Jamila's Writing Sabbatical and Health Journey

Meet Jamila: Hi, I’m Jamila Bradley. For nearly a decade, I’ve dedicated my life as a speaker, educator, activist, and policy consultant for young people experiencing homelessness. As a Black queer chronically ill abolitionist, my work has increasingly focused on belonging and connection. In navigating my own lived experiences of homelessness, family estrangement, and personal reflections, I’ve become a thought leader, sharing insights on community care and kinship on Substack and TikTok to a rapidly expanding audience seeking an antidote to abandonment, estrangement and relational scarcity.

More recently, life has thrown me a curveball. Several, in fact. After 2 years of major reproductive surgeries, I experienced several incidents where I lost sight and sensation/function in my feet, hands, and legs, I relocated to Germany to begin my journey toward what is likely an MS or NMO diagnosis. This reckoning has brought immense challenges, forcing me to step away from my career and reimagine my future. Yet, in this period of upheaval and uncertainty, a stillness has emerged, and from that stillness, I’ve felt a profound calling to write the book that has been simmering within me for years. It has inspired me to take the first steps, even if I can't see the staircase. To survive, to seize the stillness and slowness that this moment demands and use it.

Discover the Campaign: My book, "In Kinship" delves into the deep and vital themes of belonging, abandonment, estrangement, and the work of staying near to ourselves and others. I have struggled with constancy, and "The Art of Sticking Around" my whole life. As a reformed enigma, i knew this vision was mine to steward when the idea landed in my head. This book will include reflections on kinship practices, how to's on heal estrangement and abandonment, interviews with thought leaders and members of my community, and rituals for connection, practical frameworks that have helped me in my own life, and exercises to facilitate belonging, self-compassion, and connection. This will also include a series of podcasts, from each interview i conduct that will be available throughout the course of this writing journey. Click here for a look at the working outline.

The urgency of my health, in conjunction with the global events of the last five years, have crystallized these themes and their importance, transforming this book from a dream into a necessity. Your support will allow me to take a 26-week sabbatical dedicated entirely to writing this manuscript, ensuring I can fully immerse myself in this important work without the distraction of financial stress or the split capacity of my usual consulting work.

Why Does This Book Matter?

This book is more than just my story—it’s a toolkit for anyone seeking to forge stronger, more fulfilling relationships, or who feels lost and fearful in the face of disconnection. "In Kinship: The Art of Sticking Around" offers insights and practical tools for healing estrangement and fostering genuine connection, and invaluable tool for mending the fractured feelings that come from living in an increasingly fractured world.

Why Am I the One To Write It?

My background as an activist and speaker on connection and belonging, combined with my personal journey, uniquely qualifies me to write this book. My experiences have given me profound insights into the importance of kinship and the need for this work. This work will call in community members and experts to share their insights, ultimately creating a book that reflects the nuance and diversity of thought needed to address such a vital topic.

What If We Don’t Reach the Goal?

Should we fall short of the goal, I will use the funds to cover essential living expenses and ensure the completion of the writing workshop, prioritizing the most critical aspects of the project. I know this book needs to come out, and I will relentlessly work to bring it to life.

How Much I Need and Why:

I am seeking $10,000 to cover:

How You Can Make a Difference

Spread the Word: Even if you can’t contribute financially, your support is invaluable. Please share my campaign with your friends, family, and networks.

Join My Patreon Community: For those interested in ongoing support, I'll be launching a Patreon community in September. There, you’ll have access to Live writings sessions, behind-the-scenes updates on the book, and more. Your monthly support on Patreon will sustain my writing journey and ensure the continuation of this book, through the editing and publishing stages.

Thank you for believing in the power of connection and belonging. Thank you for believing in me. Your support means the world to me.

In kinship,

Jamila