READ THE FALL 2026 NEWSLETTER HERE
Reflections for Our New Chief of Staff, sylvia murray
I first sat in a talking circle at the age of fifteen, and it ignited a lifelong calling. The practices I learned of nonviolent communication, deep listening, and conflict transformation set me on a path of peacebuilding with a commitment to evolving systems with curiosity, connection, and courage. That path has led me around the world. I have learned from and supported courageous and steadfast leaders fighting for women’s freedom in Afghanistan, advocating for LGBTQ+ rights in Nigeria, advancing women’s safety in India, and beyond. As far-right leaders and authoritarian practices have taken hold here in the United States, I turn to these partners for guidance, strategy, and inspiration.
Together, we have learned that weaponizing gender is a core tool in the authoritarian playbook. This is by design: Control over our bodies and identities is control over our most intimate sense of self. We have all experienced, in our respective countries, how attacks on gender serve as a gateway to restrictions on other rights and of broader civil society. From our streets to our screens, from legislation to legal protections, we see and feel the harm in daily life. These seemingly disparate yet truly coordinated attacks aim to overwhelm, exhaust, divide, and silence us. Yet we refuse.
It is an honor to join Gender Justice as Chief of Staff at this critical moment. This year, we expanded our team, broadened our coalitions, and strengthened our intersectional movement. I am honored to help lead our team with the values and practices that keep us ready and nimble to adapt and respond to immediate crises, while staying grounded and sustained for the long haul.
In our work in Minnesota and North Dakota, I bring leadership rooted in love, and the practice of humanizing each other and refusing ‘othering’ that I learned so powerfully from peace and democracy leaders around the world. Authoritarianism depends on dividing us. By radically choosing one another with intention and compassion, we build a community that authoritarianism cannot break. The pages that follow show what that choice looks like in action.
Together, we are embracing our shared humanity to create a future where every one of us is free, safe, and truly belongs.
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