Yesterday, on MetaCocoMom, I talked about finding a spiritual home that is LGBT-affirming, not just “welcoming.” But as I’ve been sitting in the pews of our new ELCA Lutheran home, I’ve been thinking about the deeper mechanics of why so many institutions fail us.
It comes down to a lack of placekeeping.
The Trap of Monolithic Healing
In her chapter Spiritual Conditions in the book Healing Justice Lineages, Cara Page drops a truth bomb that every nonprofit, church, and community organization needs to laminate and post on their front door:
“Healing outside of knowing context and place to bring one monolithic idea of healing are inadequate responses to the critical conditions of that place, because it is not rooted in the memory, power, or traditions of that place nor honors the resiliency of the people who lived there for generations.” (308)
When a church says “everyone is welcome,” they are often offering a monolithic idea of healing. They want you to fit into their box of what “peace” looks like. But if they don’t know the context of your life—the labor of a Black mother, the history of the neighborhood they sit in, or the specific trauma of being queer in the pews—then their “healing” is inadequate. 🏾
From Individual Burnout to Generational Trauma
This leads us to the second “Labor Pain” we are feeling in 2026. For too long, we’ve treated our exhaustion as a personal failing. We call it “burnout” and suggest a bubble bath or a day off. But Page reminds us that:
“…a burnout work culture was having an immense impact on our collective emotional, physical, psychic, and spiritual well-being inside of movements, but it was often relegated to individual experiences and isolated incidents, not a generational phenomenon of trauma.” (292)
We aren’t just tired because we had a long week. We are feeling the generational phenomenon of trauma that comes from living in a nation that is currently undergoing massive, tectonic shifts.
The Multi-Sector Response
Ten to twenty years ago, it was just the artists and the organizers—folks like Cara Page and the Kindred Collective—talking about this. But now, as we navigate the “Year of the Shift,” other sectors are finally waking up.
- Public History: How we archive our stories to preserve “memory and power.”
- Urban Planning: How we use Placemaking to create physical safety.
- Faith Communities: How we move from “welcoming” (passive) to “affirming and preserving” (active Placekeeping).
When these sectors work together, we stop treating “burnout” like an isolated incident and start treating it like the systemic labor issue it actually is. 🏾
The MetaCocoMom Takeaway
Dismantling unhealthy habits isn’t just about changing your morning routine; it’s about refusing to accept “monolithic healing.” It’s about demanding that the spaces you occupy—whether it’s your job, your church, or your neighborhood—honor the resiliency of who you are and where you come from.
Later this week, I’ll be sharing more from my archival research on Black women’s clubs and how they were the original “Placekeepers” long before the term went mainstream.
Stay rooted. And take action.
In light of the recent fatal shootings in Minneapolis and the aggressive Operation Republican Retribution (literally, wtf!), Kerry Washington just dropped a TikTok reminding us that we are not powerless. She literally modeled the call on camera—and now it’s our turn.
Here is how you handle your business with our “contractors” in D.C.
How to Call Your Reps (The MetaCocoMom Guide)
1. The Directory
You have three people to call. Do not skip any of them.
- 1 Representative: Find them at House.gov.
- 2 Senators: Find them at Senate.gov.
- Tip: If you can’t get through to the D.C. office, call their local district office in Albany or Oakland. They are often less busy and just as impactful.
2. The Logistics
- Time: 9 AM – 5 PM EST for humans; after 5 PM for voicemails.
- The Vibe: Sharp, informed, and “I-vote-every-election” energy.
- The Record: If you talk to a staffer, ask for their name. It lets them know you’re taking this seriously.
The “Defund ICE” Script
The Opening:
“Hi, my name is [Your Name] and I’m a constituent from [City/Zip Code]. I am calling to demand that [Senator/Representative Name] vote NO on any budget or appropriations bill that includes funding for ICE.“
The “Context” (The Placekeeping Hook):
“As a Black mother and a member of the ELCA community, I am committed to Placekeeping—the radical preservation of the safety and spirit of my neighborhood. ICE is currently the antithesis of that. Their presence in our communities isn’t ‘safety’; it’s state-sponsored terror that targets our children and our neighbors.”
The Receipts (The “Kerry Washington” Precision):
“I am specifically outraged by the reports of ICE offering $50,000 signing bonuses [Note: adjust to $42k if preferred] to poach law enforcement officers for these raids. While our schools are underfunded and our families are struggling with the ‘Year of the Shift,’ it is morally bankrupt to use taxpayer dollars to bankroll bonuses for agents who terrorize our streets. This is an inadequate, monolithic response to ‘safety’ that ignores the resiliency of our community.”
The Demand:
“I want [Senator/Representative Name] to commit to defunding ICE and redirecting those billions into community-based healing and infrastructure. Will the [Senator/Representative] be voting against ICE funding in this session?”
The Closer:
“Thank you. I am a regular voter, and I will be watching the budget votes closely. Please log my call as a firm ‘No’ on ICE funding. Have a good day.”
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