beyond War List https://worldbeyondwar.org/list/