It’s the 4th of July here in the U.S. We gather with family and friends to celebrate and attend events that show off our patriotism. Yes to the family and friends gatherings (my kids and grandkids are still in town with us, and it’s been a joy). Not feeling the patriotism, as the current administration, among other terrible things, just put $4.5B to expand a national police force to terrorize immigrants (and more?), and to build prisons that will likely turn into forced labor camps. Fuck.
I thought I’d take a moment this weekend to look beyond this mess and celebrate two folks outside the U.S. from whom I continue to draw inspiration. I love my local community and the people who energize the resistance here. But I also am fortunate to remain connected with folks outside of the U.S. who deeply integrate their talents, their professional work and their desire to work toward bettering the common good. In doing so, they embody what I aspire to in “resistance.”
I’ve never actually met Catherine Cronin, but in the days of wide-open global internet learning events in the 2010’s, we shared online exchanges with the same network of folks (she was kind enough to post thoughts on some of my blog posts). Catherine is based in Ireland but maintains a global presence. Her current work is in leading the thinking and practice of open education. She also recently co-edited a major work: Higher Education for Good: Teaching and Learning Futures.
What I really admire about all of Catherine’s work is the unrelenting focus on exploring a better way – one that is embedded in community, humanity, and sustainability. It is truly critical: Naming and recognizing the exploitative systems in which we operate. But it always comes to life by creating and pointing toward alternatives which feed the common good. I am making a mental note here to return to her work and find the connections and ideas which can weave into my current local community effort.
I have met Luis Suarez (via Zoom). Luis lives and works from his home on Gran Canaria, but like Catherine is really a global presence. He is a co-founder of the asynco.org community, a community of practitioners and academics dedicated to shaping the way we work, asynchronously. Luis’ professional space is distinct from Catherine’s, but he also has that same unrelenting focus on community, humanity, and sustainability, and calling out the exploitative systems in which we operate.
“Walking the talk” may be overused, but it really describes how Catherine and Luis both operate. What they produce (in their works) really helps you thoughtfully check assumptions and reframe issues. It’s a very challenging style of critique. Yet – it’s how they work that is so meaningful. They are both collaborative, creative and curious as they go about the work of resistance. It’s all about bringing others into the effort, leveraging community talents, and seeking out better ways.
It’s aspirational for me. So today’s post is just a shout out. Catherine and Luis, just know that a bit of y’all shows up (and will show up) in the work I hope to do here in this community, and how I hope to do it.
The photographs which accompany these posts are taken by me, and show different settings and views of Evanston (where I live). It is a visual reminder that this is the most important setting for belonging and contributing to community: our neighborhoods, our cities.
Jeff Merrell 
Hi, Jeff, awwww, my goodness! You’re too kind, my dear friend. Your blog post above has certainly made my month! Thank you, thank you, thank you! 🙏🏻😊
You’ve brought up so many interesting reflections in that thoughtful and heartwarming article, it’s challenging to pick up one, but, if I were, I’d say this one: “[…] check assumptions and reframe issues. It’s challenging critique”
I am afraid I can’t escape that “walk the talk”, because that’s how I have always been, and seen work: an opportunity to challenge the status quo and inertia. An attempt to want to do things better, more humane, but at the same time uplifting & energising. Always advocating for how orgs. can become #LearningOrgs through the communities they support in an attempt to inspire curiosity and co-creation. But also caring and empathy for one another, with a strong sense of belonging and purpose, which is what communities have always been about.
Many thanks, once more, for that wonderful blog post, Jeff! Hope you had a wonderful time with your family and loved ones 😍👍🏻
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Glad I got it right. 😎
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You certainly did, Jeff! 😊👍🏻 I have mentioned this to you a couple of times already, but I think you’re on to something with that narrative on the power of communities to help enable learning, while holding a safe space, to invoke the curiosity of those who would want to explore, through wayfinding, new “worlds” and co-create whatever the new may well be with those who are willing to explore those new paths.
I am all for it, Jeff! Bring it on! 🤘🏻😎
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