“Love is identified with a resignation of power and power with a denial of love. What is needed is a realization that power without love is reckless and abusive and that love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power is at its best is love implementing the demands of justice. Justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.”
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
I Have a Dream Speech on Aug. 28, 1963
March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
Over the past eight years, I’ve anchored my soul daily in scripture and fueled my heart with the words of Dr. King. Through the victories and milestones—and especially through turbulent times and deep grief—his sermons, like scripture, have kept me centered and focused on the North Star.
Love and power.
The synchrony of the two dates back to the Apostle Paul’s words to his spiritual son and the young pastor of Ephesus, Timothy, in 64 A.D. In a world torn by division, crippled by injustice, and driven by a relentless pursuit of individual gains, we cannot afford to experiment with one without the other. Leading with love and power is an imperative for action emerging as a revolutionary response to the prevailing evils of our time.
Love and power.
For eight years, my personal quest has been to demonstrate that a civic movement and philanthropic organization could be built on this imperative, while also delivering sustained impact, shifting a narrative for our communities, and changing lives. The Latino Community Foundation (LCF) now stands as a beacon and provides tangible evidence that it can be done!
Evident in the $100 million raised to fuel the mission. The $30 million invested in nearly 400 grassroot organizations. The $700 million leveraged from federal programs to raise wages for farmworkers, increase job opportunities with dignified wages, support Latina entrepreneurs, among other efforts to build a just economy.
Evident in the $10M+ secured from other private foundations in addition to LCF investments into a cadre of burgeoning Latino-led grassroot, civic organizations. The network of 1,109 civically engaged Latino philanthropists powering the movement with their time, talents, and resources. In the 630+ earned media mentions across national outlets amplifying the narrative that love and power yields impact.
Evident in the dozens of young Latinos, grounded in values of love and justice, who won seats in city councils, school boards, water boards, and mayoral races. In the one million newly registered Latino voters in California—ready to exercise their right to guard our democracy.
Love and Power.
The civic tapestry of confident Latino leaders committed to the movement of love and power is more vibrant and stronger. Our organizers, philanthropists, and community leaders are joining forces with our Black, Indigenous, and Asian brothers and sisters working to heal our communities— and reimagine a multi-racial democracy and inclusive economy that works for all.
The impact most evident in the life of Kimberly. At the tender age of six, she sat in front of a television scrubbing her face with a rag drenched in Clorox. Trying hard to reflect the pale whiteness staring back at her from the screen demanding her to measure her value and beauty by the lightness of her skin. Today, Kimmy has reclaimed the power that she was given at the time of her birth to define her worth and value—and she is immersed in the love of a community that reminds her of her sacred purpose in life. Today, she leads an organization that cultivates the power and nurtures the love amongst brown youth. Driving her own movement of young people who are organizing voters, influencing policy, and serving the community.
Like Suguet Lopez, Jacob Martinez, Claudia Arroyo, Luz Gallego, Leo Sosa, Miriam Yupanqui, Belinda Arriaga, and so many other leaders, Kimmy is grounded in power and love and moving us closer to the promises of a more perfect Union.
Love and Power.
I confess that I have not always found purpose in the pain, loss, and grief that has profoundly punctuated this journey these past eight years. But as the sun sets on my tenure at LCF, I can look back with overwhelming gratitude that the gift of serving in the name of Love and power has brought forth an undeniable understanding of my life’s purpose. And, with it, a resounding commitment to the command of scripture to rejoice in all circumstances (Philippians 4:4) and count it all joy (James 1:2-4).
I will remain deeply grateful for the privilege the Board as given me to lead this work and prove that we can indeed move from charity to change. I am indebted to a team that trusted the vision and embodied it daily. And…I am intrinsically tied to a growing network of community organizers, civic leaders, and funding partners that pursued the dream alongside us.
Together, we laid the foundation and fueled the movement that transcends traditional dichotomies, enabling the harmonious coexistence where compassion, empathy, boldness, and strength intertwine. We built an organization that redefined leadership and will continue to influence societal structures.
Together, we unleashed the civic and economic power of Latinos while unapologetically embracing the Truth that Love is the ultimate transformational force that can lead us to justice at the most intimate and the most global scale.
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