Dear DJN Signatories, Members, Node Facilitators, and Subscribers,

This is the second quarterly update of 2025. We hope that the transition into the summer season is meeting you well in this difficult moment, and that you and your loved ones are protected and well cared for.

This network update comes at a time where many of us are working to respond to and resist the global tide of fascism and imperial wars. We are rising up and fighting back the best we can, using a range of strategies and tactics. We're fighting imperialism, zionism, ICE, detention and deportation, racism, transphobia, misogyny, the erosion of bodily autonomy, the resurgence of eugenics, ableism, the ever-deeper ties between Big tech, AI, and the military-industrial-information complex, and more. From Gaza to Los Angeles to Borikén, we know that these systems of oppression are linked together, and our resistance must be deeply linked together as well.

If you aren’t organized for resistance in your local community, we urge you to connect with a local organization, collective, or informal group. To fight detentions and deportations in the United States, you can connect with Detention Watch Network. If you are able to contribute to mutual aid efforts, there are also lots of ongoing funds that provide immediate assistance; right now we recommend you donate to Grassroots Gaza Bread distribution fundraiser.

Evolving DJN Governance

As a Steering Committee we’ve been moving slowly and intentionally as we process the needs of the network. We are currently re-assessing our role as an ongoing Steering Committee, and are taking concrete steps towards sharing decision-making power:

We have extended invitations to all Local Nodes that have been active within the last two years to nominate 1-2 delegates to the Steering Committee (UK North, London, Scotland, Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, Portland, India/New Delhi, and Toronto).

We are also inviting Local Node facilitators who consider their node active, or are trying to re-activate, but did not receive an invitation, to please reach out to us at designjusticenetwork@gmail.com.

We're organizing a series of conversations with node facilitators to better understand who is interested in and has capacity to join what is currently known as the Steering Committee in 2025, advance the grants program that we announced at the Spring Strategy Share-Out, and discuss the logistics of a node facilitator gathering. We are also offering facilitated discussions, wherever needed, to move through conflict and repair and rebuild trust. After onboarding new SC members, we will continue to evolve the governance structure in new directions next year.

Grants

As announced, DJN will be providing up to $50,000 total in $5,000 grants to active Local Nodes. The Steering Committee has invited Local Node facilitators to meet with us to begin the distribution of these grants.

Shift from paid membership to sustainer model

At the Spring Strategy session, the Steering Committee shared an intention to shift financial support for DJN from a paid membership model, where those who contribute money have privileged access to various benefits, to a sustainer model, where anyone who wants to support DJN is welcome to do so. In the sustainer model, all Signatories would receive access to DJN resources that are currently reserved for members. We’ve decided to revisit this topic after new Steering Committee members are on board.

Moving through conflict

The current Steering Committee also acknowledges that there continues to be open conflict within DJN. We’re working with Red Kitchen Table, who was part of the care & safety team at the Spring Strategy share-out, to move through this conflict with openness and rigor (you can find more information about Red Kitchen Table at the end of this message). We remain deeply committed to principles of transformative justice, and we’re taking the concerns that have been raised seriously. We’re working both individually and as a group to carefully consider where we have made mistakes and how to be responsible for them, to recognize the difference between our impact and our intentions, to hold what is ours, and also to create a plan for moving forward differently in the future.

Closing thoughts

We know that it’s a heavy moment. We believe that it’s possible to stay grounded and inspired by building community, and by organizing towards the future worlds we need in whatever ways we can. We believe the Design Justice Network principles can support resistance and world building, and we invite you all to continue sharing them with your people.

As Mariame Kaba says, “Hope is a discipline.”

In love and solidarity,

Nour, Wes, Sasha, Elena, and Boaz

For the Design Justice Network Steering Committee

More About Red Kitchen Table

Ray Sukin Klauber (they/them) is a Eurasian & Ashkenazi, brown mixed race, trans, mediator, facilitator, trauma intervener, harm reductionist, anti-Zionist abolitionist who has been working in & around nonprofits for over 20 years. Through Red Kitchen Table, they provide conflict transformation processes and support to workers, organizers, movement groups, nonprofits and coalitions across the country. Ray is also currently a consultant, trainer and coach with Vision Change Win (National), where they are an Instructor and Co-Coordinator of VCW's Transforming Conflict: A Liberatory Approach to Mediation program. In their free time, Ray is a part of a number of formations building infrastructure and intervening in community emergency and crisis.

DJN Quarterly Seasonal Pause: August

DJN has a longstanding practice of quarterly Seasonal Pauses. During this time, the DJN Steering Committee and key Contractors pause DJN-specific emails, social media accounts, and work on specific projects, wherever possible. Explore the history of DJN Seasonal Pauses through archived announcements on our News page. This summer, we will be taking a seasonal pause during the month of August.

For First-Time Subscribers

If you’re new to the Design Justice Network, welcome! Here are some resources to help get you started.

Read an overview of how to get involved.
Read the latest update, DJN Spring Strategy Share Out.
Check out our YouTube channel.
Review our finances.
Learn about the Creative Commons license that we used for the DJN Principles.
Check out some DJN activities and workshop concepts.

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Sign on to the Design Justice Network principles:
https://designjustice.org/read-the-principles

Check out our Zines:
https://designjustice.org/zines

Become a member:
https://designjustice.org/membership

Join our mailing list:
https://lists.riseup.net/www/subscribe/designjustice-news