A Matter of Survival

A Matter of Survival: Organizing to Meet Unmet Needs and Build Power in Times of Crisis

by Shailly Gupta Barnes and Jarvis Benson

A Matter of Survival: Organizing to Meet Unmet Needs and Build Power in Times of Crisis is a bold and urgent report that unearths the extraordinary networks of care that have sustained communities through the pandemic and beyond. Drawing on insights from more than 40 leaders and 35 grassroots organizations, the report offers a framework for “projects of survival,” as well as recommendations for activism, organizing, social justice ministry and philanthropy today.

Both a roadmap and a rallying cry, the report reveals how survival organizing can transform into a powerful movement for systemic change. Indeed, as political extremism threatens democracy and economic inequality deepens, amid climate breakdown and escalating violence, this report challenges us to see beyond mere survival—to reclaim power, mobilize communities, and demand a just future for all.

This isn’t just a reflection on the past—it’s a call to action for the battles ahead.

Read full report at Kairos Center for Religion, Rights & Social Justice