Welcome to your installment of our “Love in Action” series! We are breaking through the news cycle with stories that remind us the courage that is possible when we lead with humanity and Revolutionary Love. Sign up to get these straight to your inbox here.
Beloved Community,
I just returned from Colorado, where more than 500 leaders, organizers, advocates, and changemakers gathered over several days to reimagine how we build a more just and sustainable future.
It was an experience alive with community, hope, and connection.
We presented Revolutionary Love as the call to action, featuring case studies and testimony from our frontline protests in LA. Together with Valarie Kaur and Qais Essar, we equipped advocates with wisdom, music, and tools to fortify the movement, inspiring the courage to keep fighting.
I carry forward three lessons from our time together—and offer to you:
1. All spaces can be opportunities for joy and courage.
From the warm staff who made us feel at home, to art that moved us to tears, to intimate sessions where we deeply listened to one another, to a dance party that went on for hours—this conference reminded me that belonging doesn’t happen by accident.
Whether in a meeting, a party, or over lunch with a friend, we can create intentional, love-rooted spaces where people feel supported and energized. We can be the reason someone takes courageous action today.
2. Love is at the center of all our movements.
Throughout the conference, voices spoke deeply to me and echoed what sustains us:
“Community care is how we fight to build the world we want.”
“You have the right to be angry, but you also have the right to freedom.
“Next time you feel overwhelmed, tell yourself a story—love yourself.”
“Grief is real, but so is the outpouring of community and resistance.”
Again and again, I heard the language of Revolutionary Love—to wonder, grieve, and fight for one another; to step away to breathe or rage; to return to listen and reimagine; and to let joy fuel our courage.
Love is not just a feeling—it is the moral compass that orients us toward justice and freedom. And we are already embodying this love ethic every day.
3. There will always be someone dancing.
When joy fades and we return to the work, the fear of our current reality invades our senses—it can be easy to feel despair and isolation. But somewhere, someone is organizing. Somewhere, someone is anchoring their community in love. Somewhere, someone is refusing to let hate win. Somewhere, someone is dancing.
Let these truths remind us: we are never alone in this labor.
This “Love in Action” issue is filled with stories of people creating spaces of belonging, courage, and joy.
Inside this issue:
Community Spotlight: How an ESL teacher was inspired to create Healing Circles in response to ICE raids in LA.
Act of Love Story: Actor Rainn Wilson shares the pivotal love story that led him to choose his career path.
Social Media: Our Director of Strategy, Anusha Mehar, delivers a powerful poem to give us courage for the ongoing ICE raids.
Art + Music: Inspired by Valarie Kaur’s speech, singer Heidi Rojas gives us a powerful anthem to remind us to fight with flowers.
Save this. Share with a friend. Tell your own story. Reply to this email and tell us what resonates—we read every message.
With love,
Revolutionary Love champion Dana Horstein has spent 20 years working with immigrants as an ESL teacher, and currently offers heart-centered midlife coaching for women.
Inspired by the Summer of Resistance activities in Los Angeles in response to ICE raids, and Valarie Kaur’s book See No Stranger, Dana asked herself: “What does this demand of me?”
Her answer: Healing Circles—spaces for sharing stories to cultivate compassion and connection. These circles support both those directly impacted by ICE raids and those indirectly affected, like Rapid Responders and organizational staff facing overwhelm.
Circles are offered in English and Spanish, in person and online. Free and open to all.
Are you embodying the love ethic?
Share your story at contact@revolutionarylove.org to be featured in our next newsletter!
Inspired by Valarie Kaur’s photo taken (above) at the Federal Building in Los Angeles during the start of ICE raids in the city, Heidi wrote this anthem as a reminder that we come from a long line of warriors who used love—our strongest weapon—to conquer hate.
Visit our learning hub here for tools to lead with wonder, be brave with our grief, harness our rage, reimagine institutions, practice joy, and fight for our humanity. There, you can listen to Valarie walk you through the Revolutionary Love Compass and explore reflections to meet this moment.
Our mission only moves forward with your support. Can you help us sustain the work of Revolutionary Love — to create spaces of connection, courage, and care across the country? Donate here.
