How Do We Define Privilege?

We have set no specific criteria or yardstick for what “privileged” should mean, because it is so very subjective.  To some, privilege is having a large voice in society, or having a good amount of time to devote to causes they care about.  Still others feel privileged to carry diverse spiritual and cultural perspectives, or to be able to take risks in their own lives. In purely monetary terms, many people in industrial nations who think of themselves as struggling are actually in the upper few percentile in terms of financial wealth in the world .  In the United States, for example, people in the upper 5% of the population have or stand to someday inherit more than $897,000 in assets, or earn at least $127,000 per year, per household.

But while interesting, these numbers are not our guideposts.  Rather than reduce our sense of privilege to these kinds of measurements, we focus on who potential participants are, how engaged they are with questions of privilege and social change, and how useful this event can be to their lives and ultimately to the world we share. 

Our desired constituents are people who feel that the issues of privilege, access, responsibility and opportunity are relevant, present, or pressing in their lives.  We’re looking for people who are genuinely committed to making a difference with their lives, who feel that they have been given some (to them) meaningful resources (whether through earning, luck, skills to share, cultural knowledge, public attention, professional position, or inheritance), and who are willing to share honestly about issues that don’t get enough conscious loving attention.  We recognize that people with certain privileges often feel anything but privileged, and that affluence, public attention, and other dominant forms of privilege carry unique challenges as well as opportunities. We have also seen how many subtle privileges exist in our lives, and that when viewed in a certain light, even our struggles seem to be a privilege. What we have learned from these Jams is that real wealth is about far more than money or monetary access.

Leveraging Privilege for Social Change Jam participants include a mixture of kinds and self-definitions of privilege.  We recognize the intense interplay of race and class issues in our world and are striving to create a space where all participants can explore for themselves and with allies opportunities for collaboration and liberation across difference.

This Jam is a place for learning, growing, and deepening our capacity to use all that we have, and all that we are, on behalf of all that we love.  If the themes authentically interest you, and you’re in the age range, then please don’t let “do I fit?” loom too large in your mind, because ultimately the selection committee is responsible for the screening process and we welcome a diversity of sincere applicants.  It is our desire to bring together a diverse group of people who want to make a difference and who are in positions to use what they get out of the Jam to make a significant impact in the world. 

Thank you for your interest, and please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or desire any clarifications.