Now I Rise

By: Karen A. Gamez

We’re told to keep politics to ourselves, keep it out of the workplace. I’ve always wondered why. Why is it wrong or inappropriate to have important conversations? I’m not sure how some people manage to keep things separate. For marginalized communities - who have in large part been historically disenfranchised -  we can’t afford to not be involved. 

My identity as a Mexican undocumented woman is intrinsically and inherently political. I can’t just say, well, I won’t worry about politics and laws today. Not when there are constant attacks from the sitting president on my community and the higher courts are frequently deciding whether I have the same rights as others. 

We have to take the responsibility ourselves to educate our communities and bridge the gap between them and the black box we call our government. Voting and lobbying are two ways that we can engage. As students, educators, service providers, and community members, our engagement has huge impacts on education.

One of the most significant and transformative events in my life was being able to be a part of the WA State Real Hope Act passing in 2014. Thanks to an organization called LEAP (Latino/A Educational Achievement Project), I was able to travel to the state capitol to share my story and advocate for financial aid for undocumented students. After several years of trying, it finally passed in 2014. Many undocumented students like myself were able to access higher education because of this bill. We see its lasting effects at NWEA, as we work with many students that are eligible for and receive WASFA. All these efforts are so instrumental in shaping our education systems.

I envision a world where all individuals are able to access, afford, and navigate school systems and higher education (if they choose to, because it’s also entirely acceptable if they choose not to).

In my personal life, I’ve been working as an Advocacy Corps Organizer through the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) to lobby for immigration reform, and I've also been serving on the leadership team of Poder Comun, a group of badass Latinas working to increase voting education and resources in Spanish and to the broader Latino/a/x community. I’m also on the Seattle Immigrant and Refugee Commission. 

During these trying times, I want to be able to look back and think I did my best to positively change this world and our communities. As Angela Davis (someone who I wholeheartedly look up to) once said, “You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time”.

I urge you all to get out and vote. Lobby your representatives and senators for the change you want to see. Whatever action you can do, no matter how little, I encourage it. Never undermine yourself and the power and capacity you have to affect change.

Lastly, for those of you who have the opportunity and privilege to vote, please do so. You can still register to vote in person until today November 3rd. If you already registered and have a ballot, please submit it by 8pm today. To find a drop box, visit https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/. You can also check the status of your ballot to make sure it was received at votewa.gov.

Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (left) and Karen (right)

Poder Comun at La Huerta in Kent

Governor Jay Inslee signing the WA State Real Hope Act in 2014 (Karen is right behind him!)