Two years ago, I led a group of young people through a community grounding and radical imagination exercise. I asked participants to close their eyes, suspend the limitations imposed on us by capitalism and heteropatriarchy, and create their vision for our collective future.

You wake up with the sun in a clean bed made just how you like it, your room is the perfect temperature. Your senses come to and you smell breakfast coming from the kitchen. What’s cooking? Your dearest loved ones join you at the table, and you start the day sharing a meal, smiling and talking about life and its joys. Heading out, you put on your favorite walking shoes and begin your day. You feel the sun on your skin, unaware of the smile making home on your face as you wave to the elders sitting on their porch. 

One of them waves you over, and you look down at their hand reaching out to offer you freshly picked produce— it’s your favorite. You reach into your pocket and hand them an offering of your own, a small piece of gratitude that you spent all week working on. After exchanging goodbyes, you think of your family, chosen and blood, and your best memories. You think of people who have crossed over to join your ancestors, but their presence is as strong as it ever was. Memories together populate your mind as you continue your walk. Who are you thinking of? What memories together do you draw on for strength? Already halfway to your destination, you decide to stop in your favorite store. Which store is it?

Passing the library, the market, your neighborhood doctor, places of worship, and art centers, you finally reach your destination. Where were you going? Where do you spend your days? What fulfills you?

I often return to this exercise when I feel demoralized by the conditions we are forced to live in under racial capitalism. My vision for the future is one where everyone is empowered to exist as their fullest selves because their needs are completely taken care of. I envision a life of boundless joy, surrounded by loved ones, nourishing myself only with what the Earth has to offer me, pursuing art and education without constraints. This is a future free from poverty, gender discrimination, white supremacy, militarism, imperialism, unnecessary sickness, and isolation. This is a future full of queer liberation, community, health + nutrition, safety, joyful expression, passion projects, elders, children, and peace.

I made the decision at a very early age to follow in the footsteps of my ancestors and commit my life to working toward this vision for the future.