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Mothers' Day Fund
Mothers have a special place in our hearts and undoubtedly many of you spent this Mothers' Day celebrating the most special women in your life. The work of a mother is never done, I saw that through my own mothers’ example raising my siblings and I in a new country and never skipping a beat in keeping a roof over our head, our bellies full, our spirits and self-esteem strong and always serving as our staunchest ally and advocate. Now I live that reality as a mother of three young boys.
At Pilsen Alliance we celebrate Mother’s Day by honoring the hard work and dedication of our leaders and members. During our ten years as an organization, mothers have been at the forefront of our work fighting for justice in their schools and community. These mothers are homemakers, small business owners, factory workers, and eloteras who come together and organize for better schools and healthy, strong communities.
Marisol de Paz is one of these mothers and her passion and dedication inspires us everyday. “Soy una madre orgullosa de dos niños hermosos. Lucho por ellos, su educación, y su futuro. Muchos dicen que no es mi lugar y les gustaria verme solamente en la casa, pero en mi corazon se que tengo que luchar por una mejor educación para ellos y por mi comunidad. Si no yo, quien?
"I am the proud mother of two beautiful sons and I am in this struggle for them and their future. Many criticize me and want to see me only at home cooking or cleaning, but I know in my heart that I have to fight for a better education for them and for my community. If not me, then who?"
For decades, women like Marisol have been the force and backbone of our homes, communities, and movement for justice. They door-knock, testify at public hearings, march in cold weather with strollers, and still find time to make home cooked meals and celebrate shared accomplishments and family milestones.
Join us in honoring these remarkable women by making a contribution to our Mothers Fund during the month of May. Your May gift will help our leaders continue their struggle for quality public education and thriving communities:
- Donate $50 and help one of our leaders pay for her trip to Springfield, IL to lobby legislators for the much needed repairs at Whittier Community School, including the $3 millions dollars it will cost to finally make Whittier ADA compliant.
- Donate $20 and help pay for the cost of supplies for Pilsen Alliance’s Women’s Justice Leadership Training set to start before the end of the month!
- Donate $10 and support the new Women’s Economic Development Project, which has already created two Latina-led cooperatives in Pilsen!
Mother’s work is movement work and we are reminded of that each and every day. Please join me in honoring our leaders by raising $5,000 during the month of May! Every contribution you make empowers mothers to become the leaders and agents of change that was always within them.
A proud mother and organizer,
Alejandra L. Ibañez
P.S. A mother’s work often goes unnoticed at home and in our society. Donate to our Mother’s Fund and honor the work of mothers everywhere!
Remember, Pilsen Alliance is a 501©3 community based organization and all donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law!
MISSION:
Pilsen Alliance is a social justice organization committed to developing grassroots leadership in Pilsen and neighboring working class, immigrant communities in Chicago's Lower West Side. We work for quality public education, affordable housing, government accountability and healthy communities.
Our goals include using innovative community education tools and programs, direct action organizing campaigns and advocacy initiatives reflecting the popular education philosophy of building social consciousness for personal and social collective transformation.