Election Response from our Executive Director

Last week, I had to  listen to family and friends as they shared their stories of being bullied and intimidated immediately following the election results.  I had to listen to the fear that is now part of their bodies. I had to make peace with the almost numb resignation I found in myself.  Yes, the election hurt me to my core.

Last week was not an easy week. The political environment we are in is incomprehensible to me. For over 20 years I have worked to make sure that our communities and country moved closer to a place of equity and justice. And yet, last week I had to force myself to remember to stand.

We are stewards of hope. And not hope of access to a  broken system or that something will happen in the future.  Our hope is a demand, a war cry, that the system must change right now because people are hurting right now.

I know that our work is but a thread in a much larger and complex tapestry of justice.  Remember, we don't stand alone. We are loved, valued, and needed. And we will move forward.

We're going to speak up, stand up, be out, be visible, and not allow abuse. After all, we stand on the shoulders of giants and we will rise together. These are the front lines of the fight that we were born  to fight. And we will win.  

In solidarity,

Maria T Cadenas
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mariacadenas.com