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IFC 2024: Reclaiming Hope and Action

Opening speech by Mar Garcia

Image ©: The Resource Alliance

Key Takeaways

  • Radical Hope: Embracing “radical hope” as more than optimism; it’s the fuel for transformation and overcoming today’s crises.
  • Responsive Action: Progressives must offer empathetic, tangible responses to public fears, countering populist and divisive narratives.
  • Feminist Solidarity: Gender equality represents a transformative and essential movement, calling for universal support to build a just society.

 

At the opening of the International Fundraising Conference, Mar Garcia, Director of the European Center for Digital Action, captured the audience’s attention with a frank acknowledgment of today’s crises. In her words, “We live in a historic moment of precariousness, fear, and perplexity.” In what she describes as a time of “poly-crisis,” where global issues like climate change, economic inequality, and democratic erosion intertwine, Garcia called on leaders and citizens to redefine hope and take responsive action.

Recognizing the complexities of a “Poly-Crisis” world

Garcia began by laying bare the reality of our “poly-crisis” era. She discussed how today’s compounding issues—like climate change, poverty, and war—require urgent, coordinated action. In citing the widening income gap, escalating conflicts, and unprecedented environmental threats, Garcia pointed to how each crisis feeds into others, creating a complex, destabilizing environment. “Our time can be defined as one of poly-crisis and perma-crisis,” she noted, urging the audience to recognize the scale of today’s challenges as a call for proactive, compassionate leadership.

 

“Our time can be defined as one of poly-crisis and perma-crisis,”

 

Challenging the rise of division and populism

Garcia identified the growth of far-right populist movements as a response to people’s fears and disillusionment. These movements, she explained, use simplified narratives to tap into frustrations and shift blame toward marginalized groups. Far-right leaders, Garcia observed, are gaining traction by offering reactionary solutions based on exclusion, nation-first rhetoric, and nostalgia for an idealized past. To counter this, Garcia emphasized that progressives need to engage with empathy, responding to legitimate concerns with genuine solutions rather than dismissing them outright.

She urged her audience to avoid minimizing people’s fears and instead listen and address these anxieties constructively. “If progressives don’t address people’s concerns,” she warned, “the void will be filled by divisive voices.” This requires offering actionable policies that reflect the diverse, interconnected reality of society today.

Embracing a future-oriented vision of radical Hope

For Garcia, hope is more than simple optimism; it’s a purposeful, radical choice to believe in and work toward a better future. She referenced Nelson Mandela, asserting that “hope should be an engine of change,” empowering people to act even when confronted with seemingly insurmountable challenges. Garcia described “radical hope” as an active force that can help humanity face and ultimately transcend the issues it confronts. She encouraged the audience to avoid both reactionary nostalgia and defeatism, instead embracing hope as a guide for creating meaningful change.

In Garcia’s view, hope is essential to overcoming crises, fostering the resilience needed to navigate uncertainty, and inspiring collective action for an inclusive future.

A call for feminist solidarity and a redefinition of progress

In her concluding remarks, Garcia emphasized the feminist movement as a powerful, ongoing revolution that challenges norms and drives social justice. She argued that the fight for gender equality is foundational to a progressive vision of society, one in which cultural models of domination give way to shared empowerment. Citing Flora Tristan, she noted, “The level of civilization in any society is in proportion to the freedom women enjoy.” Garcia encouraged everyone—regardless of gender—to stand as pillars in this struggle, underscoring that the success of one group uplifts the whole of society.

 

“Today’s crises demand that leaders, activists, and individuals alike come together in hope, empathy, and action. Embracing radical hope, fostering responsive and empathetic dialogue, and upholding feminist solidarity are all essential steps to navigate today’s challenges and lay the foundation for an inclusive, sustainable, and equitable future.”

 


Inspiring a path forward: Collective action and engagement

Garcia’s keynote left attendees with a clear call to action. She urged those in attendance to become proactive participants in the reformation of societal values and to address public anxieties empathetically. For Garcia, it’s not enough to talk about change; real transformation requires active involvement. She emphasized the importance of creating pathways for engagement—whether by signing a petition, supporting a cause, or initiating meaningful conversations within communities.

A united front through radical hope, action, and solidarity

Mar Garcia’s keynote set a powerful tone for the conference. Her message was clear: today’s crises demand that leaders, activists, and individuals alike come together in hope, empathy, and action. Embracing radical hope, fostering responsive and empathetic dialogue, and upholding feminist solidarity are all essential steps to navigate today’s challenges and lay the foundation for an inclusive, sustainable, and equitable future.