Working with Dan for the past 35 years has been full of all kinds of lessons… where do I even begin? I’ve learned both political and personal lessons. Dan has taught me about organizing, power relationships, movement-building, and keeping campaign momentum going against all odds. I learned about chosen family, loss, the benefits of forgiveness, acceptance, and loyalty.
I started as Labor Center staff, and have done behind-the-scenes graphics and tech work for Dan for decades, and from many locales. I caught the March to Miami bus where we engaged union members in skits and song along the way — laughter is such an important human connection.
Much of what I’ve learned from Dan was not explicit teachings, but by example. Dan accomplishes an amazing amount of things by keeping momentum going. A few lessons that stand out to me:
- Keep it moving. Don’t procrastinate. After flushing out ideas, take steps IMMEDIATELY. Start drafting campaign words, images, outreach, lists.
- Be inclusive from the beginning. This gives your community a sense of ownership and participation in the work and its outcome. Send wording/graphics drafts to co-organizers right away, and keep ‘em coming.
- Solidarity is not just a political concept, but a personal one as well. Even when holding my head in anguish at the state of the world, I can shake off lethargy with Dan’s sense of solidarity as an example.
Thank you Dan… for the friendship, laughter, mentoring, hand squeezes, insight, commitment, creativity, trust, love — and perhaps most importantly — sense of purpose.
