Madison N. Garcia
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madisonngarcia.bsky.social
Madison N. Garcia
@madisonngarcia.bsky.social
Native Angeleno in the South.
Strategist to leaders and organizations catalyzing social change.
Wayfinder, photographer, often outdoors.
Interested in what slows us down, wakes us up, and connects us to each other.
Reposted by Madison N. Garcia
Also: it will be possible and necessary to grieve and act at the same time. And we'll need to lean on each other as we do this.
PSA: It is ok — and necessary — to grieve right now
July 3, 2025 at 8:37 PM
What's got me hanging on by a thread these days: the amount of people moving from a place of resolve, generosity--even joyfulness--in this hellscape. There are no small gestures, friends. We need all of us and every shred of light.
July 3, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Reposted by Madison N. Garcia
If you're reading this, whoever you are & whatever you're doing to try to make this world better, whether it's calling, protesting, providing mutual aid, making art, raising awareness, training & teaching people new concepts & skills, journalism, surviving through it all, or whatever else: thank you
July 1, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Reposted by Madison N. Garcia
From Marge Piercy's book, To Be of Use.

#poem #books #writing
May 6, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Built a sandcastle for the first time in too long. Reminded of the restorative power of play and deep rest.
April 18, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Reposted by Madison N. Garcia
"On Tyranny" is a #1 NYT bestseller again. I wish the moment were different. But I’m glad the book is useful. And grateful for all the kind words about putting the 20 lessons to work.
snyder.substack.com/p/twenty-les...
Twenty Lessons, read by John Lithgow
Key selections from On Tyranny, for viewing and sharing
snyder.substack.com
April 12, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Some words that have been really taking root:

"Resistance is not wanting to live in the limited imagination of the white colonial mind." —Céline Semaan
April 13, 2025 at 5:49 PM
A bit of water for the journey (some desperately needed good news).
April 8, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Reminded again and again of the power of gathering, of sharing physical space, of witnessing one another up close—in our joy and grief, in our rage, often all at the same time.

Marching, dancing, singing, huddling around a kitchen table—protest takes a thousand forms and none are insignificant.
April 6, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Reposted by Madison N. Garcia
Learn about a new funder pledge developed by Trust-Based Philanthropy Project, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, & National Center for Family Philanthropy. It’s the latest installment of “Defend Nonprofits, Defend Democracy” on Fund the People Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/f...
April 4, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Looking forward to this! My first time at HRB.
TOMORROW NIGHT (4/5): The Tallest Man on Earth is here for a SOLO show with The Still Tide. Doors at 7pm, show at 8! Still time to get advance tickets!! bit.ly/TallestManAp...
April 4, 2025 at 8:05 PM
"Play courts joy. Play disobeys. It wouldn’t be play without some level of rebellion. Play moves toward knowing by not knowing. Play is somatic. Play is how the body laughs.

...It’s disruptive. It’s expansive. The government knows it. The cops know it."

shiraerlichman.substack.com/p/play-is-se...
Play is Serious Business
Dispatch #41: It’s disruptive. It’s expansive. The government knows it. The cops know it.
shiraerlichman.substack.com
April 4, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Ross Gay bringing the medicine on the heels of this terror of a week.

"I remember. My color's green. l'm spring."
From Ross Gay's book, Bringing the Shovel Down.

#poem #books #writing
April 4, 2025 at 1:06 PM
This is what it looks like to really hold the line.
April 4, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Joyspotting in my neighborhood. Spring in all her glory—reminders of renewal, possibility.
April 2, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Leaning on my grief practice a lot these days.

Finding anchoring this morning in the words of Malkia Devich-Cyril:

"Grief is an evolutionary indicator of love—the kind of great love that guides revolutionaries."
April 2, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Reposted by Madison N. Garcia
At the end of the day, folks just want to see more people in power sacrifice and put something, ANYTHING, on the line for people with way less power.
April 1, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Reposted by Madison N. Garcia
Reposted by Madison N. Garcia
New — Here is a running list of Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) offices that have either been fully eliminated or gutted into non-functionality as a result of today's mass firings (provided to me directly by a CDC staffer):
April 1, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Reposted by Madison N. Garcia
This data is stark. That's why my colleagues turned this around less than two weeks after survey close -- and got it out into the world today. Funders: this is what nonprofits are experiencing and what they're looking for from you all. cep.org/wp-content/u...
cep.org
March 6, 2025 at 1:27 AM
"Responsible journalism does not just report events. It contextualizes them, challenges abuses of power, and—crucially—minimizes harm."

When Journalism Becomes a Weapon: A Call for Ethical Reporting - nonprofitquarterly.org/when-journal...
When Journalism Becomes a Weapon: A Call for Ethical Reporting - Non Profit News | Nonprofit Quarterly
A call from NPQ's editor in chief for ethical reporting and journalism to defend democracy, civil society institutions, and civil rights.
nonprofitquarterly.org
March 3, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Reposted by Madison N. Garcia
It is a strange daily dichotomy to watch incurious hateful men tear down a world they don’t care to understand, while witnessing a constant reminder that we are born with boundless curiosity and open hearts.

Some of us never lost those things, and that’s what they hate most. Never let them take it.
March 1, 2025 at 2:35 AM
In case you’re also in need of some heart balm this morning—some words from the late, wonderful Bryan Doyle:

1/2 “You do your absolute best to find and hone and wield your divine gifts against the dark. You do your best to reach out tenderly to touch and elevate as many people as you can reach...”
March 2, 2025 at 3:28 PM