Our exclusive Slack channel is, as one member puts it, a “small miracle.”
How else can one say it? The world is fucking bleak.
Looking at social media, reading media headlines, just being in the world, is to swim daily in a stinking cesspool of bigotry and closed-mindedness and unimaginable hate.
It’s so easy to feel hopeless, helpless, hapless. To not know where to turn for the kind of support and insight that’s needed to just.keep.fighting., even when your foes are bullies of immense power and boundless cruelty.
For me, at least, The Establishment community has been a true saving grace.
If you follow our social media or check out our site, you’ve probably heard a lot about this mysterious community. But you might not know what exactly it is. In the most basic of terms, the Establishment community is a Slack channel where our members convene. Yet over the last few months, it’s become so much more than that.
Nearly 500 people are currently part of the community, and in channels ranging from #news to #social to #resistance-resources, more than 15,000 messages have been posted. Together, we’ve nerded out on Dr. Who and Breaking Bad and the Marvel Cinematic Universe; discussed white fragility, asexuality, toxic sports culture, and reproductive rights; posted and discussed the latest Trump administration news; shared up-to-the-minute updates on the midterms and detailed info on local resistance marches; chatted in-depth about Establishment content; and reveled in GIFs of turtles and baby bears.
In the most basic of terms, the Establishment community is a Slack channel where our members convene. Yet over the last few months, it's become so much more than that. Click To TweetI recently had a baby, and the #parenting channel in particular has been the place I turn to not only to talk about the logistics of raising a human, but to go deep on important issues like fighting gender norms, managing anxiety and depression, and combating body shame.
I feel safe doing so because, and this is just the truth, Establishment members are the fucking all-time best: compassionate, open-minded, thoughtful, and good to the core.
It’s a beautiful thing. And I promise I’m not the only one to think so! Here’s what one of our amazing members, user @Inkwell, has to say:
“No matter the age of history in which one finds oneself, finding those people who are truly invested in the goings-on of the day is no mean feat. However, the Establishment community is that and so much more besides. We’re home to highly engaged people who have their fingers on the pulse of current events, and being able to discuss them in-depth with nuance and insight is a small miracle. What’s more, they take after the Establishment magazine’s tone and offer warmth and wisdom to any who ask. To me, they have been a source of strength, entertainment, comfort, and encouragement when all of those things seem to be at a premium. In short, the Establishment community is everything that you would want from not just an internet community but a community altogether. I can’t say enough kind things about it.”
Seconds equally-amazing member Anna Tarkov:
“The Establishment community is like a breath of fresh air. With most any online community, you’re never sure whether the people there will be on the same page with you on important things like social justice, racism, etc. And it’s always a rude awakening when you find out that someone in, say, your photography club is a raging bigot. But that’s something you don’t have to worry about here. And it turns out, maybe unsurprisingly, that people who are devoted to justice and activism are amazing, interesting, intelligent, kind, caring people. I think we could all use more friends like that.”
Want in? All you have to do is sign up right here, for 5 bucks a month (or more if you’d like!), to become a member. You’ll get an invite to our exclusive Slack channel plus gain access to awesome gated content plus be supporting our incredible, diverse writers.
The best place to go when the going gets tough is a safe space filled with people who care, who are right there with you on working to make things better. We’d love to have you be a part of what we’re building.
