“Our histories are […] overlapping layers of silence and privilege which make truly connecting with one another more work than we may have the energy for. And the world outside those spaces doesn’t allow for that building to develop organically. We have to open up wounds, allow them to air out, let them to heal. Not everyone develops the same. Some people’s contusions are too blemished to simply jump into a space and function productively. Others have to navigate both the power they have and their lack of, which I imagine can be pretty damn confusing. And we neither have the understanding or compassion to individually and collectively struggle through these dynamics in a healthy way. So we fight. And we resent. And we talk shit. And we cut off. And we ignore. And we fear. And we feel shame. And we hurt. I’m in this space right now where the community(ies) I thought I nurtured and belonged to look and feel different than when I first entered […]. I’m also realizing that somewhere in between are stories of love and transformation, as well as pain and disappointment. Each instance requires intention, work, openness, and love.                                                                         -Kiwi Illofante Amen. Amen. Amen. on point.