By Adriana Gonzalez Delgado

I’ve participated in many gatherings and conferences, but what we experienced at Renew Our Power was different. It was a space to grow, to share, to understand that we are in this fight together, all of us. That without one, we won’t make it. That there is no collective victory without the participation of all voices.

When we talk about transitions, we’re not talking about the distant future. We’re talking about the present, about what’s happening now. And that was one of the clearest messages from the gathering: transitions are already underway, in our communities, even though governments often fail to recognize it.

The limits imposed by territories, politics, or international negotiations that remain mired in the same old thing dissolve when you’re surrounded by people who are building real solutions in their contexts. There, hope is felt in your body. The air becomes lighter, and even if the answers aren’t yet perfect, they feel close, possible, alive.

Adriana Gonzalez Delgado

We live between screens. But these days in Brazil reminded us of something essential: human connection is irreplaceable. Renew Our Power felt like a dream we didn’t want to wake up from. The strength of the group, the joy, the commitment, everything was present.

And of course, one wonders: what comes next? I left the meeting directly to another workspace. Life went on. But something more important also continued: we continue creating, we continue listening, we continue building. Because we know that governments won’t create the communities we need. We do that ourselves.

The path won’t be straight. We will make mistakes. But if we listen to each other honestly, if we learn from each other, we will find a way forward. Because one of the clearest truths we discussed at Renew Our Power was that the transition cannot wait.

There are already powerful examples in our communities: stories of resilience, of construction, of creativity. They are not perfect. But they are real. And that is the key: in the connections, in the collectivity, in the ability to imagine and build another world, together.

Adriana Gonzalez Delgado
Community Organizer – Sierra Club
Puerto Rico

 

Adriana and other participants at the gathering