Fieldnotes on Fortitude: Resilience in Resistance

Summer 2025. America is facing a profound breakdown. The rise of extremist ideologies, the erasure of Black history from educational institutions, rampant cruelty and chaos, and the dismantling of government agencies threaten the fundamental rights and freedoms that once defined the nation. We witness a grim reality, where fear, outrage, and deep dismay are etched into the faces of many, like an epitaph on a headstone. The relentless stream of injustices outlined in the Project 2025 playbook is exacting a painful and incalculable toll, as intended. 

On March 4, 2025, around eighty “50 States 50 Protests 1 Day” demonstrations took place in state capitols, courthouses, and city halls in all fifty states. After these protests, I was confronted with a pivotal question:

What are you going to do? 

I felt an urgent need to respond to the injustices unfolding around us, but participating in marches is not a viable option for me. Thankfully, I had alternative avenues for activism: writing and design. Moreover, I had connections with passionate writers and skilled editors around the country. 

My answer to the pressing question was clear: publish an anthology to help people understand the current state of affairs and provide coping strategies for the overwhelming chaos of today’s events. Drawing on my own life experiences, I appreciated the value of wise counsel and sought to craft this anthology, Fieldnotes of Fortitude: Resilience in Resistance, to assist others. Although the Our Human Family Board of Directors, Editorial Team, and I hadn’t anticipated tackling a second anthology, we found ourselves eager to answer the call once again. 

The aim of Fieldnotes on Fortitude is not to name specific policymakers, as individuals are already aware of who’s pulling the levers. If they struggle to identify them, it often stems from their refusal to confront the truth. Instead, we will explore historical trends and first-person narratives honestly and respectfully, encouraging readers to absorb these accounts in a way that resonates with them. 

The writers featured in this anthology were chosen for various reasons, with the fundamental criteria being their character as expressed through their writing. These writers are honest, treating their subjects and readers with care, and possess depth of knowledge and passion. They aim to connect with readers meaningfully, ensuring that those enduring these challenging times feel seen and valued. 

Those addressing historical themes were selected for their expertise and their ability to convey knowledge effectively and within the context of the time period. Writers sharing personal narratives had to demonstrate storytelling skills, crafting concise accounts that reveal their lived experiences and emotional truths. 

If you’ve followed Our Human Family over the years, you’re familiar a few of the contributing authors listed below. But for Fieldnotes on Fortitude, we brought a few new and exciting writers. No doubt, those new to the editorial team will quickly become favorites. Behold, our sixteen contributing writers and editors:

