This month’s Ask comes hard on the heels of August, one of the most important months in the history of Lace on Race.

After weeks of planning, we devised games which were fun, to be sure, but also informative, and took you on a tour of our newly refreshed website. 

Y’all. We have poured so much into what you see—and also, what you don’t see. 

I love how we face you, and encourage you to face each other. But the front-facing stuff is not even the half of it. 

Every month, we consult, we engage with outside groups, pages, and websites, we look individuals and groups eye to eye, sharing and modeling our message. 

This is important. 

What is also important is that we keep identifying and training up future leaders, both for our community, but also to serve out in the wider world, bringing our distinct fragrance wherever they, wherever we, go. I am looking at more than a few of you here in the community to tap for sustained growth and service. That we grow *damn* good saplings are one of my greatest joys. That those saplings grow up to scatter good seeds—that is legacy. I am grateful every day. Every day. 

If you are reading this, you know that the Black Spring wasn’t over just because the media tired of it. You know that oppression endured by Black and brown people continues, and you know the need to stand with and for, in ways that matter, is still important, vitally and crucially important. 

Every month, every week, every day, it is my distinct privilege to do this work; to serve with my whole heart in this way. Every day, I am thankful for those who allow me to. That means you. 

We are self funded, and I deeply believe in this model, and we will stay that way for as long as we possibly can. It speaks to faith and trust that the community will hold and lift up itself with a minimum of prompting. 

 We ask you to face both me and the community every month or week or day—and not only when you see an Ask.

 Part of your practice here in Lace on Race  is in the deep interrogation of a holistic praxis—and, as you know if you have been here even for a few minutes—you know that where and how you choose to live out a consistent—and, dare I say, a seditious and subversive financial praxis in service to racial justice—cannot be decoupled from an overall rejection of white supremacy. 

If you don’t know about everything I am talking about when it comes to living out your praxis regarding me and the community; how you are invited to look me in the eye in our shared orchard, as you contemplate financial engagement to ensure the health and longevity and legacy of this community you partake in, however tangentially or sporadically or relentlessly reliably, ask questions in the comments!

You can Ask Me Anything! I love to talk about why we do how we do here. 

Including the hard stuff.

And, for a lot of you, the Ask is hard stuff indeed. I lose hundreds of you every time I post up an ask. That is true, and affects me deeply. I feel that.  

But.

For those of you who stay and plant, thank you. 

Sustainers and sustainers in training, this is your monthly invitation to live out your commitment to the orchard. 

For those who want to know more about sustaining and becoming a co-creator of the orchard, ask! You will see all the information below. 

For you all who prefer a la carte, a distinct invitation; two actually—to pony up for your Takeout—but also to consider becoming more—to become a Sustainer. 

As I said in my last video, we are looking for 400 unique, committed, and reliable people who will walk with us in a tangible way.

So, here we are. The Early September Ask, or rather and better, The Early September Invitation to Engagement. 

I love this space, I love us, I love everyone we will never see, but will surely touch. 

Keep walking. 

Join our Bistro discussion below