Allies for Change

Allies: people passionately committed to eliminating systems of oppression that unjustly benefit them. Allies are not solo acts; their social change work is always rooted in collaboration, humility, and accountability.

Allies for Change is a network of educators and activists who share a passion for social
justice and a commitment to creating and sustaining life-giving ally relationships and communities. Resisting a hierarchy of oppressions and working as allies across difference, we seek to create new patterns of relating and transform unjust structures.

Allies for Change was founded by Melanie Morrison, who serves as Executive Director.
Melanies organizing vision was to gather a diverse network of ally trainers committed to the life-long work of understanding where they stand in relation to privilege and oppression and to building authentic relationships across difference. Born of the conviction that personal and institutional change are inseparable,

Allies for Change provides innovative programs that seek to address the whole person
body, mind, and spirit. Action and reflection form the heart of every Allies for Change program with the goal of equipping participants to become effective, knowledgeable, and compassionate agents of structural change in their local communities. Invite participants to engage in rigorous social and historical analysis and to practice strategies for interrupting oppression. Recognizing that we need spiritual resources to sustain this work, Allies for Change programs utilize a creative array of teaching models and media. Through storytelling, music, meditation, laughter and deep listening, seeking cultivate a loving and truth-telling community that allows all to explore the complexities. BELIEFS AND PRINCIPLES

Genuine and lasting change involves both personal and institutional transformation. One without the other is an insufficient and truncated form of change.

It can become as passionate about dismantling the systems from which benefit eradicating the systems that oppress us.

The interior journey into silence, meditation, inner wisdom, and deep joy is inextricably linked to the outer work of social change.

Understanding relation to systems of privilege and oppression, and unlearning the habits and practices that protect those systems, is life-long work, without exception.

Authentic relationships of solidarity and mutuality are not possible when to avoid or transcend power imbalances. Authentic relationships are possible only when those imbalances are honestly acknowledged and confronted.

Systems of oppression and privilege such as racism, sexism, heterosexism, ableism, and classism are interconnected. Although participants ask at a particular Allies for Change program to focus for a time on one system, this will never be done at the expense of acknowledging and addressing the interconnections with other systems.

Truth-telling, confrontation, and anger can be paired with compassion, humility, and forgiveness.

Because Allies for Change trainers are seekers and learners every bit as much as are Allies for Change participants. Authentic and mutually life-giving relationships do not spring ablaze of themselves (Adrienne Rich). Such relationships need to be nurtured by a commitment to truthtelling, right-relationship, humility, deep listening, accountability, justice, and love.

Allies are not solo acts; their social change work is always rooted in collaboration, humility, and accountability.

Allies in Change is a leadership development program for people involved with mental health services as Consumers, Carers or Professionals working in the sector. Hosted by Perth Home Care Services, and working in association with CoMHWA; MentalHealthMatters2; Richmond Fellowship and WAAMH, Allies in Change is a unique and exciting opportunity to create a dynamic shift in thinking about Mental Health. The idea behind Allies in Change is to GATHER leaders and activists together who are passionate about making change in mental health; CREATE OPPORTUNITIES for them to be exposed to some of the leading thinkers and innovators in the fields of mental health and social inclusion;

REFLECT together on past and current practice in mental health services the good and the bad IMAGINE what good and better and excellent would look like EQUIP people up with practical knowledge and information that will enable them to be effective agents of change CHALLENGE participants to turn their thoughts into action that will really make a difference in the day-to-day experience of the people and families who live with mental distress. INSPIRE them to work together and find common cause and solidarity that will strengthen a movement for change.

GOALS OF ALLIES FOR CHANGE

Deepen awareness of how oppression, privilege, and power are at work in all relationships and organizations; Invite people with privilege to recognize and unlearn the habits and practices that protect their privilege; Strengthen the resources for survival, support, and community cultivated by those who are the targets of oppression; Nurture collaborative action and authentic relationship across differences of race, age, gender, abilities, and sexual orientation; Equip organizations to recognize, and then take action to decrease, the disparity between their current practices and their inclusive ideals;

Encourage activists to explore and deepen their spiritual resources for social change.