Group projects will never be simple. The convergence of bright minds will without a doubt clash and merge in new and different ways. Our project was never perfect, but I would not trade perfection for the personal growth and group development.
Looking back I believe that my first action project idea lacked the meaning and depth that I ended up longing for. A film festival type event was flashy and entertaining but it allowed for minimal participation from an audience that may or may not walk out feeling a sense of duty and agency themselves. When we first gathered our action group, it was evident that the focus was shifting, but I think we failed to land on an idea that deeply spoke to us. We moved from a film festival to a more general event, with speakers from departments around the University, but without a clear focus were struggling to root our event concept in meaning. Once the realization dawned that we were individually thinking in too many directions we decided a common theme must be decided upon to pull our event together. After a group contemplative practice that provided some necessary spaciousness in our minds, as well as collective spirit, we settled on climate refugees as an overarching theme. This idea was sparked from the assigned video that described the Syrian refugee crisis as a climate crisis. I had never heard it explained this way before, as I had no idea that it was instigated following a massive drought in the region. It felt right to me that we would put a specific focus on the people who are currently being most affected by the Anthropocene, not those who will be affected, not just the landscape and species that would be harmed, but the humans that are in danger every moment.
Moving forward we decided that an event would not suit our needs best and changed our focus to a website. This new development reinvigorated our motivation, we created an intricate website describing the modern era of refugees and how society must adapt to accommodate them. I am truly grateful for my fellow group members who were able to change focuses many times and still produce a realized well thought out final project.
Working in a group will always complicate the focus, but lends to a level of positive growth and collective spirit that is rewarding in itself.