• Joan Adams, MSW, LCSW-R* is a licensed clinical social worker in Harlem, New York, providing psychotherapy, clinical supervision, training, and consultation on race and racism for organizations and individuals. She co-facilitates an international group for BIPOC therapists who are exploring the use of Systems Centered Therapy in their work. Ms. Adams is also a Warden on the Vestry of the Episcopal Congregation of St. Saviour, the resident congregation at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. 
• Roy Bale “Skip” Dalton, Jr.* was born in Jacksonville, Florida, and received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Florida in 1974 and 1976, respectively. Nominated by President Obama to the United States District Court in January of 2011, he currently presides in the Orlando division of the Middle District of Florida.
• Mark Dorosin* is an Associate Professor of Law and the Director of Legal Clinics and Field Placements at the Florida A&M University College of Law. He has been a civil rights lawyer and litigator for thirty years, working to address the continuing impacts of racial segregation and exclusion in housing, employment discrimination, environmental justice, restrictions on political participation, and racial disparities in education.
• Drew Downs is an Episcopal priest and an MFA student in creative writing at Alma College in Alma, Michigan. He writes creative nonfiction and poetry and was the recipient of the Irish Benevolent Society preaching award from Huron University College. He currently serves a congregation in Indiana committed to ending homelessness, food insecurity, racism, and the death penalty.
• Steve Dragswolf* is a writer from the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation. He currently lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and is interested and invested in Indigenous people, Christianity, and storytelling, often intermixing the three. Read more of his work at BadLodge.com.
• Consuelo G. Flores is a respected artist, educator, and cultural practitioner specializing in Day of the Dead altars. She has curated exhibitions, led academic workshops nationwide, and directed both short and full-length plays. A published poet and active member of a literary collective, she has also produced cultural programming at Grand Performances and curated exhibitions at Avenue 50 Studio.
• J. Gray is an African American woman who desegregated a town as a girl. Her personal experience within the nation and as an exchange student in northern Africa fostered her deep interest in culture, ethnicity, and language. Watching the broadcasts of the Senate Watergate Hearings as a child introduced her to politics, and college majors in political science and Spanish helped cement her passions for justice.
• Michael Greiner, PhD, JD, has managed political campaignsacross the country, worked on Capitol Hill, and served as Deputy Mayor of Warren, Michigan’s third largest city. His firm, specializing in bankruptcy law, has helped thousands of families and businesses restructure their debts. His research has been published in The Harvard Business Review, The Journal of Business Strategy, The Journal of Business Research, and other top journals.
• Sherry Kappel is a poet, essayist, and fiction writer with an MFA from the University of Pittsburgh. She looks for the best in humanity and is driven by empathy in her writing and in life. Her work is on Medium, where she also edits Snapshots, the Haiku Hub, and special projects for Our Human Family. Sherry lives in North Carolina with her husband, daughters, and critters.
• Stephen Matlock (retired) is a part-time author and gardener in the Pacific Northwest, often overwhelmed by both words and weeds. He has been writing about his journey into inclusion and diversity for close to twenty years. In his extra time, he volunteers at the local food bank, has lively conversations in Haitian Creole with his friends on the island, and works in his town to build a liveable community for all. 
• Lecia Michelle is the author of The White Allies Handbook: 4 Weeks to Join the Racial Justice Fight for Black Women. She has led racial justice groups and conducted training on allyship. As a Black woman, Lecia Michelle understands the importance of fighting for and protecting our most marginalized communities
• Sharon Pendana* is the author of Secret Washington, D.C.: An Unusual Guide (Jonglez Publishing, 2025). As the founder of The Trove, she writes about the fascinating journeys of remarkable creatives, highlighting the things they treasure. Among the treasures Sharon holds dear are her freedoms and the right to advocate for positive change. You might find her at a protest near you.
• Clay Rivers is an author, award-winning artist, actor, and accidental activist. He is the president of the charitable organization Our Human Family, Inc., where he also serves as editorial director of its publications. Clay is a lector and lay eucharistic minister at his church in Orlando. He believes that society’s ills can be solved by following Jesus’s command to “love one another.”
• Glenn Rocess is retired Navy, has traveled five continents, and has worn many hats, including as a steam plant supervisor, LAN admin, OSHA inspector, foster parent of medically fragile children, and an adult family home owner. More importantly, he is a dad, a husband of thirty-three years, and fears absolutely nothing except his wife’s guilt trips.
• Maré Silva* is a queer Black Brazilian undergraduate at a historically women’s college, merging her passion for science and civic engagement. From a favela in Brazil to a cancer research lab in the U.S., she writes to remember, to resist, and to build a better world with radical hope and science.
• William F. Spivey resides in Palm Coast, Florida, and has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Fisk University. With the help of many, he transformed from a basketball player to a historian and writer. He is the author of the historical fiction novel Strong Beginnings and the collection of essays Estranged Americans: Fallacies of Freedom, Citizenship, and Racism.
  
  * new members of the OHF editorial family

So, as we embark on this journey through Fieldnotes of Fortitude: Resilience in Resistance, our goal is to provide readers with the tools, insights, and support they need to navigate the current landscape. We aim to acknowledge the harsh realities while inspiring resilience and connection. Throughout this anthology, we hope to create a space for reflection and understanding, encouraging readers to engage with the material in a way that empowers them to act. 

Fieldnotes on Fortitude: Resilience in Resistance has a simple through line, divided into five main sections:

1. Two Democracies Walk into a Bar
2. Authoritarianism in America
3. The Arc of the Moral Universe
4. Repealing the Twentieth Century
5. Resilience in Resistance

With the contributions of insightful writers and the richness of diverse experiences, this compilation stands as a testament to our collective struggle for justice and equality. Each narrative, whether personal or historical, adds to the tapestry of resilience. We invite every reader to reflect on their role within this tapestry and to consider how they can contribute to a future that honors our shared humanity and experiences. 

As we move forward, let’s embrace the power of our voices and the importance of community. Together, we can find ways to resist oppression and injustice, cultivating a brighter future for all. 

The journey captured in Fieldnotes of Fortitude: Resilience in Resistance serves as a call to action, urging everyone to engage thoughtfully with the world around them. This anthology is not just a collection of writings; it is a manifesto of resilience, connection, and hope in the face of adversity.

Love one another.

Clay Rivers
August 30, 2025
Orlando, Florida