Event Goals
Any event registered with By Our Fire should try its best to offer three things:
A Safe Space
Be somewhere that people feeling anxious or uncertain can come together to offer and find comfort. Cultivate a space of welcome and warmth where people with like hearts and minds can gather to find community, safety and rest.
2. Uplifting Content
Enjoy a musical performance, create joyful sounds together, dance under the moonlight, or make a community mural. Do whatever makes your spirit sing and make it amazing!
3. Helpful Resources
Invite or feature local organizations that support members of your community being targeted by recent rhetoric: transgender folks, immigrants, public educators, and women seeking reproductive healthcare.
Event Planning
Steps for event success
Evening events may be more accessible for those who have to work during the day, but daytime events are encouraged too. We are reclaiming the whole day.
If you need a space, consider places of worship, community centers, college campuses, homes, and virtual locations like Zoom meetings.
Once you have decided on an event, register it with us!
1. Set a Time + Place
Events do not need to be expensive. Find safe and creative ways to raise funds if you want to stretch the boundaries of your budget.
2. Set a Budget
Share information about your event directly with trusted communities, institutions, and individuals. Consider inviting:
Organizations that represent and support vulnerable populations (LGBTQ+, BIPOC, immigrants and their families, women seeking reproductive health care)
Clergy, therapists, social-workers and other gifted listeners
Artists – musicians, poets, visual artists and other creators
Anyone of like mind and spirit hoping to gather in love
3. Invite People
Take care when sharing printed information to maintain the safety of hosts and participants.
Take photos and video of your event and post to social with #ByOurFire to show how we are working together to keep each other warm, safe, and supported.
Together, we can offer a vision of solidarity for the coming years where kindred spirits can turn to each other for compassion, community, and hope.
4. Get Lit
Event Ideas
Every gathering will be unique. If you aren’t sure where to start, here are some elements you can consider. Make it your own and take part in this revolutionary act of Love. Join us – help reclaim the 6th and realize our power to move forward together!
At Home Events
Gather Your Group
Invite trusted friends, family, and neighbors – gather for a hosted dinner, potluck, or deliver/takeout.
Me, Myself, and I
You can be by yourself without being alone. We are in this together! Reclaim the day in spirit and share your efforts with the collective. We love your light.
Movie Night
Chose an inspiring film to watch together. Discuss how you’re compelled to act moving forward to change the story of a history on repeat.
Music!
Blast a dope playlist filled with bangers about hope and taking action. Find one, make one, or try ours>>.
Sip n’ Paint
Head to your local craft store for a few canvases and acrylics. Make art, take pictures, and post. Water, wine, whatever – drink and be merry.
Not Enemies
Join trusted friends in a commitment to continuing to seek this harmony together with cooperative listening and learning for the years to come. Seek out a clinician/group therapist to facilitate your dialogue.
Search Party
Whip out your phones and laptops to find aligned organizations that serve vulnerable populations and communities. Send financial donations and/or plan time to volunteer! Share on social media to spread the word and help educate your networks.
Make Food Baskets
The cost of food and groceries is a major concern for many Americans. Bring quality non-perishable foods to bundle for delivery to a school, pantry or shelter. Look up their most-needed items ahead of time to optimize your impact.
Faith Groups
Open House Potluck
Members of your group can bring food for all to share. Nothing says “you are welcome here” like breaking bread together!
Rest and Rejuvenation
Provide a quiet, peaceful area where people can slow down and process. Have journals and pens available.
Finding Space
Faith groups with aligning values may share their building to save on cost. Indoors venues are idea for protection against weather and general safety.
Collaborate
Partner with like-minded groups to build a strong presence and bigger circle of Love and community. This can be a money-saver, too!
Invite Local Musicians
Bring uplifting music to your event! Many like-minded artists would love to contribute, and you can take up a Love Offering to collect donations and cover their expenses.
Atmosphere of Art
Create an atmosphere of art using the art of children, youth adults, and professionals to connect across generations! Choose a shared theme for the artwork and offer artists an opportunity to write about what their art means to be displayed with their art.
Open Mic
Invite folks to share music, poetry, stories, and more for a safe, brave space of community and solidarity.
Dance
Get a Bluetooth speaker, DJ or a band. Celebrate our power to lead with Love and move with the music!
Invite Reps to Speak
Representatives from local organizations can explain different ways they can support people through their mission. They can also talk about ways kindred spirits can support their work to meet the needs of vulnerable populations.
Late Hanukkah
The shamash is the candle used to light the other candles of the Hanukkah menorah. In Hebrew, shamash (pronounced shah-MASHSH) literally means “helper.” Consider gathering for a late Hanukkah celebration dedicated to sharing light in the new year!
Make Art Together
Using paper or canvas, markers or paint, clay or aluminum foil – whatever you have! Folks can make individual art and can be put on collective display or collaborate on a simple piece to remind us of the beauty we can create together.
Invite Committed Action
Use this time of fellowship and networking to plan how you can continue to work together to support one another, advocate for the marginalized, and protect people who are vulnerable.
Invite Faith Ensembles
Lots of choirs, praise teams, and music makers would jump at the chance to take part in uplifting their community.
Storytellers
Proverbs and traditions in this country and around the world can inspire listeners to embrace the power of community. Personal stories from folks hoping to share can help others grasp the reality of peoples’ needs and experiences.
Virtual Events
Just Be Together
Invite trusted friends to come together and catch up. Remind each other you’re here for one another. Reclaim Your Time!!
Virtual Auction
Come together to raise funds for an organization that serves marginalized groups and vulnerable populations.
Open Mic
Invite folks to share music, poetry, stories, and more for a safe/brave space of community and solidarity.
Make Needs Known
It’s one thing to hear from allies, it’s another to live with realities of inequality. Invite those at risk of discrimination, food scarcity, housing loss, or anything to make their needs and concerns known so that community can cultivate and implement solutions and supports.
Group Meditation/Prayer
Take turns lifting up affirmations for the strength of community, Love, and solidarity to light our path through challenges ahead.
Educate
Identify possible policies to come and their implications. Discuss ways in which you can be of support.
Invite Inspiration
Ask poets, storytellers, and motivational speakers to speak and uplift others.
College Campuses
Create a Mural
Find a safe space on campus to create a shared work of art celebrating solidarity and compassion. Maybe it’s a Love letter to vulnerable students, maybe it’s a declaration of your freedom to fight- whatever you feel!
Just Be, Together
Gather to affirm your shared presence and right to exist.
Think and Dream
Gather and discuss – how do your areas of study connect with your values and your desire to shape the world?.
Music!
Play a dope playlist filled with bangers about hope and taking action, or make music together and let your voices be heard!
Educate
Collect and/or create flyers and brochures for organizations that serve vulnerable populations so people know where to seek and give support.
Open Mic
Invite folks to share music, poetry, stories, and more for a safe/brave space of community and solidarity.