Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Peter Rachleff. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Peter, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
My optimism comes from (1) my study of history, and (2) my experiences as a teacher. My study of history — focused on immigrants and workers — has demonstrated to me that working people can make history, have made history, from the achievement of the eight hour day, the establishment of rights to unionize, bargain collectively, and even strike. Many of these workers have been immigrants and the children and grandchildren of immigrants, and they have drawn on their cultures, values, and relationships to bring mutualistic and collaborative values and practices to the challenges they have faced in the US. As a teacher, I have seen students grow, develop their capacity and self-confidence, and become committed to raising up others. I taught 30 years at Macalester College, and it has been especially inspiring to see my former students becoming makers of history themselves, as union and community organizers, as teachers of others, as activists in their communities. My optimism rests on solid ground.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
After 30 years of teaching immigration and labor history at Macalester College, I co-founded (with my partner Beth Cleary) the East Side Freedom Library, a 501(c)3, as a community-centered project with the mission to “inspire solidarity, work for justice, and advocate for equity for all.” (see https://eastsidefreedomlibrary.org) We are in the most diverse and most economically challenged community in St. Paul, Minnesota. Located in a former city neighborhood library, we have gathered more than 35,000 books, and we convene more than 200 events a year in which our neighbors use art and culture (poetry, music, dance, theater, story-telling, weaving, visual art, and more) to share their stories with each other, with the goals of building empathy and solidarity.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
(1) Develop my knowledge base in the study of history.
(2) Develop my mentoring skills, largely by following the models of those who mentored me.
(3) Keep an open mind, listen, engage.
Advice — Identify people whose work inspires you. Reach out to them, establish relationships with them. They may be teachers, elders, community activists. Build relationships with peers who can provide you with feedback about how you are pursuing your life’s journey, offer loving criticism, and offer solidarity and support.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
18 months ago, we stepped down from our leadership of the East Side Freedom Library, and our board selected a new, full-time, paid executive director. Letting go has been a challenge, and I worry about the future of our project, which is now 10 years old. Under new leadership, will it pursue our mission effectively, can it raise funds to remain sustainable, and what roles can I play without holding on too tightly?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://eastsidefreedomlibrary.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/east.side.freedom.library/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EastSideFreedomLibrary
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2FESFLibrary
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS3roxDdorMZztQ9ceOyifw
Image Credits
visual art by Carolyn Sue Olson
