Movement Memos The Science of Unlearning And Why Organizers Need It
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Mar 5, 2026 
Lewis Raven-Wallace, journalist, author, and abolition activist, outlines radical unlearning as uprooting habits and identities rather than mere persuasion. He discusses neuroplasticity, trauma, somatic practice, and how relationships, rupture, and shared struggle create openings for transformation. Practical community practices, play, and invitations into action are highlighted as paths toward collective change.
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Love And Relationship Catalyze Change
- Love and relationship are central catalysts for deep change because they create physiological conditions for flexibility.
- Lewis cites neuroscience showing embodied connection increases mental flexibility required to rewire beliefs and behaviors.
Trauma Science Explains Political Defensiveness
- Trauma research and PTSD offer models for understanding political defensiveness as embodied nervous-system reactions.
- Lewis maps trauma therapies and somatic interventions onto political activation and shutdown dynamics.
Somatic Processing After Police Assault
- After a police assault at a 2023 D.C. protest, a somatic processing session helped Lewis and his group complete bodily reactions and re-form trust.
- The group embodied alternative responses, bonded, and returned to action with renewed capacity.
