With Freedom, Comes Responsibility

https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/career-development-important-how-to-create-plan

As we celebrate the Fourth of July, we’re reminded that freedom is more than a historic declaration, it’s a dailpractice. True freedom invites us to act with purpose, to pursue justice, and to co-create systems that serve all people and the planet.
Freedom in Action means showing up for our communities, making choices rooted in care, and designing a future where everyone belongs.

​Liberation with a Purpose calls us to align our freedoms with responsibility working not just for independence, but for interdependence.
The Works of Freedom are found in the everyday: in movements for equity, in regenerative design, in spaces where culture, land, and imagination meet.


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​This July, may we recommit to the ongoing work of liberation and to building the world we long for, one action at a time. At Tikun, we see 'Freedom in Action' as collective agency, the power to imagine and shape just, equitable systems. It looks like food sovereignty, creative expression, accessible design, and the liberation of land and people. It’s found in the daily, imperfect, and courageous work of those building communities rooted in dignity, care, and interconnection.

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https://www.newsweek.com/free-america-protests-nationwide-july-4-2092433

Liberation with a Purpose means choosing not only to break free from unjust systems, but to build something better in their place. It invites us to move beyond reaction and into transformation all while honoring those who came before us and being accountable to those who come next. Liberation is not just a past event or a distant hope. It’s a practice. A direction. A commitment.

​The Works of Freedom are often quiet: a garden planted on formerly vacant land, a gathering space designed for joy and belonging, a policy reshaped by community voices. They are also bold: movements for reparations, the fight for climate justice, the reclaiming of culture and story. This 4th of July, may we reflect not only on the freedoms we enjoy, but on the ones still out of reach. And may we dedicate ourselves to the ongoing, necessary, and collective labor of liberation with purpose, creativity, and resolve.

Allan Tannenbaum/The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images/Getty Images

On July 18, people across South Africa and around the world observe Nelson Mandela International Day as a call to remember, reflect, and take action. Declared by the United Nations in 2009, the day honors Mandela’s life and his legacy by inviting individuals to dedicate 67 minutes of service, one minute for every year he spent fighting for human rights and justice.

At Tikun, we understand Mandela Day to be more than symbolic but as an active, ongoing invitation on how to live out our values daily. His vision of freedom was never individualistic. It was rooted in relationship, accountability, and collective healing. That’s why the quote above remains so powerful because it shifts freedom from a destination into a shared responsibility. This idea connects to the concept of Ubuntu, a Nguni Bantu term meaning "humanity." Ubuntu emphasizes that a person is only a person through other people, highlighting the interdependence of human beings and the importance of community.
Mandela Day challenges us to ask: What does it mean to live in a way that enhances the freedom of others? In our work, it means designing with care, centering voices that have been excluded, and restoring systems that have long been broken. It means offering our time, resources, and skills in ways that create meaningful change. 

https://www.un.org/en/events/mandeladay/events_2022.shtml

Though rooted in South Africa’s history, Mandela Day is a global call to responsible freedom. Whether you’re in Johannesburg or New York, Cape Town or the Twin Cities, you can respond. Volunteer. Repair. Mentor. Listen. Contribute. Reflect. Every act matters. 
And perhaps most importantly, Mandela Day reminds us that justice is not a one-time act of generosity. It is a rhythm of living. A way of showing up. A practice of choosing service and solidarity, not just on July 18, but throughout the year.