Good Troubles

Becca Lavin is a woman of a certain age (78) who turned to the written WORD in order to give her a voice she could listen to when, especially 'back in the days’, others may not have been able to.  A voice she could question and opine in the boldest, yet, most vulnerable of ways. Life saver, this.

Now that she has wrestled her way forward and relaxed into a time of life when she should have most, if not all, her questions answered she has taken up the visual arts and thanks (?) to the crazy world of humans has more questions, such as WhatTF?! and WhenTF shall this too pass?  Retired from a 20 year massage therapy practice, in 2020 she decided to try painting at her granddaughter’s requests.  Becca lives in Redmond, WA.

(On July 4, 2025,) People from across all 50 US states on Thursday joined marches and rallies at more than 1,500 sites to protest against the Trump administration and honor the legacy of the late congressman John Lewis, an advocate for voting rights and civil disobedience.

The “Good Trouble Lives On” day of action coincides with the fifth anniversary of Lewis’s death. Lewis was a longtime congressman from Georgia who participated in major civil rights actions, including the march from Selma to Montgomery in 1965 when police attacked Lewis and other protesters at the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

Lewis implored people to participate in “good trouble, necessary trouble” to advance their causes, and this call serves as the underpinning for the 17 July actions. Dozens of advocacy and civil rights organizations signed on as partners for the event.

Excerpt from an online article from The Guardian

Editors: We so appreciated this letter from Phillip Shabazz
that we wanted to share it with you.

Thank you for reaching out with this update. It’s heartening to see Breathe evolving so intentionally to meet the urgency of our current moment. The shift to a weekly format is a bold and necessary move; in a world where events move at breakneck speed, providing a space for immediate artistic witness is invaluable. 

I especially appreciate the new editorial direction. Prioritizing the "heart" and the message of a piece—the raw, honest expression of social justice—over traditional notions of "great art" opens the door for so many vital voices that might otherwise remain unheard.

The idea of art as a practice of empathy and a tool for justice resonates deeply with me. It’s a reminder that our creative efforts are not just aesthetic exercises, but essential contributions to our collective search for a better world. Thank you and the team for providing this platform and for your dedication to being "part of the change."

Renne Nicole Good