There is an unmistakable energy when women come together. In my experience, a boldness and brilliance fills the space in rich and surprising ways when women are gathered.
Such was the case as more than 1,500 women from across the country attended the recent We Won’t Wait summit in Washington, D.C., to organize and strategize for a better life for their families and communities. But this was no ordinary conference.
This historic summit convened women of color — cis and trans alike — as well as low-income women to raise the call for justice through transformative movement building.
By centering the voices and experiences of those on the margins of society, this secular gathering modeled community organizing at its best and echoed the principles of liberation theology. (The faith-rooted, feminist organizer in me had found her tribe.)
It was a sight to behold representatives from an all too invisible domestic workforce — nannies, housecleaners, restaurant workers, and more — gathered to publicly connect the dots between equal pay, gun violence, reproductive rights, immigration reform, sexual and gender-based violence, and paid family leave.
Together these black and brown sisters made the unseen visible and deconstructed the oppressive, intersectional forces that routinely make women and girls vulnerable to exploitation and economic injustice. And they dared to disrupt the interlocking forces of racism, sexism, and classism by marching through the streets of the nation’s capital to protest police brutality and broken immigration laws.
Through their collective witness, these women embodied the wisdom of Audre Lorde who observed, “There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle, because we do not live single-issue lives.”
In a world that has become increasingly disconnected, it’s refreshing to be reminded how much we need each other. Contrary to the myth of individualism, “We stand in the shade of trees we did not plant,” said Teresa Younger, president and CEO of the Ms. Foundation.
Indeed, our stories and lives are connected in ways seen and unseen.
As these fierce leaders shared about their struggles to make ends meet and care for their loved ones, I found myself thinking about my own family. For the last month, I’ve been traveling back and forth between Virginia and Ohio to support my sister with her shocking and aggressive cancer diagnosis. While this new reality has been emotionally and financially difficult for us, our story is not uncommon to other families in America.
Women, many of whom are domestic workers and immigrants, need equal pay and paid time off to support their loved ones. And they need practical, innovative solutions to help our communities and economy flourish.
In this critical election year, I commit to work collaboratively to lift up the voices of those on the margins and to help others vote their values. And I take heart knowing I am not alone in protecting “the least of these” among us. (Check out the Matthew 25 Voter Protection Project to find out how you can join others in protecting the vote.)
We belong to each other. We must care for each other. And we won’t wait for real change to happen.
Like so many other women, my life is shaped by “sheroes” and the cloud of witnesses who surround me with their wisdom, courage, and faithfulness.
I am the granddaughter of my lolas Cresencia and Eunice. I am the daughter of my nanay Vicky. I am the ate of my sisters Eliza and Emely. I am the tita of my nieces Bella, Lidea, and Preslee. And I will do all I can to make this world better for those who will come after them.
She who is the Spirit moves in mysterious ways. And I am grateful we are not alone in this journey toward justice.
On the final day of the summit, I received word that my mom shaved her head. She didn’t wait for chemo to ravage her daughter’s body. Instead, she acted in solidarity and boldly went to work that evening with a bare head. And when she got off in the morning from her third shift factory job, she proudly continued in her (unpaid) labor of love: devoting herself to her family.
The moral and economic challenges we face are complex and interconnected. But these issues are no match for the depth of love and connectivity among us.
We are stronger when we work together. And we won’t wait, we can’t wait, to build a more just world during this election year — and beyond.
Elaina Ramsey is the Women & Girls Campaign Director and chair of the Diversity Task Force at Sojourners.
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