By Lynn Buske, JONAH Organizer
Lots of things shift for folks when summer arrives – we head outdoors, we relax more, we stay up later, we plan fun adventures, we garden, and the kids/grandkids are home. We feel warmed by the sun and our spirits lifted by the new foliage and fun activities.
Summer Has a Different Rhythm at JONAH
Justice doesn’t take a vacation, but it does have its seasons. JONAH might look and feel a bit different in summer.
Our usual external work (actions and meetings) goes a bit more inward as we hold fewer activities and meetings – because we are reflecting, strategizing, people take breaks (preventing burnout is important), and our churches get creative as their worship attendance is down.
Outreach and connection in summer goes external – which is typically inward work the rest of the year where we focus on 1-1s and congregation connects. We attend as many community events as we can by having a booth to talk with community members about what their concerns are, who JONAH is, how fulfilling helping in justice work can be, and building new partners.
It is amazing in this later work to be visible and with the people.
- Our volunteers have a more tangible activity that brings about friendly positive interactions and a lot of learning. This is the time of year we need more hands on volunteers than ever!
- It helps grow JONAH!
- We meet people we didn’t know we needed to know.
- We see over time how community awareness of JONAH shifts. Eight years ago I used to ask passerbys “are you familiar with JONAH?” and got a lot of “no”s. Now almost everyone says “yeah!”, but those folks still need some extra coaching to fully understand how grassroots organizing works.
- We get information to more people about issues and resources.
As fun as this outreach is, it is balanced by the awareness of how serious and important our work is in understanding systems that marginalize and the suffering that occurs where injustice lies in the Chippewa Valley. While we are not as busy implementing action, we are reflecting on what has happened so far in 2026 and what our next most successful steps may be. We are organizing for system changes – but it just looks and feels a little different, a little slower, and more intentional.
How Our Task Forces Shift in the Summer
Now don’t get me wrong – our Affordable Housing task force is still being active at city council and their community education series; the Environmental task force has been holding event after event to keep hope for a cleaner planet and hope for growing resident enthusiasm; we had our public meeting; and more – but those are coupled with some subtle shifts like postponed meetings, balancing team member vacations, and a slower pace.
Other signs of a shift in summer:
- The Religious Leaders group takes two months off, as does the Training Team (will plan for fall training season)
- Our Mental Health task force members are spending a month calling each other to reconnect and deepen relationships before we delve into more work in the fall
- The Immigration task force, while planning their Multicultural Festival (a great example of the balance of inward planning and community presence) is also taking time to rebuild relationships with law enforcement and elected officials/candidates to get a fresh perspective on what’s possible for immigration reform
- Voices United, our civic engagement task force, just held an amazingly fun potluck watch party for the WI governor candidates, and now we are preserving our energy, keeping our eyes peeled on the news, and considering what will be our most effective efforts to fill needs around the important fall election
- The Fundraising Team wrapped up their heavy season and is preparing for our yearbook ad sales, and beginning plans for the next gala.
Joining the Work This Summer
What is shifting for you this summer? Where is justice sitting in your heart these days? Can reflection or tabling volunteering be part of your natural rhythm this summer? Reach out to someone in JONAH for a 1-on-1 conversation, or attend our coffee chats on Tuesday mornings to talk it through with someone.
The result of this shift is never for certain, as that is how things go in grassroots work, but most likely it results in renewed energy and plans in the fall. It is an honoring of the natural energies while continuing to address root causes of injustice by bringing people together. We try to always honor the rhythms of people, legislature, churches, organizations, and even weather, as we work day to day – because that is required in working with community. It shows an understanding of what people are dealing with while we find a place for them or offer support or guide them into leadership. Joining Our Neighbors, Advancing Hope is a forward trajectory.