Local Nodes are a key part of a thriving network. Just as in botany, where a node is the part of a plant stem where new leaves emerge, a local node within the Design Justice Network is a space for local members to gather and grow design justice related projects, ideas, processes, and community.

Seattle Node - Kick-off and Co-creation session was scheduled for Thurs, 12/17 @ 5:30pm PT - about 22ppl attended!! A small group has been meeting since August, and hosted their first event this month - it has been moving slow and relationships are forming, which is great and feels right! Leading up the the meeting, they were connecting with other nodes to learn about how they got started up, and formulated things! Likely to host monthly meetings!

Boston Node: Started in april/may to see who might be interested and want to help - it was quiet. In October they started a monthly meeting, highly facilitated with GoogleJamBoard! Started brainstorming goals in october, and in november, picked out a goal and started to get into the details of that goal. Each month we are picking one principle and going with similar prompts each month to ask!

Scotland Node: Growing slow, but that is a deliberate good thing! Also focussing on “keeping” the folx we have in the space already - so trying to keep it a safer space for this team (looking for support/ideas and feedback). We’ve had some monthly meetings and meetups. During december they held 2hr drop-in sessions for people who are interested in the network - 3 times in the month. Before this, they were running book-readings with the DJ book. Started a padlet for the book, and another collecting common questions and patterns in terms of what folx are asking - to help inform what we’re doing in 2021. Hoping to open up some space for “surgeries and clinics” - for what does this look like with a DJ frame? Also figuring out email and logistical things together!

NYC node: Book club reading - last one held in December! So now we will figure out what is next :) Feeling inspired by Boston’s jamboards!! Moving slowly and ensuring folx have capacity to participate! No core organizing group, very decentralized and creates space for folx to participate when they can!

Dallas node (NEW!) - is now approved as a local node- details coming soon! Originally wanted to do project work to apply DJ principles to projects/use within projects. Cool org called the Period Project - seeing how we can get more folx involved in their events. How to foster a community in Dallas- has many awesome non-profit orgs and being able to use some university resources.

Chicago Node: Reading club ongoing - but there has been less engagement. Nour has been trying the one-to-one connections/meetings, and they had a great conversation about ideas on how to keep people engaged. One idea was a “get to know each other” type zine - each person put together a page about themselves (profile) - and be able to share with each other (because we can’t meet in person) - and add on, what they hope to get out of a node in Chicago.
Toronto Node: Has finished their bookclub reading of the Design Justice book - and are now expected to be working on a zine/book to help collect questions and resources about the book itself to help guide other DJN members who might be reading it!