Hej, It's Laura Li!
Some updates that I'd love to share
Doing the things
Hi friend, it’s been a minute! I’m starting a little newsletter to update you about my life since I made some big moves during my Saturn Return. You’re getting this email because we’ve crossed paths and I’m a big fan of you, your work and what you stand for! I hope this semi-regular musing from me brings you some joy. ✨
Here’s to 5 years with 18 Million Rising
Last fall, I left my role as Organizing Director to move to Sweden and get my Master’s in Political Communication at the University of Gothenburg. For the past five years I’ve organized for 18 Million Rising to bridge a gap between the folks scattered across the Internet looking for a political home and our Asian American movement for liberation.
Here are a few things I’m proud of:
Collaborating with my work wife Bianca Nozaki Nasser to write movement leaders love letters
Raising $25,000+ for community orgs, bail funds, legal funds, and mutual aid through grassroots fundraisers
Doing political education with Asian American Feminist Collective and leading 1000+ organizers and students through “Building an Asian American Feminist Movement” at the Allied Media Conference
Working with dedicated community partners from Philly to Oakland and NYC to Charlotte is what replenished my commitment to building a more just and compassionate world. I have so much gratitude for these leaders, their tireless dedication to our collective wellbeing, and their generosity in friendship. Read more here!
Life in Sweden
Lilo, my doggo, and I are adjusting to life in Sweden where the education is free and the healthcare universal (for now). For school I’m writing about class dealignment in Sweden and its rightward ideological shift. Sweden has a long history of resettling refugees and accepting immigrants, but in 2015 they took in 160,000+ (Brown) immigrants and refugees and this is when the xenophobia 🚀. Today, 25% of Sweden’s total population (10.5 million) are immigrants.
During the September Elections, (unfortunately and as per usual) the institutional left botched their comms and tried to woo back working and middle class white Swedes when they should have focused on winning over people of color. The Conservative coalition won with a slim margin because they’re willing to a) throw POCs under the bus and b) for the first time ever (!) work with the Swedish Democrats, a Neo-Nazi party and now 2nd biggest party in Parliament. Scarily, they won almost 1.34 million of the total votes.
One of my professors, who works for the Swedish National Election Studies, said that the overlapping traits for people who voted for the Swedish Democrats are their institutional mistrust and social isolation. Kind of sounds like the US right? So, do I joke that I come from the future and the darkest timeline? Yes. But, do I know that building relationships and doing community organizing works? Also yes!
Kardemummabulle Rankings
Here is my extremely short rankings of cute cafes serving Swedish pastries in Majorna, a neighborhood in Gothenburg.
Cum Pane is an organic bakery with a tiny seating area inside, but 🔥 bread and pastries. Their kardemummabulle? 7/10, but they have this blueberry pastry thing called blåbärsgrottor that is 10/10 so buttery, so flaky.
Kampanilen is that very cute, very full neighborhood cafe that everyone goes to on the weekends. Either you don’t sit down, or you put on a brave face (for a Swede because they take social anxiety to 100) and ask a stranger if you can share the table. Their wienersemla (semla - an airy cardamum bun filled with almond paste and whipped cream - is traditionally eaten on Fat Tuesday) is apparently the BEST in the city and their kardemummabulle was 9/10 - caramelized on the top, moist inside.
Things I’m loving right now
Working in a collective with rad Asian Americans who are very good✨ at what they do - strategy, comms, coaching you name it! (more on this later)
Not sure what your role is in the movement? You gotta read this by Deepa Iyer.
Healing CPTSD? And my 30 year old skin barrier? Yes please!
Me leaving 5 star reviews for POC-owned restaurants in Sweden to compensate for the Swedish palate
As a public school kid, Abbott Elementary and f*ck the cops
TikToks for my Besties
I learn a LOT from the clock app. This isn’t like some of our boomer parents who believe everything they read on Facebook or WeChat - besides sending them is one of my love languages.
Teaching the girlies how Ronald Reagan is the woooooooorst
We love full fridges especially in Chinatown. Also, did you know receiving🧧aka red envelopes WILL make you cry?
Thanks for joining me! See ya soon!
WOOO GO TEAM LAURA! WE LOVE U