What’s Dandelions?

Dandelions is an email newsletter rooting for empathetic, brave, social justice-hearted families. Joanna Eng and Julia Smith send it out on the first and third Sunday of every month.

 

Update: As of Fall 2019, We’re also a “giving circle.” Learn more about our Family Justice Giving Fund.

 

Why?

We’re both parents of toddlers and we’re writing Dandelions for ourselves, for our friends, for our kids, and for our elders. We’re writing for aunties and uncles and teachers and caregivers, the families we are born into and the ones we choose. We’re writing for people who are busy—maybe you’re reading on your bus commute, or in the bathroom during naptime, because it’s your only moment alone today—but who don’t want their busy-ness to stop them from tackling tough conversations and actions with the young people in their lives.

 

Each issue focuses on a big, challenging theme (so far we’ve talked about the climate crisis, Pride, family separation and prisons, and more) but we always throw in a few fun surprises that delighted or motivated us.

 

Why “Dandelions”?

We explained this on Instagram!

 

Where else can I find you?

On Instagram at @dandelionsnewsletter. And on Patreon. But we’re not on other social media. Don’t get us wrong: We really, really appreciate when you share our work wherever you like!

 

But we’re focusing most of our energy on just writing the best emails we possibly can. Subscribe here.

 

How do you fund this work?

Thanks for asking! We pour MANY hours into Dandelions, so in October 2019 we launched Patreon page where readers can help us offset costs — and in doing so, join our Family Justice Giving Fund!

 

You can become a patron and support us with a monthly pledge of any dollar amount. Even a dollar a month helps us sustain the work, and patrons vote quarterly on which organization or grassroots group gets a pooled donation.

 

Can I submit a suggestion, tip, book title, or essay?

We’d love to hear from you. Email us anytime at hello@dandelionsnewsletter.com.