“When the bombs fell in Doha, I realized that powerlessness is not the absence of power; it is the refusal to imagine how small acts bind us into larger possibilities…We need to practice, every day, the fragile but radical work of building communities that insist on hope when the air grows thick with despair.”

If They Can, Why Can’t We?

“Don’t we hold the power to reshape the concept of power itself? I sometimes catch myself thinking: maybe this is just how the world is, maybe the best I can do is adapt. But then I see climate strikers, women in Iran who risked everything to chant Zan, Zendegi, Azadi (Woman, Life, Freedom), and I remember that resignation is exactly what oppressive systems count on. Systems are built on the basis of making people powerless.”

Communities That Save Us

“From educational institutions to churches, every community must exist as a transformative space that stands for justice and peace. We have to uphold these spaces knowing that community is our greatest source of strength. Coming together through this shared pain makes each tragedy easier to bear. We have to believe, no matter how hopeless we feel, because we live not just for ourselves but for each other. We must love the hard work and effort put into building communities, as it is this love and connection that will save us.”

Confidence in Many Hands

“When we say ‘I can’t do anything,’ maybe the real problem is the I. Alone, none of us can move mountains, but together, encouraged by each other, we can. Confidence grows when it’s shared, and change becomes possible when it’s carried by many hands and not just one. The truth is, everyone is waiting for everyone else to act…Powerlessness ends when we stop waiting for someone else to be “the one,” and start choosing to lead—together.”