My organization, The Young Lords Club is interested in hosting our first in person event in over a year, with a focus on healing the Latina community in the aftermath of The Trump Administration and the ongoing COVID crisis. Latina women and mothers have faced significant trauma this year, and the violence facing this community has been getting progressively worse as a result of the Trump administration; we are in desperate need of a healing space. We watched helplessly as children continuously and publicly were being locked and held in inhumane facilities, separated from their families. As a mother of two young boys myself, I feel extreme rage that these practices are continuing without anyone trying to help. Additionally, families in Puerto Rico were repeatedly neglected and mocked by the Trump administration throughout hurricane Maria and the ongoing COVID crisis. Puerto Rico is continuously being used as a vacation hotspot for infected tourists, and thousands of Puerto Rican citizens are dying as a result of the virus. There are places and people in Puerto Rico that don't even have access to hospitals, meanwhile tourists are bringing the virus to the island to vacation. I am a Latina myself, and I know watching these events unfold over the years has left me feeling silenced, neglected, enraged and helpless. These are just some of the reasons why it is my mission to hold a healing space for the women in the Latina community, so that we may discuss these events, as well as raise money to give back to Puerto Rican families fighting through the COVID crisis, while unpacking and healing our trauma. Thank you for listening to this cause, as it is truly near and dear to my heart, I know we are all in need of a healing space after the year we have all braved together.
If I win the sponsorship I will be able to help a significant portion of the community in many ways. First, I will have a donation table set up where the women who attend the event will be able to donate to an organization committed to helping families in Puerto Rico Fight through the COVID crisis, by helping them gain access to the healthcare products they need. My Organization, The Young Lords club is currently working with Defend Puerto Rico to ensure we can help as many families as possible as they brave this pandemic. Additionally, as I mentioned before, I will be holding a dinner and discussion for 20 women in the Latin American community so that we may unpack and heal from the trauma that has been building up over the past 4 years, and intensifying over the last year. We are truly in need of this kind of healing space, especially as we have not been able to connect with other women and mothers in an entire year now, we have all had to face our trauma in silence and isolation, without being able to discuss what we are going through. I hope to hold a space for women to heal from this trauma in our PeerSpace dinner and discussion. The Event will be filmed and posted on Youtube and Instagram so that as many people as possible will be able to see the video and be able to transmute and heal from their trauma as well. The 20 women invited will additionally be sent home with healing + self care gift bags, so that they will leave the space knowing they will be able to continue to care for their mind, bodies and souls. I know in my heart we are in need of an opportunity like this.
Peerspace is on a mission to bring people together. We believe it is impossible to achieve that goal unless we also fight for equality and access to resources in the communities we serve.
Having a space to gather, create, and exchange ideas is an important part of any movement. In order to magnify voices that are often quieted, Peerspace will sponsor venues for people who challenge prejudice and fight for social justice and equality.
Each quarter, we will sponsor space for three projects that are relevant to our community. These projects can range from fundraisers and educational initiatives to art exhibits and photo series.
