Southern Movement Infrastructure Exchange
Southern Movement Infrastructure Exchange (SMIE) was conceptualized of by southern-based, LGBTQ organizers and movement organizations in 2018. Initially convened to assess the role of fiscal sponsorship in the region and attempt to respond to the needs of grassroots organizations seeking access to more resources for their important work. As SMIE met with more organizers, organizations, fiscal sponsors, and funders, it became clear that the question was larger than fiscal sponsorship. The region was grappling with the question of infrastructure: what is the architecture we need to invest in in order to build strong, powerful, collaborative, and successful social movements capable of changing the oppressive conditions facing us and our loved ones? We knew that the region was not lacking the kind of connective tissue strong movements needed and yet, this connective tissue could benefit from more flanking and fortification; and in particular, we knew that the flow of resources needed to be organized in a way that preserved what is beautiful and true about our people, our region, and our work. We move towards each other in crisis, we belong to each other, and we deserve to claim the South as our home.
Over the past four years, an evolving crew of us have managed to stay connected to each other, through change, crises, and transitions – to say that there has to be at least one space for every organizer, funder, resource mobilizer, and movement builder to be honest about what is needed to build the movements our people deserve. We organize ourselves under the SMIE banner and have the following affiliations: Southern Vision Alliance, Campaign for Southern Equality, Out in the South Initiative, and Wealth Reclamation Academy of Practitioners.
In 2019, we held our first gathering at the Highlander Research and Education Center, where over 20 organizers gathered from their various sectors, roles, and positions to grapple with the question of resources and money: where does it come from? Where does it go? And how do we not let it mess us up (either from having not enough or too much)?
Since this gathering, a lot has happened (what an understatement!). Uncertainty and exhaustion are just two of many words we could use to characterize this moment we are in; from pandemic to popular uprisings, capitalism-induced climate disasters to ever widening networks of mutual and care, attacks on trans people and women to labor victories – our people – who are Black, brown, indigenous, queer, migrant, trans, women, disabled, and working class – have been on the frontlines, racing from crises or crises while trying to hold steady enough a handful of platforms where our people have a fighting change, the opportunity to lead, to fail, to learn from mistakes, and to vy for power.
We invite any organizers, movement leaders, resource organizers, and funders to reach out to learn more about SMIE! Contact Loan Tran: connect@loantranconsulting[dot]com.
