Recently, DJJ housing justice liaisons Gabe Slabosky & Alexa Eisenberg attended a training with the Midwest Academy as a part of the Coalition to End Unconstitutional Tax Foreclosures. Check out their reflections here.

From Alexa: Last week’s training provided a rare and valuable opportunity to reflect on our past, refine our strategy moving forward, and strengthen our sense of community as a working coalition. Perhaps the most impactful component of the training was its deconstruction of power - what do we hope to accomplish as a coalition, and who has power over that decision?  What forms of power do we possess? What tactics are appropriate for illustrating or building our power? The time or opportunity to reflect on this as the basis of our strategy will improve our success as coalition.

From Gabe: The two day training provided me with a framework for thinking about organizing. It showed me how to approach the Coalition and DJJ's work from the perspective of strategy and it demonstrated that when ordinary people come together, pay attention, and show up, we hold the power. 

Gabe Slabosky, DJJ housing justice liaison, pictured at a housing justice workshop hosted by the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue, teaching about how property tax assessments should work