2023 Issue #02, Design Justice Newsletter

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Dear DJN Members, Signatories, and Friends,

Over 90 applicants responded to our call for two Care Pod Collaborators to join the DJN team – we’re amazed, inspired and incredibly grateful. We thank all of you who shared this announcement with your peers and communities. Please welcome Jody Chan and Corina Fadel as they join Denise Shanté Brown as members of Design Justice Network’s new Care Pod team! 

“Throughout this two-year journey, we're looking forward to dreaming and designing liberatory cultures of care with design justice practitioners. You can stay informed about upcoming experiences and ways to get involved via ongoing announcements through newsletters, social media shares, and our Slack #carepod channel.”

And on March 25th, the first in our members-only series of theme-weaving events begins with special guest speakers followed by live breakout sessions that activate design justice principles into deeper practices. During the event, we will hear from leaders within and outside of our network to inspire our conversations: 

  • Culture strategist, coach and artist Sage Crump, presenting Designing the culture we deserve

  • Holistic design strategist, creative co-conspirator and intuitive writer Denise Shanté Brown, presenting design as a process of care

*** Registration is now open! ***

Not able to make it on the 25th? No problem: screenings of this event’s keynote presentations will be held April 8th, where facilitators will host new live breakouts for attendees. Two tracks are offered to support the availability of folks across multiple time zones (UTC-3 – +3 and UTC+8 – -8.) Screening dates and times can be chosen on the above registration link.

Members, we’re so excited to introduce these opportunities to connect and create together! Signatories and friends, we invite you and those you know who resonate with the principles of the Design Justice Network to learn more about membership and join us in shaping this next year of change and emergence. 

Your Design Justice Network Team,
Rene Joy (She/They), Communications Specialist
Taylor Simone (She/Her), Special Projects Manager 
Victoria Barnett (She/Her), International Network Manager, Nodes & WG 

Email: info@designjsutice.org
Instagram: @designjusticenetwork 
Twitter: @design__justice (double underscore)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/designjustice/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/designjusticenetwork
Web: designjustice.org

Note: This newsletter marks a transition from monthly to series-based releases for 2023. As our Network transitions into this next year of activity, the coordination team adapts how we operate and organize our work to support the community’s growth. Shifts like these (and more to come!) reflect an ongoing effort by our team to create more fluidity between DJN members and the experiences available to them through special projects, Nodes and working groups. 

Upcoming Events & Important Dates

Find events happening this month or go to designjustice.org/events for more. We’re working to make our meetings more accessible – requests for accommodations can be sent to info@designjustice.org

📣The first Seasonal Pause of 2023 is March 26 - April 3. Pauses like these offer members of the coordination and steering committee teams time to rest, reflect and return to the operations and organization of the Network with fresh energy and insight. Read more about the purpose seasonal pauses serve in this post on DJN’s website. The next Seasonal Pause dates for 2023 are: July 1 - July 9, September 30 - October 8 and December 16 - January 7.

Hosting an event but don’t see it on our website yet? Fill out this form! Translate to your timezone using thetimezoneconverter.com or timeanddate.com.

Network Updates

Access & Accommodations

We’re working towards more accessible events, materials and experiences. Guided by the Design Justice Principles, we’re interested in working with accessibility service providers led by and benefiting living experts directly. 

Do you know any community-based and equitably organized providers that may align with our Network? Send them our way! Submit your entry here or email Taylor directly: specialprojects@designjustice.org

We’re developing this resource list to share with members and add to our website’s resource page. If you would like to be credited as a contributor to this database, please email (or include) your name, pronouns, and if you are a current member.

Node & Working Groups

All of our current Nodes and Working Groups are listed on our website. If you’re thinking of starting your own, learn more about how to organize a local node and read our local nodes zine that was created to support and give guidance to local nodes. (much of it applies also to Working Groups).

  • Are you a designer located in India? DJN members in New Delhi are interested in forming a local Node! Reach out to rubinasingh02@gmail.com and bhawna.parmar21@gmail.com.

  • DJN Philly meets virtually on the last Tuesday of every month from now until June as way for local designers to connect and get involved with design justice projects.

  • DJN Toronto meets virtually twice a month to talk about design justice and how principles and practices apply to attendee projects.

  • DJN PDX regularly shares new designs inspired by DJN’s principles as they continue to schedule new events for coworking and socializing – check out their Instagram and stay up-to-date with their website!

  • DJN Taiwan hosted a workshop exercise built around DJN’s 10 Principles – read the blog post here.

  • The Communications Working Group is accepting new members. Volunteers support member needs for DJN-specific comms materials/guidance and receive a 1-year paid DJN subscription.

*** You can sign up for Node events and other open meetings on DJN’s website. ***

Presentations & Appearances

Recent Resources

Members of the Network’s nodes, working groups, coordination team and steering committee present DJN’s principles and practices as guest speakers, panelists and interviewees many times throughout the year. Links to any available recordings and materials from these opportunities are shared here and on DJN’s resource page. 

Shared on Social Media & In the News

Have you recently presented or spoken on design justice as a framework, practice or set of principles and have a recording or materials to share? Do you want to connect more directly with our social media campaigns? Send a message to comms@designjustice.org!

Opportunities

Ongoing Opportunities

Member Stories

Interested in sharing your Design Justice story? Are you inspired by another member’s practice of the Design Justice Principles? Sharing member stories is a powerful part of honoring our community’s history and building a more just and joyous future together.

There are no prerequisites (which means a traditional background in design isn’t necessary!) Past stories have featured members working in a variety of fields such as social work, community organizing, and handicrafts. 

We shape the storytelling process around what works best for you and will only share what/how/where you consent for us to share. As our Network grows globally, we’re particularly interested in elevating stories from new and international members!

Please contact info@designjustice.org to share your story or ask questions!

From Our Members, Partners and Peers

If you know of any upcoming opportunities, please email us (info@designjustice.org) or share directly in the Design Justice Network #opportunities Slack channel.

Invitations for Proposals, Support & Engagement from DJN’s Member Network:

For First-Time Subscribers

If you’re new to the Design Justice Network, welcome! Here are some resources to help get you started. As we continue to build these resources we welcome your questions and feedback.

Manage Your Subscription

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