I’ve started to write this more times than I can count. Whether it’s been a version in my head, on a piece of paper, or the computer, I struggled with what to write to the SVP community in the last few weeks about the onslaught of Executive Orders and actions that threaten our neighbors, friends, family, and the communities we care about every day.
SVP is a community of people and organizations spanning across class, race, and culture. Many in our community – including immigrants, refugees, trans folx – are being directly targeted by recent Executive Orders. The nonprofit organizations we support – those that work to advance racial equity and justice – have also been under threat with actions to freeze federal funding, stop DEI, and remove their nonprofit tax status.
The actions of the Executive Branch are overwhelming and often paralyzing – and that’s by design. If we are immobilized by the chaos the Executive Branch is creating, we can’t mobilize ourselves or others to act.
I haven’t been immune to that paralysis. I couldn’t start this newsletter because I didn’t think I knew the right thing to say. When I was telling this to a colleague, I realized it didn’t matter if what I wrote on behalf of SVP was perfect. What was important was sharing our commitment to continue to:
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- Ground our work in our values – justice, racial equity, shared accountability, accessibility, and community.
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- Uplift and amplify the work of Black, Brown, Indigenous, and People of Color-led and serving nonprofits.
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- Create an inclusive community where everyone can give, learn, and act to create a just and equitable King County.
We encourage those who have access to resources and can speak out publicly to step up, now more than ever. While the need can feel overwhelming, you can start with small actions, like:
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- Consider increasing your financial giving to nonprofits and causes you care about and making monthly or multi-year pledges of support.
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- Consider increasing your financial giving to nonprofits and causes you care about and making monthly or multi-year pledges of support.
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- Contact your elected official about policies and issues impacting communities and nonprofits you care about (even if you think they share your views!).
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- Check out the legislative and policy priorities of SVP partner organizations Choose 180, 350 Seattle, and Children’s Alliance and join our Advocacy List-Serve.
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- Contact your elected official about policies and issues impacting communities and nonprofits you care about (even if you think they share your views!).
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- Connect with organizations looking for volunteers and ask them how you can support their work.
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- Sign up for our Volunteer List-Serve to learn about upcoming opportunities at local nonprofits.
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- Attend the virtual Funder Briefing: WA Statewide Responses for Immigrant & Refugee Protections on March 6th at 1 pm PST.
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- Connect with organizations looking for volunteers and ask them how you can support their work.
It’s also important for us to continue to celebrate joy. Celebrating joy is an act of resistance, keeping us grounded as we push forward. For me, that is celebrating Black History Month, cheering when Beyonce won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, planning my trip for a good friend’s wedding later this month, and registering for Refugee Artisans Initiative’s upcoming Gala on April 4th.
I hope you’ll join me in doing what you can with what you know now and keeping our work going, together.
In partnership,
Emiko Atherton
Executive Director, SVP Seattle
