Greeting friends of Dancing Rabbit, 

Danielle here, writing to share a note from the desk of the outgoing Executive Director. As some of you have seen, the nonprofit here is looking to hire a new Executive Director. Many of you may be wondering why and what the scoop is, and I apologize that the call for applicants came before my own transition announcement. 

I was hired as the ED for the Center for Sustainable and Cooperative Culture in 2016 after the previous ED, Mayana Ludwig had just finished a speaking tour and was preparing to move on and pursue projects elsewhere ⎼ big shoes to fill! The role was a big stretch for me at first, since I had minimal experience juggling budgets, websites, strategic plans, a team of employees, a village of volunteers, a board of directors, and all the other things that land on a director’s desk because nobody knows where else to put them. Originally, my passion was in the realm of programs. I love coordinating and hosting experiences that give people a taste of how connected, fun, and meaningful life can really be. Peak experiences like these remind people not to get stuck in the bubble of normal, but to aim high and dream big. Can you outrageously imagine a future that sustains and serves the web of all life while allowing for our human needs to be met in ever better and more creative ways? That’s what we invite people to do when they come to Dancing Rabbit. And your imagination doesn’t have to work as hard here because you’re removed from the buzz of traffic and surrounded instead by the sound of birds, systems that encourage us to live mindfully and sustainably, and whimsical houses that look like something Dr. Seuss might have dreamed up. 

This is starting to sound more like a love letter than a transition letter, and I suppose it is. I accepted the position of Executive Director seven years ago because I love Dancing Rabbit, and I love what it represents: Humans responding creatively and collaboratively to the question, how can we do better? These are perilous times we are living in, which you probably don’t need to be reminded of. It can be tempting to stick one’s head in the sand and hope that the next generation will be able to deal with climate change, kyriarchy, political polarization and economic turmoil better than we can. But Gandalf says it best: 

“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo. "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

I like to call these the times of dire beauty. Yes, danger and risk abound and more than ever our fate is all bound up with the creatures and humans on the other side of the globe from where we sit, as well as the ones right next door. The beauty comes when we lean into that recognition, and endeavor to open our heart and make art with whatever motley crew we are surrounded by. I use that term intentionally, though not in a pejorative sense. We modern day humans like to fantasize that when we find our perfect community (which is surely not where we are right now), it will be full of people that feel like our best friends, with whom it will be easy to make decisions and get along. I think the fantasy usually involves images of sharing the childcare duties collectively, baking bread for your neighbors, and living in a state of constant gratitude for the people around you. One of my most important life moments ⎼ one which allowed me to continue living in community for over a decade now ⎼ required me to pop that utopian fantasy bubble and learn to love and appreciate the people around me just as they are, even if there are things I don’t like about them. It is a flight of fancy to only want to “do community” with an illusory band of soul family. The world will not be saved by those who are only willing to cooperate and share with people they like or feel connected to all of the time. I suspect every long time member of community knows what I’m talking about; feeling more aware of your judgments towards your community mates than appreciations, and the “why am I here?” questions that arise in the mind along with that. We also know that this is part of the ongoing personal growth assignment that we signed up for in moving to community. Most of the time what prevents us from feeling loving and appreciative towards those around us are our own patterns, fears, and self-judgments anyway. So all the better to start acting like community towards the people you see on a daily basis, instead of waiting for the someday utopian fantasy of what community “should” feel like. 

Dancing Rabbit has been through turbulent times in the past four years, but the humans here have not given up. Nor have the animals, nor the trees we’ve planted in orchards and food forests. Despite the different perspectives and preferences in the village, I see my community mates tending houses and walking dogs when a neighbor is away, sharing kitchens and having difficult, honest conversations with one another, and caring for our friends when someone is sick or unable. All while continually exploring the question of “how can we do better?” Through our programs, tours, the bed and breakfast, and other ways to visit, the nonprofit here offers a chance for anyone who visits us to reflect on the same question.  

It is not disenchantment with the purpose or the vision that is causing me to transition out of my current role in the nonprofit. In fact, my intention is to stay at Dancing Rabbit after a new Executive Director is hired, and continue to lead workshops and coach individuals while assisting with a gradual onboarding process that makes things smooth for Rabbits and those who visit, donate, or come into contact with us in other ways. Rather, I intend to bring my focus and desire to nourish the world into the realms of currency, climate change, and my vision for a radical sense of family that transcends typical blood and legal relations. I've come to realize through managing a nonprofit how powerful the force of money is and that channeling it to create the better world we seek may be a more influential strategy than avoiding it.  When I recognize that sense of inner knowing pointing me towards change and growth, I realize that disregarding it comes at great cost. As a result, I've started studying and training to become a financial advisor so that I'll be able to help people plan for their financial future, contribute, and invest their money in ways that match their values. So, even though I will likely continue to be involved with the Center for Sustainable and Cooperative Culture for some time to come, the wheels of change are in motion.  

I can’t predict the future, but Dancing Rabbit is my beloved home, and I hope it continues to be that way. I want to grow a family in this community and see my someday-grandchildren enjoying the pond, the paths, and the people that lend their hand to one another through the ups and downs of life. I’m also looking forward to stepping down from this role so that I can find new opportunities to provide leadership in this community that haven’t been compatible with this position.  

I invite you to stay open-hearted during this journey with me. Change can bring up fear but also excitement and new possibilities. What are the life changes you’ve been feeling an inner beckoning toward? Alternately, where are the places you feel called to stay put and give sustenance energy toward? Life is a dance between being and becoming. At Dancing Rabbit, the dance also involves belonging and remembering. Let’s remember that we belong, not just to each other and our local community but to the broader tapestry of nature; those who came before and the generations who will come after us. When we remember our belonging, we rediscover some obvious always-there truths: Earth is the only home available to us right now;  our motley crew is who we have to share it with (whether we have the same political opinions or not); and the best thing we can do with our time is decide how to contribute, enrich the soil around us, and leave this place better than we found it. 

I look forward to introducing you to the next Executive Director and working with them and other Rabbits to create an even more vibrant village and laboratory for human culture that offers hope and inspiration in these times of dire beauty. Let’s all keep an eye on what’s possible for humanity when we dream big together, and then act to make it real.  

With passion and contribution, 

Danielle

 

P.S. Here's an overview of the Executive Director position at CSCC, in case you or someone you know would like to apply.