Dear Colleagues,
The Latinx House’s inaugural festival, Raizado, in Aspen, Colorado was a powerful lead-in to National Hispanic Heritage Month. The two-day summit brought together thought leaders to highlight the power and culture of the Latinx community, and it was an honor to be a part of this important event and milestone.
My panel, “Showing Up For Each Other,” sparked a rich conversation about allyship. I reflect often on the misinformation within our Latinx communities and how, far too often, we’ve been sold this lie about scarcity—that there’s simply not enough room for all of us to shine. Of course, that couldn’t be further from the truth. We know that when we support each other, we all gain.
As a proud Latina, I walked away from that discussion with a clear call to action. This month, I want to share it with you: be that “yes” for each other. Let’s build those bridges of support now, so the foundation is strong before, during, and after times of crisis.
Elizabeth Barajas-Román
Women’s Funding Network
President & CEO
PS Less than 2.5% of the 1% of annual philanthropy dollars that flow to women and girls of color is specified as supporting Latinas and gender non-binary people. Right now, even in the aftermath of hurricane Fiona, the specific needs of Latinas and gender non-binary people are being sidelined. “We know that the tolls taken by Hurricane Fiona will be the harshest for Puerto Rico’s women, girls, and gender non-binary individuals—because they are the people with the fewest resources, advocates, and allies,” said Verónica Colón Rosario, Executive Director of the Fundación de Mujeres en Puerto Rico (the Puerto Rico Women’s Foundation). We can and must do better. Read more from Verónica in a piece we wrote together for Inside Philanthropy, and please take a moment to join us in supporting her efforts.