What do I do that is inspired by El Salvador?

Hello folks.

I just realized that many people don't know what I do for a living and how I find it inextricably tied to the Salvadoran struggle.

Before my parents, their family, and friends were forced out of El Salvador, many of them participated in the organized struggle against the various tyrannical US Backed Capitalist governments that marked the 20th century. People in El Salvador who organized or spoke against the government and in favor of "radical" changes such as workers rights or the ability to open and democratic elections were dragged out of their homes at night and forced into the military, disappeared, or tortured.

I never ran that risk in this country. So I organized since I knew however I could, starting in High School.

After leaving Vassar College in 2007, I returned to New Jersey and organized around homelessness and housing issues in Elizabeth, NJ. At the time, I organized a bit in Newark, NJ, my home city, against the war, for environmental justice, and against the privatization and closing of hospitals.

In 2008, I began organizing for the Greater Newark HUD Tenants Coalition in Newark, NJ. I have organized tenants in HUD subsidized buildings and public housing projects since then. I have also been fortunate to join the fight for immigrant rights, environmental justice, employment and development rights, and several other interesting projects.

We have it easy here. Too many people fought and died, too many people's lives were changed drastically for me to sit back and relax today. El Salvador taught me that.